Ice Cream RD&I - Senior Food Safety Manager

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Work level: 2C

Location: Colworth, UK

Role Description:

Ensuring that The Magnum Company Ice Cream (TMICC) products are safe to consume is of paramount importance for the business and the Senior Food Safety Manager in the Global RD&I Scientific Affairs team has a critical part to play in this – with responsibilities including:

• Establishing robust food safety standards & processes for TMICC to ensure that products are safe by design.
• Providing food safety expertise for the business – for example: guiding the development of food safety related policies/positions, providing food safety leadership in case of marketplace incidents (with clear communication of risk level and recommendations) and supporting the business in responding to external issues/challenges.
• Building organisation capability in key food safety topics (such as allergen management).
• Partnering with supply chain to ensure that ‘end to end’ food safety management is robust & effective, with strong governance.  
• Acting as first point of contact for process safety support for RD&I, when needed – using external partners to provide specialist expertise. 

Reporting into the IC RD&I Head of Scientific Affairs, this is a role which requires significant food safety expertise/experience – with a good understanding of toxicology, allergenicity and risks related to physical hazards, in particular. In addition, the role requires strong leadership & influencing skills - with the ability to communicate clearly (to both technical and non-technical audiences), to work effectively with external partners & scientific bodies, and to influence internal stakeholders across varying levels & functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish food safety standards/processes for TMICC to ensure that ice cream products are safe by design – including embedding food safety risk assessment for ingredients, packaging and finished products in the innovation/renovation process (via digital solution). 
• Deliver expert food safety risk assessments (a) for new IC technologies, ingredients, food contact materials or contaminants, (b) to guide the business in managing marketplace incidents and (c) to support development of TMICC policies/positions related to food safety – ensuring that:

• Risk assessments are transparent, exposure-based & clearly documented
• Outcome is clearly communicated to relevant stakeholders (including risk level and decision/recommendations).  
• Competent external partners are used to carry out the food safety risk assessments where specialist expertise (beyond in-house capability), additional risk assessment capacity or an independent view is needed.

• Collaborate with regulatory team to ensure product safety package is available where needed to meet regulatory requirements. Ensure that claims which are safety-related (or which could have an impact on food safety) are substantiated and appropriately governed.

• Provide expert food safety support when needed by the business – including (but not limited to) guiding development of TMICC policy/positions related to food safety, confirming risk level/appropriate mitigation actions in case of marketplace incidents, supporting development of reactive statements in case of external food safety challenges.

• Build RD&I (& wider IC organisation) capability in key food safety topics (such as food safety hazard identification and risk assessment, allergen management etc)

• In conjunction with other functions, establish horizon scanning process for identification and proactive management of emerging food safety risks & issues. Build relationship with key external bodies (eg. food safety expert groups) and represent TMICC in external food safety forums, where needed.

• In collaboration with Supply Chain, ensure that TMICC food safety management program (‘end to end’) is robust and effective – with strong governance, enabled by audit/verification processes & food safety performance monitoring.

• Act as first point of contact for RD&I process safety risk assessment / support for new materials, equipment or technologies, when needed – using competent external partners to provide specialist process safety expertise.

Key Skills and Experiences:

• A degree (BSc/MSc or equivalent) in Biological Science or Chemistry.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Foods/Ice Cream; in depth understanding of food safety – including toxicology and/or allergenicity.
• Experience of food safety risk assessment and establishing food safety related processes.
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills including ability to convey scientific subject matter in a simple manner, to a broad range of stakeholders (varying levels and functions).
• Evidence of a creative, continuous improvement mindset – ideally, using digital solutions to drive transformation.
• Experience in working with external experts & partners.
• Strong leadership & influencing skills

NOTES

Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.

By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.   

Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Ian Miles on Ian.Miles@unilever.com

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).