Food Safety Manager - 12 month Fixed Term Contract

About the role In this role you will be accountable for leading and continually improving food safety standards across the Tesco retail, distribution and wider business operations, helping ensure we sell safe and legal food products for our customers every day.
You will provide technical expertise, governance and risk-based assurance across stores, distribution, and support functions, working collaboratively with colleagues across Tesco to make food safety simple, practical, and consistently embedded.
You will support Tesco’s core purpose of serving our customers, communities, and planet a little better every day by protecting customers, strengthening compliance, and helping colleagues understand the part they play in delivering safe, legal, and trusted food. What is in it for you We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more!

• Annual bonus scheme of up to 20% of base salary
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank Holidays)
• Private medical insurance
• 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (12 months service required at the qualifying date) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, plus 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave
• Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and access to mental wellbeing support

The above information is a shortened summary, refer to our policies for full details You will be responsible for

• Leading the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Tesco food safety policies, standards, procedures, and controls across retail, distribution and wider business operations.
• Providing expert food safety advice to the business, translating legislation and technical guidance, Primary Authority advice, regulatory expectations, and industry developments into clear and practical operational requirements.
• Maintaining effective governance over key food safety risks including HACCP-based controls, allergens, temperature control, cleaning and pest management.
• Using data, audit insight, incident trends and regulatory intelligence to identify emerging risks, prioritise action and drive continuous improvement across stores and distribution centres.
• Supporting the design and delivery of food safety assurance activity, including safe and legal audit standards, verification, corrective action management, and root cause analysis.
• Working with retail operations, technical, commercial, distribution, customer, legal and communications teams to ensure food safety requirements are understood, embedded, and delivered consistently.
• Building food safety capability and culture by developing clear guidance, communications, training content, and colleague engagement activity that helps teams do the right thing for customers.
• Representing Tesco professionally with local authorities, Primary Authority partners, the Food Standards Agency and other external stakeholders where required.

You will need

• Strong expertise in food safety management, regulatory compliance, HACCP, allergens, food hygiene, due diligence, and UK food safety legislation.
• Experience implementing, managing, and assuring food safety management systems within complex retail, manufacturing, distribution, or multi-site environments.
• Skilled in risk assessment, auditing, assurance activities, corrective action management, and continuous compliance improvement.
• Experienced in incident investigation, root cause analysis, and using data, audit findings, and performance insights to identify risks and drive improvement plans.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures, and practical operational guidance from technical and regulatory requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing cross-functional teams and building relationships across complex organisations.
• Effective communicator with experience briefing senior stakeholders and engaging with regulators, enforcement authorities, auditors, and Primary Authority partners.
• Degree (or equivalent) in Food Science, Environmental Health, Microbiology, Public Health, Quality Assurance, or a related discipline, supported by relevant Food Safety and HACCP qualifications.

About us You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues. At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support. We're proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here  for more information. And if you're interested in joining our team but don't tick every box, don't let that hold you back from applying.