Head of EMEA Quality & Food Safety (Food Safety)

Location: Based at hirify.global’s HQ in Tring, UK, with hybrid office attendance on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; regular travel to co-manufacturing partners across the UK and EU, and occasional travel to Japan and other EMEA regions.

Company

hirify.global develops sustainable nutrition products including powders, ready-to-drink products, bars, and hot and savoury foods for a global community.

What you will do

• Lead the EMEA Quality & Food Safety function and own food safety and quality across hirify.global products, raw materials, sites, and co-manufacturing operations.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing EMEA team across three direct-report functions.
• Define and deliver the EMEA QFS strategy, including right-first-time products, CPMU reduction targets, continuous improvement, and co-manufacturing governance.
• Maintain food safety and quality management systems and ensure compliance with EMEA regulations and standards, including BRC, FSSC 22000, SEDEX, HACCP, VACCP, TACCP, and GFSI standards.
• Oversee suppliers, co-manufacturers, testing, investigations, corrective actions, and risk assessments covering contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticide residues.
• Lead responses to food safety incidents and quality crises and collaborate with Product Supply, the Milton Keynes factory team, Regulatory & Compliance, and external partners.

Requirements

• 10+ years of QFS leadership experience in the food industry, FMCG, manufacturing, or retail, with deep knowledge of food safety and quality systems across EMEA.
• Experience building, developing, and inspiring multidisciplinary technical teams, including responsibility across three direct-report functions.
• Strong technical knowledge of EMEA food law, ingredients, nutrition, and manufacturing processes.
• Hands-on experience with products such as powders and dry ingredient mixes, RTD or aseptic bottling, canning, bars, and hot and savoury products in an EMEA manufacturing environment.
• Confident communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate across NPD, Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement, Commercial, and Marketing and represent hirify.global with regulators, accreditation bodies, and co-manufacturing partners.
• Strong understanding of allergen controls, testing methodologies, and limits, plus experience working with third-party accreditation bodies.
• Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Technology, or a related discipline.

Nice to have

• Advanced HACCP qualifications.
• Internal or lead auditor certification for FSSC 22000 or BRC.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working with three office days and the option to work from home on the remaining two days.
• 30 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, enhanced family leave, and private medical and health insurance.
• Two weeks per year to work remotely from anywhere.
• Free hirify.global, on-site gym and wellness facilities, therapy, nutrition planning, and electric car and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Paid volunteering days, employee referral rewards, workplace nursery support, and biannual company events.
• Fast-paced, inclusive culture focused on creativity, teamwork, high performance, diversity, and continuous improvement.

Hiring process

• Apply through the hirify.global careers page; applications are typically answered within two weeks.
• Review hirify.global’s seven values before applying to assess alignment with the working environment.