Food Safety Lead

Kendamil; Kendal; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nutrition company in Kendal seeks a Food Safety Lead to maintain and enhance the Food Safety Management System in compliance with UK, EU, and FDA regulations. Candidates must hold a degree in Food Science or related fields and have at least 5 years’ experience in food safety. The role involves leading audits, training teams, and ensuring validation programs are up-to-date. Benefits include competitive holidays, a pension scheme, and health plans.

Benefits

33 days holiday including bank holidays

Pension scheme with employer match

Free health cash plan

Free gym membership

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in food safety or quality within food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations and U.S. export compliance.
• In-depth understanding of FSMS principles and food microbiology.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and maintenance of the site’s Food Safety Management System.
• Ensure compliance with UK, EU, and FDA regulations.
• Provide leadership and training to food safety and hygiene teams.

Skills

FDA regulations

Food safety management

HACCP principles

Validation lifecycle management

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or related field

Formal qualifications in HACCP and PCQI

Job description

Overview

Join one of Europe’s fastest-growing nutrition companies

Kendal Nutricare creates world-class nutrition for every stage of life, from Kendamil infant and toddler formula to Kendalife adult nutrition. We’re a family-owned, purpose-driven business with big global ambitions.

In 2025, we were ranked the UK’s fastest-growing food and drink company, with Kendamil now one of the fastest-growing baby brands in the world, the No.1 Organic formula in both the UK and the USA, and available in 40+ countries (and counting).

As the only British infant formula manufacturer, we’re proud to produce our award-winning products here in the UK using British full-cream milk, with no palm oil or unnecessary additives. Trusted by families worldwide.

We’re on an exciting path – join u The R

Role: Food Safety Lead

As the Food Safety Lead at our Kendal site, you will play a key role in maintaining and continuously improving the site’s Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in line with UK, EU, and FDA standar ds. You will ensure robust compliance for both domestic and export markets — with particular focus on U.S. FDA and FSMA requirements for infant formula — while leading validation activities and fostering a strong culture of food safety across the si te.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of the site’s FSMS in line with HACCP principles and international standards for infant form ule. Monitor and review programs to ensure full compliance with UK, EU, and FDA regulati ons. Conduct internal audits, inspections, and risk assessments to proactively identify and mitigate food safety ri.
• FDA Compliance (U.S. Expo rs) Act as the site’s expert on FDA and PCQI regulations to maintain export readiness to the United Sta tes. Manage all food safety documentation and processes required for FDA and FSMA compliance. Partner with Regulatory Affairs to ensure alignment with evolving U.S. regulatory requirements. Ship Lead the development, execution, and documentation of validation activities across the F
• SMS.Oversee validation programs including: Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems; Allergen cleaning and control; Thermal process validations (e.g., pasteurisation, UHT). Ensure all validations are scientifically sound, risk-based, and compliant with regulatory standards (FDA, Codex, EU). Maintain validation master plans, protocols, and reports, ensuring timely review and revalidat.
• Training & Team Development Provide leadership, coaching, and technical support to food safety and hygiene teams. Deliver training on food safety, allergen management, validation protocols, and FDA compliance. Foster a proactive, site-wide food safety culture through education and engagem.
• Continuous Improvement & Risk Management Analyse food safety performance data and lead root cause investigati ons. Drive continuous improvement and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA). Identify opportunities to strengthen food safety systems, validation, and regulatory readin ess. Monitor and review programs to ensure full compliance with UK, EU, and FDA regulati ons. Conduct internal audits, inspections, and risk assessments to proactively identify and mitigate food safety ri.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Technology, or a related discip line. Formal qualifications in HACCP, PCQI, and/or food safety audi required. Minimum 5 years’ experience in food safety or quality within a food manufacturing environment — ideally in infant formula or high-care d airy.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations, PCQI responsibilities, and U.S. export compli ance. Demonstrated success in leading validation programs (cleaning, allergen, and thermal proces ses). In-depth understanding of FSMS principles, food microbiology, allergen management, and hygienic de sign.
• Skilled in validation lifecycle management — from protocol design to data interpreta tion. Knowledge of BRC, ISO 22000, Codex Alimentarius, and CFR Title 21. Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across t able. Lead Auditor qualification would be an adva.

Benefits

• From us: The opportunity to work for the fastest growing infant milk brand in Europe, alongside a young talented team dedicated to serving thousands of passionate cust omers.
• We offer to all our empl oyes: 33 days holiday (incl. bank holidays), pro rata to start date an nd FTE. Pension Scheme by Aegon, the Employer will match contributions up to a maximum of 5% Free health cas h plan Free Gym Membe rship* Life Assurance at 2 x basic salary after 6 months of s ervice EAP Programme New parents enjoy up to £350 worth of Kendamil products (excluding Stage 1 for)