Food Safety Manager

Food Safety Manager wanted at a leading Quick Commerce Industry in Dubai, UAE to lead Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) operations for its business across the UAE. The role involves overseeing food safety standards across dark stores, warehouses, mother hubs and supplier networks, ensuring consistent compliance with regulatory requirements and internal quality standards.

The successful candidate will lead a team of Food Safety Inspectors and Supervisors, strengthen food safety management systems, oversee supplier quality assurance and drive continuous improvement across the supply chain. This is a hands-on leadership position requiring strong technical expertise, operational oversight and the ability to work closely with cross-functional teams.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) operations across UAE, covering dark stores, warehouses, mother hubs and supplier facilities.
• Manage, mentor and schedule a team of more than 10 Food Safety Inspectors and Supervisors, ensuring effective site coverage, inspection planning and operational performance.
• Establish field priorities and deliver food safety and quality training programmes for warehouse personnel, store teams and ground operations staff.
• Develop and manage the dark store audit programme, covering personal hygiene, premises cleanliness, cold chain management, FEFO (First Expired, First Out), pest control, receiving procedures and storage practices.
• Monitor audit scores, identify recurring compliance gaps and coordinate with store operations teams to ensure timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure all dark stores and warehouse facilities remain inspection-ready and compliant with applicable UAE food safety regulations and municipality requirements.
• Oversee inbound quality control, receiving inspections, storage conditions and temperature monitoring across warehouses and mother hubs.
• Establish and enforce clear procedures for product holding, rejection, quarantine and disposal of non-conforming or unsafe products.
• Investigate product quality failures associated with warehouse handling, storage conditions, transportation and operational processes.
• Conduct supplier evaluations and approval audits, implement risk-based supplier re-audit programmes and ensure compliance with established food safety and quality requirements.

• Maintain accurate product specifications and supplier quality documentation while leading corrective and preventive action plans (CAPA) for recurring product defects and customer complaints.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Food Safety Management System (FSMS), including HACCP plans, standard operating procedures, monitoring records and compliance documentation.
• Lead food safety authority inspections and coordinate regulatory requirements with relevant UAE authorities, including Dubai Municipality and ADAFSA.
• Manage food product recalls and withdrawals, ensuring effective traceability, risk assessment, communication and timely implementation of corrective measures.
• Analyse customer complaints, product defects, audit findings and quality performance data to identify trends and recommend improvement initiatives.
• Prepare regular food safety and quality performance reports for senior management, highlighting operational risks, recurring issues and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Operations, Category Management, Supply Chain and external suppliers to strengthen food safety controls throughout the supply chain.

Job Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology or a related discipline.
• 8–12 years of relevant experience in food safety, quality assurance or food technology, preferably within food retail, e-commerce, quick commerce, warehousing, distribution or FMCG operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing food safety and quality teams, including field inspectors and operational supervisors.
• HACCP Level 3 certification or higher.
• ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor certification.

How a Food safety lead auditor works ?

• Strong technical knowledge of HACCP principles, Food Safety Management Systems, food safety auditing, risk assessment and CAPA management.
• Practical experience in supplier quality assurance, warehouse quality control, cold chain management and food retail hygiene standards.
• Proven ability to conduct structured root cause analysis, investigate quality failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret audit results, customer complaints and product defect trends and translate findings into operational improvements.
• Experience coordinating with food safety regulatory authorities and managing official inspections.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence teams across multiple operational functions.
• Willingness to travel across the UAE, with approximately 30% of the role involving field-based activities.

Best Food Safety Courses to Stay Ahead of Food Inspection

Key Competencies

• Food Safety Leadership and Team Management
• HACCP and FSMS Implementation
• ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 Compliance
• Dark Store and Warehouse Auditing
• Supplier Quality Assurance
• Cold Chain and Temperature Control
• Food Product Traceability and Recall Management
• Root Cause Analysis and CAPA
• Regulatory Compliance and Authority Inspections
• Quality Performance Monitoring and Reporting
• Cross-functional Stakeholder Management

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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