Our Client is a multi- national food logistics and facilities provider. Founded in 1957 its headquarters are in Europe and are renowned as a market leader and an innovative distributor of wholesale food products and food logistics concepts. They are experts in the handling of customs procedures, cross border transactions and dealing with local cultures, languages and bureaucracy.

They distribute food products across all temperature spans including fresh produce and also deliver soft drinks and bottled water. They have sites in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Near Asia, a fleet of 40 foot multi : temperature trucks and vans delivering to sites on a daily basis, many of which are difficult to reach or in dangerous areas!

Over the years the business has developed from food logistics to include the provision of complex service solutions. They now provide catering operations- both military feeding and commercial catering, they operate bakeries, coffee shops, hairdressing and beautician salons and PX / Duty Free retail stores which sell groceries, electrical and other duty free items etc. They also have a Site Services Division which provides construction of buildings and offices, general facilities management, fuel management, vehicle and plant maintenance services.

As a result of our client winning additional new business they are seeking a Food Safety Manager for their catering operations in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The role:

Reporting into the Catering Services Manager : Kandahar and with a dotted line relationship into the Group Quality Manager this is a key role assisting the Catering Services Manager in managing and promoting continuous improvement of the Food Safety program throughout our client?s catering business units in Kandahar.

The key objectives are:

§ Ongoing management of the Quality System in accordance with the Food Safety program throughout the catering business units based in Kandahar;
§ To ensure full catering / retail compliance to the Food Safety Program through management of audits, training and quality related processes;
§ Effective manage Quality Department resources;
§ Ensure the Quality department perform their roles and responsibilities as defined in their job descriptions;
§ Effective motivation, train and develop Quality personnel within department

Key tasks will be:

§ Develop and Implement a HACCP base Food Safety Program for all of our client?s Catering and Retail Operations
§ Manage department to ensure audits are conducted as per agreed schedule and are communicated to the respective BUD?s
§ Manage department to ensure implement suggestions and preventative actions raised during audits are action in a timely manner with an effective outcome
§ Report on departments activities to GQM on a weekly and monthly basis
§ With the Food and Safety Trainer (Kabul) develop training programs in Food Hygiene, HACCP, at a basic, intermediate and advance level for all Units
§ Develop and recommend improvement strategies for the on going development of the Food Safety Program to the GQM
§ Development of key staff in the department to support Food Safety Program locally;
§ Ensure the development of the quality culture on site to increases employee awareness to factors that may compromise food safety
§ Maintain, control and conduct maintenance of the Catering and Retail Food Safety program to reflect additions, deletions, or amendments
§ Provide technical guidance and support to Catering Managers and BUD.

Knowledge and Skills:

You are likely to be an experienced Food Safety Manager or Chef / Catering Manager with significant experience in catering operations.

In addition you should possess an excellent knowledge of food safety programs, HACCP principles and inspection and audit programs.

You should have formal accreditation as an Auditor or Trainer in HACCP Food Hygiene / Handling and ideally experienced in implementing, developing and conducting food hygiene / food safety training.

Superb communication skills and instant credibility are essential as you will be inter-facing with a number of people from different backgrounds, nationalities and religions.

You should possess excellent communication skills in English and ideally one other language and be able to adapt to rapid changes in a positive manner and work to tight deadlines.

You will be resourceful with a flexible outlook, have the ability to multi-task in order to handle competing priorities and be able to fit in to an international dynamic and multi-cultural environment.

Finally you should possess a Drivers Licence and be IT / PC literate.

This is an outstanding challenge for an accomplished Food Safety professional looking for something different.

Whilst our Client?s operation is somewhat unique they are in it for the long term and are looking for a minimum of 12 - 18 month?s commitment.

The basic salary is paid in US Dollars and is tax free for an Ex-Patriate