Head of Global Food Safety

Job Description

Role Summary

The Head of Global Food Safety plays a crucial role in ensuring that Kraft Heinz organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards while maintaining a high level of quality in its products, services, and operations. This is a crucial position within Kraft Heinz organization, to ensure product and organizational compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards.

This role is responsible for creating and standardizing risk management processes globally within FSQ to ensure practices are in place to prevent serious incidents and recalls.

The Head of Global Food Safety is responsible for timely compliance with ever changing laws and regulations as well as customer and consumer requirements; they should work with internal experts and recognized external bodies to ensure Kraft Heinz risk management methodologies remain up to date.

The Head of Global Food Safety is responsible for producing a competence framework for end to end, robust, product lifecycle risk assessment and management processes that are fit for purpose creating and implementing the company’s global compliance strategy. This position will work closely with Legal, Regulatory, R&D and other key functions to ensure compliance of our products, systems and processes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement food safety strategies that align with the organization's goals and objectives, to ensure global food safety performance.

2.Serve as the business expert on the food safety risk assessment process, applying recognized risk assessment principles and processes to provide expert judgement and ensure course correction.

3.Establish and maintain process/procedures to ensure  physical, chemical and microbiological safety of our products.

4.Lead the validation and verification of food safety risk management processes and practices covering:

• the lifecycle of product,
• supply chains,
• incident management,
• change control,
• emerging legislation.

5.Create resources and tools to support KHC employees in developing and maintaining food safety risk management processes and activities:

• Lead the implementation of digital tools to enhance risk management and compliance, enabling data-driven decisions,
• Design and roll out comprehensive training and development programs in all aspects of risk assessment and risk management,
• Ensure risk assessors can identify hazard and develop risk control / mitigation plans,
• Promote best practice development and sharing, proactive decision-making and communication,
• Develop companywide food safety culture programs to create awareness about individual responsibilities and champion ownership at all levels.

6.Develop and implement programs to audit, track and report compliance to company and legal food safety requirements; and evaluate their efficiency in risk reduction, brand protection and business support.

7.Collaborate and engage stakeholders across the business to build capabilities, alignment, and ownership of food safety risk assessment processes. Work closely with FSQ teams at zone and BU level to ensure a standardized, compliant, and effective approach to food safety.

Additional Responsibilities

GCOE budget for FSQ is approximately $1mm, this role has a contributory part to play in setting and controlling the budget.

Financial impact of role: poor risk control in our sites and EMs can lead to significant supply chain disruption and brand damage. Recalls and withdrawals are a consequence of this and in the worst case could lead to consumer injury and death.

A typical cost of incidents in a 12-month period, globally, could be up to $40MM – this role is targeted to reduce the number of issues through implementing effective risk assessment processes by training and empowering our people to execute this process.

Expected Experience and Required Skills
 

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a food safety and quality or regulatory leadership role, with demonstrated success in building & managing compliance programs.
• In-depth knowledge of food industry, food safety risk and product lifecycle management.
• Recognized as a subject matter expert in their field. Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and standards (e.g., HACCP, FSMA, GFSI, and ISO 22000) and ability to translate them into internal standards.
• Certified in food safety systems, such as HACCP, PCQI, or FSVP.
• Ability to think strategically and develop and execute impactful plans and programs.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, and identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Proven project management skills with a results-oriented approach..
• Digitally oriented mentality, able to assess and implement technological solutions to improve operational efficiency and enable data-driven decision-making.
• Experienced in leading and managing teams, including coaching and mentoring employees.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Skilled at influencing key stakeholders and senior leaders across different functions and regions.

Key Performance Indicators
 

Recalls & withdrawals.

Quality incidents

Internal & external audit & inspection- compliance

Work Environment & Schedule
 

Though the role is ideally based out of our Amsterdam office, this role will involve working and coordinating with global teams and partners in different time zones. This role will involve frequent travels to our plants and offices around the world.

What we offer you:

• An ambitious employer; we only want the best for you.
• A fast career track like only few other companies can match.
• A competitive salary and excellent bonus structure (above market); at KraftHeinz we strongly believe and live by ownership and meritocracy.
• Additional benefits such as Commuting Allowance, Hybrid Work Allowance & Reimbursements, Bicycle & Gym Discount Plan, Employee Assistance Program and Supplemental Health Insurance.
• A wide range of discounts with KraftHeinz’s partnerships on fashion, electronics, travels and many more!
• Last and not least; there are always room for new insights: If you have an idea, please let us know, and we can set it in action!

Location(s)

Amsterdam

 

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.