Food Safety Leader - Category Food

The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people – our customers, co-workers and suppliers. IKEA Food develops and provides the food sold and served in all IKEA Restaurants, Bistro´s, Swedish Food Markets and the IKEA co-worker restaurants. IKEA Food has 389 restaurants in 49 markets and every year 650 million guests are enjoying the IKEA Food.
Our customers have been served food in IKEA stores since 1959. In 2017 we launched Category Area Food, as part of the pursuit of a world class food supply chain. Through consolidation of today’s supplier base of more than 1.100 suppliers of food to our stores, we secure an optimal sourcing, with a strong governance to secure safe food of good quality and mitigate risks, including food fraud.
Do you want to be part of that journey and drive the Food Safety agenda for Category Area Food and lead its execution in a global environment? If yes, this might be the perfect challenge for you!
Job Description
In your role you will lead the Food Safety agenda within CA Food in full alignment with the overall IKEA Food Safety Agenda and secure its execution in category business teams.
Furthermore, you are the connection to the other Quality, Food Safety and Compliance Departments within our IKEA organisation
The aim is to secure all suppliers delivering to IKEA fulfills IKEA Food Safety requirements and all food products delivered to IKEA are safe to be used by all IKEA co-workers and customers.
Another important area of responsibility is to develop and maintain food safety competence within category.
Main Food Safety responsibilities included in your assignment are:
Maintain and further develop the Supplier Verification Program
Develop the process for compliance and verification within Category Area Food and in connection with the Quality functions in our purchasing offices all over the world
Participate in projects digitalizing the requirement and compliance verification activities
Drive alignment with for our ways of working and routines with the Home furnishing business including a common Quality Standard
Build internal and external network including relationships with auditors and key suppliers on food safety
Responsible for Food Safety competence development within Category Area Food business development teams.
Contribute to establishing a strong food safety culture among all Category Area Food Co-workers
Secure that best practices and good ideas relating to area of responsibility are collected and communicated to relevant network

Qualifications
We are looking for a person with education and background either in microbiology, auditing or extensive work experience from Food Safety in the food industry, food service or other food business. As a person you are a team player and networker with a result orientated mind. You have good communication skills and are great with people. We see that you are structured, customer orientated, have a problem-solving approach and accuracy and an eye for details. You are fluent both in spoken and written English.
A broad experience in these topics covering the global regulatory landscape as well as the challenges faced in interpretation and implementation might be an advantage.
As a Food Safety Leader it is good to have:
previous experience in Food and Quality related roles (Food Safety / Quality, Auditor or Quality Assurance) within a Food Retailing / Manufacturing company with global footprint.
Previous experience in creating and implementing Food Safety & Quality Management Systems
You work passionately to delivere results in leading and developing both business and people
experience in leading cross organizational projects and good knowledge of project management tools
Good remote leadership skills

Additional information
The Food Safety Leader for Category Area Food can be located in Älmhult (Sweden), Milano (Italy) Shanghai (China), King of Prussia (US), or Warsaw (Poland).
This role will require travelling.