Safety Manager

Job description / Role

We are looking for a qualified and proactive Food Safety Manager to develop, implement, and oversee the food safety and hygiene systems at our confectionery production facility based in JAFZA. The ideal candidate will ensure full compliance with national and international food safety standards, manage audits, and promote a culture of food safety throughout the organization. Applicants for this role must have worked in the UAE before for a minimum of 3 years.

Key Responsibilities:

- Develop, implement, and maintain food safety systems (HACCP, GMP, GHP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, etc.).
- Lead the preparation and execution of internal and external food safety audits (certification, customer, and regulatory audits).
- Identify and evaluate food safety risks across all stages of the production process.
- Ensure the enterprise complies with local, national, and international food safety legislation.
- Conduct regular inspections of production areas, storage, and packaging lines to ensure hygiene and sanitation standards.
- Investigate food safety incidents and complaints, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
- Collaborate with production, technical, and quality departments to ensure consistent compliance with food safety protocols.
- Maintain and update food safety documentation, including SOPs, training records, traceability, and product recall systems.
- Train and coach staff on food safety procedures, hygiene practices, and personal responsibility in food safety.
- Monitor sanitation programs, allergen control, pest control, and cleaning verification procedures.

- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, Quality Management, or a related field.
- At least 3–5 years of experience in food safety management, preferably in the confectionery or broader food manufacturing sector.
- Deep knowledge of HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC, or other recognized food safety schemes.
- Experience in leading or participating in food safety audits (third-party and customer audits).
- Strong knowledge of hygiene, sanitation, allergen management, and traceability systems.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills; experience with root cause analysis tools (e.g., 5 Why, Fishbone Diagram).
- Strong documentation, reporting, and communication skills.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and train staff at all levels.
- Computer literacy (MS Office, QMS software, ERP systems).
- Experience in bakery, food production

Preferred Qualifications:

- Certified in HACCP (Level 3 or 4), ISO 22000,
- Experience with confectionery products and processes.
- Familiarity with food fraud prevention and food defence systems.
- Experience managing product recalls or withdrawals.

About the Company

Inspire Selection is an award winning recruitment agency, headquartered in Dubai which recruits across the Middle East region. We employ highly knowledgeable, professional consultants who are experts in connecting the right people with the right opportunities. Our reputation has been built upon our honesty, integrity and our ability to source candidates of the highest calibre right across our specialist sectors. As a result, we are recruitment partners to a wide spectrum of organisations - from leading blue chip companies to smaller, local businesses. Sectors we cover include HR, Administration, Finance & Accounting, Legal, Sales & Marketing including Digital Marketing, IT, Oil/Gas/Energy, Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Higher Education.