Food Safety – Health Safety Officer – Food Retail & Supermarkets

Food Safety and Health Safety Officer to join A retail supermarket operations in Dubai. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all occupational health, safety, environmental, food safety, and Integrated Management System (IMS) requirements across retail stores, production facilities, warehouses, and logistics operations.

This role plays a critical part in maintaining a safe working environment, protecting employees and customers, ensuring HACCP compliance, promoting a strong food safety culture, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives aligned with international standards such as ISO 45001, ISO 14001, HACCP, and Food Safety Management Systems.

The ideal candidate will possess strong expertise in food safety, occupational health and safety, risk management, auditing, training, and regulatory compliance within the food retail and supermarket sector.

Job Responsibilities

Health & Safety Management

• Ensure compliance with UAE health, safety, environmental, and food safety regulations across all retail and supply chain operations.
• Implement and maintain company health and safety policies, procedures, safe systems of work, and operational controls.
• Create and maintain a safe working environment for employees, contractors, suppliers, customers, and visitors.
• Conduct regular workplace inspections to identify hazards and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Develop, review, and update risk assessments for retail stores, warehouses, production facilities, and logistics operations.
• Monitor workplace conditions and advise management on safety improvements and risk reduction strategies.

• Investigate accidents, incidents, near misses, occupational illnesses, and unsafe conditions.
• Prepare incident investigation reports and ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively.
• Stop unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, or hazardous operations that may pose risks to people, products, or property.
• Ensure compliance with emergency preparedness procedures, evacuation plans, and fire safety requirements.
• Monitor contractor safety performance and ensure adherence to company safety standards.

Health & Safety Audits & Compliance

• Conduct scheduled and unscheduled health and safety audits across all business units.
• Implement graded health and safety audit programs using approved audit checklists.
• Analyze audit findings and prepare monthly audit performance reports.
• Track corrective action plans and ensure timely closure of audit observations.
• Coordinate internal and external safety inspections and regulatory audits.
• Support departmental managers in implementing safety improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all health and safety records, reports, permits, and documentation are maintained accurately.

Food Safety & HACCP Responsibilities

• Ensure effective implementation and maintenance of HACCP systems throughout retail stores, warehouses, food preparation areas, and supply chain operations.
• Verify compliance with food safety procedures, prerequisite programs, and food hygiene standards.
• Conduct food safety inspections and internal audits to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Monitor food handling, storage, transportation, temperature control, sanitation, and hygiene practices.
• Investigate food safety incidents, customer complaints, and non-conformances.
• Support food safety awareness campaigns and promote a positive food safety culture throughout the organization.
• Ensure compliance with local municipality food safety regulations and international food safety standards.
• Collaborate with production, logistics, procurement, and retail teams to maintain food safety requirements across the supply chain.

Training & Safety Culture Development

• Conduct health and safety induction programs for new employees.
• Deliver regular health and safety training sessions for operational and corporate employees.
• Conduct Food Safety and HACCP awareness training programs.
• Facilitate Health & Safety Culture workshops to strengthen employee engagement and safety ownership.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and recommend continuous improvement opportunities.
• Maintain comprehensive training records and competency matrices.

Coordination & Reporting

• Coordinate health, safety, environmental, and food safety activities across retail stores, warehouses, production facilities, and logistics operations.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual HSE and Food Safety performance reports.
• Report audit findings, KPIs, incident trends, and compliance status to senior management.
• Support departmental managers in achieving HSE and Food Safety objectives.
• Maintain communication with regulatory authorities, certification bodies, and external auditors when required.

Health & Safety Committee Management

• Organize Health & Safety Committee meetings.
• Prepare meeting agendas and distribute minutes.
• Monitor completion of agreed action items and follow-up activities.
• Ensure management participation and employee involvement in workplace safety initiatives.

Integrated Management System (IMS)

• Provide guidance and support for the implementation, maintenance, and continual improvement of the Integrated Management System (IMS).
• Ensure compliance with ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System requirements.
• Support implementation and maintenance of ISO 14001 Environmental Management System requirements.
• Monitor IMS performance and recommend improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate internal audits and management review meetings.
• Ensure IMS processes achieve intended outcomes and organizational objectives.
• Maintain document control procedures and manage IMS documentation.
• Monitor changes in legal, regulatory, and customer requirements and integrate them into the IMS.
• Support certification audits and coordinate activities with external certification bodies.
• Promote awareness of IMS requirements throughout the organization.
• Assist departments in developing corrective action plans and continuous improvement programs.
• Ensure integrity of management systems during organizational changes and process modifications.

Environmental Responsibilities

• Promote environmental sustainability initiatives throughout the organization.
• Encourage waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation, and water-saving practices.
• Monitor environmental compliance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Report environmental incidents, hazards, and non-compliance issues.
• Support sustainability awareness programs and employee engagement activities.
• Educate employees, contractors, and visitors on environmental policies and responsibilities.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise assigned team members effectively.
• Mentor, coach, and motivate employees to achieve safety and food safety objectives.
• Foster a positive culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Support organizational initiatives related to Quality, Health, Safety, Environment, and Food Safety.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Environmental Health, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master’s Degree in Food Science, Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, or related field is preferred.
• NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) – Mandatory.

• HACCP Level 3 (HACCP in Practice) – Mandatory.
• Internal Auditor Certification – Mandatory.
• ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System Certification.
• ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification.
• Advanced Food Hygiene Level 4 Certification – Preferred.
• Lead Auditor qualifications in ISO Management Systems will be an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in Health & Safety, Food Safety, QHSE, or Compliance roles.
• Previous experience within food retail, supermarkets, food manufacturing, distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations is highly preferred.
• Proven experience managing HACCP systems, food safety audits, and occupational safety programs.
• Experience working with Integrated Management Systems and ISO standards.

Skills – Food Safety and Health Safety Officer

• Strong knowledge of UAE health, safety, environmental, and food safety regulations.
• Excellent understanding of HACCP, GMP, GHP, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and risk management principles.
• Strong auditing, inspection, and incident investigation skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Effective communication, presentation, and training skills.
• Ability to influence safety culture across multiple business locations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and reporting systems.
• Strong organizational and documentation management skills.
• Valid UAE Driving License is required.

Disclaimer: FoodTechSafety.com is a membership-based platform. Job listings are posted by employers, and all hiring decisions are made solely between the employer and the job seeker.

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