Food Safety Coordinator (METSA)

Food Safety Coordinator (METSA)

Schedule : Full-time

Shift : Day Job

Job : Supply Chain

Travel: Yes, 20 % of the time 

Description

Role Title: Food Safety Coordinator (METSA)

Department: Quality, Supply Chain

Location: Turkey, Istanbul

Overview

Quality is a key driver of competitive advantage in the Ice Cream business. The Food Safety Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all products meet Ice Cream highest food safety standards in alignment with global policies. This role is critical in leading and implementing food safety initiatives, conducting risk assessments, and developing preventive and corrective strategies to ensure product safety and quality throughout the production and supply chain.

Key Responsibilities:

Food Safety Management:

• Coordinate and implement food safety policies, standards, and procedures for the ice cream category across the Latin America region.
• Ensure compliance with local and international food safety regulations, such as ANVISA, Codex Alimentarius, FDA, among others.
• Conduct internal and external audits, monitoring and evaluating manufacturing processes to ensure product integrity.
• Participate in consumer safety and corporate (global) audits as a Quality expert.
• Design and manage food safety programs for the ice cream category, aligning with Unilever’s global standards and local regulations.
• Implement safety practices and protocols to monitor microbiological risks and other contaminants, ensuring all products meet food safety requirements.
  

Process Development and Validation:

• Collaborate with Research and Development (R&D) teams to ensure new products meet food safety requirements.
• Coordinate the validation and verification of critical processes, such as pasteurization, allergen management, metal detection, storage, and distribution, to mitigate potential contamination risks.
  

Training and Development:

• Develop and implement food safety training programs for operational and leadership teams across the region.
• Serve as a technical reference, providing guidance and support to local factories and suppliers.
  

Incident and Recall Management:

• Contribute to food safety incident investigations, identifying root causes and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
  

Regional Strategy Development:

• Contribute to the development of food safety strategies aligned with Unilever’s global goals and the specific needs of the Latin American market.
• Analyze market and regulatory trends in food safety, adapting global best practices to local operations.
  

Risk Management and Preventive Assessment:

• Conduct risk assessments on processes and facilities to identify potential critical points that may compromise food safety.
• Develop and implement preventive strategies and risk mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood of recalls and food safety incidents.
  

Audits and Compliance with Food Safety Standards:

• Conduct regular food safety audits in factories, suppliers, and manufacturing partners, ensuring compliance with certifications such as FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, and Unilever Guidelines.
  

Monitoring Food Safety Indicators and Continuous Improvement:

• Define and monitor food safety KPIs, using data to adjust and enhance food safety protocols and practices.
• Identify opportunities for innovation in food safety and promote continuous process improvement by integrating new technologies and preventive approaches.
  

Global Quality Programs:

Allergen Management and Contaminants Program in line with global guidelines:

• Responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring allergen management throughout the production chain, ensuring that all manufacturing, storage and distribution processes are aligned with the company's global norms and standards.
• Managing the contaminants program, identifying and monitoring potential chemical, physical and biological contaminants, as well as ensuring that all safety controls are implemented to meet global regulations and requirements.
•  Work in an integrated manner with the technical interface areas (R&D, production and quality) to carry out risk assessments and define preventive practices that minimize exposure to allergens and contaminants.
  

Member of the Specialist Leadership Team (Cross BGs and BUs):

• Actively participate in the expert leadership team, made up of senior professionals from different business areas (Cross BG and Bus), promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience between the business divisions.

• Contributing to the development of global and regional food safety and quality strategies, providing technical insights and proposing continuous improvements.
• Representing the food safety team in strategic decisions and innovation initiatives, promoting the implementation of best practices to ensure the safety and quality of the company's products.
  

METSA Quality Program:

• Manage and ensure the implementation of global quality programs for METSA (Icemic, Vision System, Product Superiority, C&D Validation, Vital 3 Implementation, CCPMU Reduction, Contaminants Program).

Professional Skills & Competencies:

• Education: Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Biology, Chemistry or related areas. A postgraduate degree in related areas is a plus.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 to 10 years in food safety, preferably in food and beverage industries, with strong experience in auditing and regulation.
• Technical Skills: Deep knowledge of HACCP, GMP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC and other food safety systems. Experience with microbiology and quality control in frozen products is a plus.
• Languages: Fluency in Turkish and English to communicate with teams in different countries in the region.
• Personal Skills: Strong communication, leadership, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ability to work collaboratively and lead teams in a multicultural environment.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.