Food Safety Specialist

Food Safety Specialist vacancy in a leading Ice Cream Manufacturing Facility in Colworth, UK, to support the implementation and continuous improvement of food safety standards and processes across the ice cream manufacturing and innovation lifecycle. This role plays a critical part in ensuring that all ice cream products are safe by design, from raw materials and packaging through to finished products placed on the market.

The successful candidate will provide expert food safety risk assessments, collaborate closely with regulatory, supply chain, innovation, and quality teams, and proactively manage emerging food safety risks within a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Job Responsibilities

Food Safety Risk Assessment & Product Safety

• Support the implementation of robust food safety standards and processes to ensure ice cream products are designed and manufactured to the highest food safety standards.
• Deliver comprehensive food safety risk assessments for ingredients, packaging materials, processing technologies, and finished ice cream products during innovation, renovation, and change management activities.
• Conduct expert food safety risk assessments to:
  • Evaluate new ice cream technologies, novel ingredients, food contact materials, and potential contaminants.
  • Guide the business in managing food safety incidents and marketplace issues.
  • Support the development and review of company food safety policies, standards, and technical positions.

Risk Communication & Governance

• Ensure all food safety risk assessments are transparent, scientifically sound, and clearly documented.
• Communicate risk assessment outcomes effectively to internal stakeholders, clearly outlining risk levels, decisions, and recommended actions.
• Engage and manage competent external laboratories, consultants, and technical experts where specialist food safety assessments are required.

Regulatory Compliance & Claims Substantiation

• Collaborate closely with the Regulatory Affairs team to ensure complete and compliant product safety dossiers are available to meet UK and international regulatory requirements.
• Review and govern safety-related product claims, ensuring they are scientifically substantiated and appropriately approved to avoid regulatory or consumer risk.

Horizon Scanning & Emerging Risks

• Work cross-functionally to implement and maintain a horizon scanning process to identify, assess, and proactively manage emerging food safety risks, regulatory changes, and industry trends affecting ice cream and frozen desserts.

Food Safety Management Systems & Supply Chain

• Partner with Supply Chain and Quality teams to ensure the end-to-end food safety management programme is effectively implemented and maintained.
• Support strong food safety governance through audits, verification activities, supplier assurance programmes, and food safety performance monitoring.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance food safety culture, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (BSc/MSc or equivalent) in Biological Sciences, Food Science, Chemistry, Toxicology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Proven experience in food safety within the food manufacturing or FMCG industry; experience in dairy or ice cream production is highly desirable.
• Strong background in food safety risk assessment, hazard analysis, and implementation of food safety processes and management systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into clear, actionable guidance for diverse stakeholders.
• Highly collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across innovation, quality, regulatory, supply chain, and commercial teams.
• Interest in digital tools, AI-enabled risk assessment, data analytics, and continuous improvement methodologies within food safety.
• Experience working with external experts, consultants, and regulatory bodies is an advantage.