Food Safety Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Manager

Summary

Join Kepak, a leading European food company, as their Food Safety Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Manager. This newly created remote position, requiring regular on-site presence across UK sites, reports to the Food Safety & Quality Director. You will be the expert on all aspects of regulatory and food safety compliance, establishing and maintaining the highest standards across retail and primary meat operations. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with legislation, retailer expectations, and internal policies; managing compliance-related incidents; conducting audits; and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The role demands strong leadership, a proactive approach to risk management, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This is a crucial role in safeguarding Kepak's brand integrity and driving operational excellence.

Requirements

• Degree in Food Science or related field with knowledge of food safety and quality assurance
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations (HACCP, TACCP, BRCGS) and UK/EU frameworks
• Full, clean UK driver’s license required
• Experience in audits and collaboration with clients
• Background in regulatory affairs and quality management in food manufacturing
• Proven track record in food safety compliance and managing audits
• Experience with retailer-driven standards and regulatory changes

Responsibilities

• Take an active role in fostering a positive safety culture by identifying and reporting potential hazards, ensuring that safe working practices are upheld at all times
• Guide and oversee all regulatory compliance efforts to guarantee adherence to food safety laws, industry benchmarks, and customer requirements
• Establish and maintain the Kepak Meat Division UK technical compliance standards that dictate site protocols, ensuring consistency with BRC, retailer/customer codes of practice, food safety laws, industry regulations, and our own quality systems
• Analyse and apply updates in food legislation and customer standards, revising internal processes and documentation as needed
• Craft, uphold, and enhance the company’s compliance framework, policies, and procedures, ensuring they resonate with current legislation and customer expectations
• Continuously refine and strengthen a comprehensive compliance management system that aligns with all pertinent food safety laws, industry regulations, and customer standards
• Proactively share and execute updates regarding legislative and customer standard changes across all relevant departments and documentation
• Oversee and address compliance-related incidents, conducting thorough root cause analyses and executing corrective measures
• Proactively identify and evaluate compliance risks, driving corrective and preventative strategies that safeguard product integrity and uphold brand reputation
• Carry out internal audits to gear up for third-party, customer, and regulatory evaluations, ensuring our organization is always audit-ready for positive results during inspections
• Assist and equip site teams for third-party audits and regulatory evaluations
• Elevate compliance frameworks, track evolving trends, and boost audit effectiveness and regulatory preparedness by implementing root cause analysis and industry best practices
• Monitor emerging regulatory trends and provide strategic guidance to the business on associated risks, opportunities, and essential adjustments
• Collaborate with our food safety, quality, health & safety, production, engineering, and commercial teams to seamlessly integrate compliance across the entire organization
• Serve as the main liaison with regulatory authorities on all aspects of regulatory compliance
• Deliver regulatory insights and training to internal teams, nurture relationships with regulatory bodies, and foster a robust culture of compliance

Preferred Qualifications

• HACCP Level 4 and Lead Auditor certifications preferred
• Familiarity with animal welfare standards and ethical practices

Benefits

• Company Pension
• Death in Service Benefit
• Employee Discount Platform - All Kepak employees are entitled to access to the WrkIt platform, which offers significant discounts and cashback with hundreds of brands
• Refer a Friend Scheme - Get up to £500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group
• Bike to Work Scheme - You can buy a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Subsidised Canteen - Our on site canteen is serving multiple hot food options during the day
• Free Car Parking - Our Kepak site has a dedicated staff car parking facility which is free to use for all of our colleagues
• Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees
• GroceryAid Employee Assistance Program - Providing emotional, practical and financial support for all Kepak colleagues