Food Safety Lead Auditor

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Dubai
Food Technology and Food Safety Jobs in Dubai
Full-time

A leading food industry certification and consultancy company in Dubai is seeking Food Safety Lead Auditor to join its Certification Department. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, conducting, leading, and reporting food safety audits to assess compliance with international standards, certification schemes, accreditation requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines.

Industry: Food Industry Certification and Consultancy
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Department: Certification Department
Experience Required: Minimum 5 years
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or a related discipline
Specialization: HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS)

This role is suitable for experienced food safety professionals with a strong background in food manufacturing, quality assurance, food safety management systems, supplier audits, and third-party certification audits. The ideal candidate will have recognized auditor qualifications, excellent technical knowledge, strong client management skills, and the ability to manage audit assignments independently while maintaining impartiality and professional integrity.

Job Responsibilities

Food Safety Auditing and Certification

  • Plan, coordinate, and conduct third-party certification audits and second-party supplier audits in accordance with applicable food safety standards and certification scheme requirements.
  • Lead audits to evaluate the implementation, effectiveness, and continual improvement of Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS).
  • Conduct audits against HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, and other relevant food safety and quality management standards within the scope of auditor qualification.
  • Assess food safety procedures, hazard analysis, critical control points, operational prerequisite programmes, prerequisite programmes, and risk-based control measures.
  • Evaluate food manufacturing, processing, storage, handling, packaging, and distribution operations for compliance with applicable food safety requirements.
  • Review food safety policies, procedures, work instructions, monitoring records, verification activities, validation evidence, and corrective action documentation.
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  • Identify non-conformities, document objective evidence, and communicate audit findings clearly and professionally.
  • Prepare accurate, complete, and technically sound audit reports within established deadlines.
  • Submit audit documentation for technical review and certification decisions in accordance with established certification procedures.
  • Monitor non-conformity closure activities and review corrective action evidence in line with applicable certification requirements.
  • Ensure that audit activities are conducted in accordance with relevant accreditation requirements and approved audit methodologies.

Audit Planning and Coordination

  • Develop audit plans, define audit scope and objectives, and determine the resources and time required for each assignment.
  • Coordinate audit schedules, client appointments, travel arrangements, and other operational requirements.
  • Communicate audit programmes, documentation requirements, and preparation instructions to clients before scheduled audits.
  • Manage audit assignments effectively to ensure timely completion of fieldwork, reporting, and follow-up activities.
  • Maintain accurate records of audit schedules, reports, non-conformities, corrective actions, and certification-related documentation.
  • Coordinate with the Food Scheme Lead, Certification Manager, Technical Manager, Operations Lead, and other relevant teams to resolve technical and operational issues.

Client Relationship Management

  • Act as the primary technical contact for clients throughout the audit process.
  • Explain audit objectives, methodology, findings, and applicable certification requirements in a clear and professional manner.
  • Manage client expectations and provide timely updates regarding audit progress, report completion, and non-conformity management.
  • Respond to technical queries and coordinate with the relevant technical teams when additional clarification is required.
  • Maintain professional relationships with clients while ensuring that certification decisions remain independent and impartial.
  • Support customer satisfaction through effective communication, professional conduct, and timely delivery of audit services.

Compliance, Impartiality, and Accreditation

  • Maintain confidentiality, independence, objectivity, and professional integrity throughout all audit activities.
  • Identify and report potential conflicts of interest and comply with organizational impartiality requirements.
  • Conduct audits in accordance with applicable accreditation rules, certification procedures, and relevant international standards.
  • Apply knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO 22003-1, Global Accreditation Cooperation (GAC) requirements, and other applicable accreditation criteria.
  • Ensure audit documentation meets established technical, procedural, and quality requirements.
  • Comply with organizational health, safety, and environmental policies, including client-site safety requirements and travel-related procedures.

Continual Professional Development

  • Maintain current knowledge of food safety legislation, international standards, certification schemes, and industry developments.
  • Complete mandatory technical training, auditor qualification updates, and health and safety training within specified time frames.
  • Participate in relevant professional courses, seminars, and technical development programmes.
  • Review professional publications and technical guidance to maintain and improve auditing competence.
  • Work towards individual competency targets and maintain the qualifications required for approved audit scopes.

Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or another relevant food science discipline.
  • Additional qualifications in food safety, quality management, or auditing will be an advantage.
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the food industry, food safety management, quality assurance, food production, or auditing.
  • Demonstrated experience in conducting supplier audits, food safety audits, and/or certification audits.
  • Practical experience implementing, maintaining, or evaluating Food Safety Management Systems.
  • Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes, food hygiene, HACCP principles, and food safety risk assessment.
  • Experience preparing audit reports, documenting non-conformities, evaluating corrective actions, and managing audit-related records.
  • Previous experience with a certification body or accredited auditing organization will be an advantage.
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Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Training

Candidates should have appropriate auditor qualifications and demonstrated competence for the applicable audit schemes, including:

  • HACCP auditor qualification and relevant HACCP training, with a minimum of 16 hours of HACCP training where required.
  • ISO 22000:2018 auditor training and qualification appropriate to the assigned audit scope.
  • FSSC 22000 Version 6 or Version 7 training, as applicable to the current approved scheme and auditor qualification requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

  • BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 auditor qualification or relevant scheme training.
  • ISO 9001:2015 or the applicable current edition of the Quality Management System standard.
  • ISO 14001:2015 or the applicable current edition of the Environmental Management System standard.
  • ISO 45001:2018 auditor training or qualification.
  • Additional qualifications in Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (H&SMS).

Auditor approval and authorization must be appropriate to the specific certification scheme, technical sector, and applicable accreditation requirements.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

  • Sound understanding of HACCP principles, food safety hazards, risk assessment, and food safety management system implementation.
  • Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17021-1, ISO 22003-1, accreditation requirements, and applicable certification procedures.
  • Ability to interpret international standards and translate their requirements into practical audit criteria.
  • Strong skills in audit planning, evidence collection, interviewing, process evaluation, and report writing.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, including Word and Excel, email applications, and audit planning or scheduling software.
  • Excellent analytical, organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong client handling, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively with technical, operational, and certification teams.
  • Fluency in English is required. Arabic language proficiency will be an added advantage.
  • Willingness to travel to client sites and work according to audit schedules.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance will be monitored by the Food Scheme Lead and Certification Manager based on:

  • Timely completion of assigned audits and audit schedules.
  • Accuracy, completeness, and quality of audit reports.
  • Compliance with certification scheme and accreditation requirements.
  • Effective documentation and follow-up of non-conformities.
  • Adherence to health, safety, and environmental requirements.
  • Maintenance of auditor competence and completion of required professional training.
  • Effective client communication and professional handling of audit assignments.
  • Compliance with impartiality, confidentiality, and conflict-of-interest policies.

Recommended Certifications for Food Safety Auditor

Food safety professionals seeking to advance into lead auditor and certification roles may benefit from recognized training and qualifications in:

  • HACCP Principles and Application.
  • ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management Systems.
  • FSSC 22000 auditor training and applicable scheme updates.
  • BRCGS Food Safety.
  • ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems.
  • ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
  • Internal auditing, lead auditing, root cause analysis, and corrective action management.

Candidates should verify that their training provider and qualifications meet the competency and approval requirements of the relevant certification scheme and accreditation body.

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To apply for this job please visit https://foodtechsafety.com/submit-your-cv/.

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