Manager — Store Quality & Food Safety Compliance (Viva Supermarkets)

Role Overview

This position is responsible for overseeing and enforcing Quality and Food Safety (Q&FS) compliance throughout all Viva retail stores. The role involves leading efforts to develop and implement food safety policies, manage store hygiene teams, and ensure adherence to regulatory and company standards.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership on Quality and Food Safety compliance across all Viva stores in the specified territories.
• Create, update, and enforce food safety policies, HACCP plans, and associated Standard Operating Procedures to meet both legal and organizational requirements.
• Supervise and guide Store Hygiene Officers, fostering skill development, consistency, and accountability throughout the cluster.
• Perform audits, inspections, and compliance reviews regularly, ensuring timely closure of all corrective and preventive actions.
• Analyze compliance data and trends to detect risks and improvement opportunities, initiating corrective measures accordingly.
• Collaborate closely with Operations and Supply Chain teams to embed food safety and quality measures in retail operations.
• Coordinate with project teams at a national level for new store openings, remodeling, and concept rollouts to uphold food safety standards.
• Lead investigations related to food safety incidents and manage the entire product recall process as necessary.
• Facilitate and support inspections by regulatory authorities, ensure compliance with observations, and oversee the completion of corrective plans.
• Promote food safety awareness and training programs among store employees to cultivate a proactive safety culture.
• Oversee operational controls including hygiene maintenance, pest control, temperature checks, and food defense across all retail locations.
• Monitor key performance indicators related to compliance and produce detailed reports for management review.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Microbiology, Veterinary Science, or related discipline.
• Certifications such as FSSC 22000, BRC Food Lead Auditor, or equivalent preferred.
• Eight to ten years’ experience in Quality Assurance or Food Safety within retail, FMCG, or food manufacturing sectors.
• At least three years of leadership experience managing food safety teams.
• Familiarity with food safety regulations in UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
• Proven experience handling multi-site retail operations.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken, is essential.