Global Strategy & Governance

• Develop and own the enterprise food safety and defence strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate vision, regulatory requirements, and GFSI schemes.

• Establish global policies, standards, and performance indicators for food safety, hygiene, allergen control, traceability, and food defence.

• Lead global governance forums and represent food safety and defence for the business

• Ensure integration of food safety and defence into innovation, supply chain, procurement, and operations decision-making.

Food Safety Systems & Compliance

• Oversee global implementation of food safety systems including HACCP, environmental monitoring, allergen management, sanitation, and GMP compliance.

• Ensure global alignment to BRCGS, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, and customer requirements.

• Lead global audit programmes and provide oversight to regional QA functions.

• Develop global risk assessment frameworks for high-risk ingredients such as cocoa, milk powder, nuts, and flavourings.

Food Defence & Product Security

• Drive global vulnerability assessments (TACCP/VACCP) and ensure sites implement and maintain mitigation plans.

• Coordinate with Security, Procurement, and Supply Chain to protect facilities, materials, people, and processes against intentional harm.

• Oversee product security across all logistics channels, including co-manufacturers, warehouses, and distribution partners.

Incident Management & Crisis Response

• Serve as Global Technical Expert for food safety and defence–related events such as:

• Product contamination

• Allergen cross-contact

• Microbiological outbreaks

• Tampering/extortion threats

• Manage root cause analyses, corrective action programmes, and preventive measures globally.

• Partner with Legal, Corporate Communications, Security, and Regulatory during crises.

Scientific Leadership & Innovation

• Provide technical leadership on food safety science, microbiology, toxicology, allergens, and emerging risks.

• Guide R&D and Operations on hygienic design, thermal processing, novel ingredients, and new technologies.

• Oversee horizon scanning for emerging global risks including fraud, cyber-physical risks and climate-driven ingredient challenges.

• Work with Regulatory Affairs to assess the risks and impacts of regulatory changes and develop mitigation strategies for the business.

Talent, Training & Culture

• Build and maintain a high-performing global food safety and defence community.

• Develop competency frameworks, training pathways, and certification programmes for food safety and TACCP/VACCP.

• Promote a proactive food safety culture across the entire organisation—from shop floor teams to senior executives.

External Engagement & Advocacy

• Represent the company at global regulatory forums, food safety institutes, and industry alliances (e.g., GFSI, Codex-related work, regional regulators).

• Build partnerships with academic institutions and external experts in food safety and defence.

• Benchmark industry best practices and integrate learnings into company standards.

Bring your experience.

Essential

Education & Training

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, Chemistry, Public Health, or related field; advanced degree (PhD or MBA) desirable.

• Formal training in HACCP, TACCP/VACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls, and Intentional Adulteration.

Experience

• Extensive expertise in food safety, quality, and risk management within FMCG or large-scale food manufacturing.

• Proven leadership of global or multi-regional teams and management of high-risk ingredients and complex supply chains.

• Strong track record in responding to major food safety or product security incidents; experience in chocolate, confectionery, or bakery advantageous.

Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of HACCP/HARPC, GMP, GFSI schemes, and global regulatory frameworks.

• Expertise in microbiology, toxicology, allergens, sanitation, and hygienic design.

• Proficiency in food defence methodologies (TACCP/VACCP, FSMA IA Rule) and familiarity with digital food safety tools, traceability systems, and data analytics.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Influences global stakeholders and shapes organisational direction.

• Risk-Based Thinking: Translates scientific risk assessments into pragmatic business decisions.

• Crisis Management: Calm, decisive, and structured under pressure.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners effectively with Security, Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, Legal, and Communications.

• Scientific Rigor: Deep technical expertise with ability to innovate and challenge conventional thinking.

• Cultural Agility: Comfortable working across diverse teams, markets, and regulatory environments.

• Communication Excellence: Simplifies complex risks for non-technical audiences.

What does pladis offer you?

• 
  Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan

• Stakeholder Pension Scheme

• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme

• 25 days + bank holidays

• Holiday Enhancement Scheme

• 1 Volunteering Day per year

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme

• Financial Wellbeing Support

• Access to great training and development opportunities

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better

Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together