Food Safety Regulatory Affairs Manager

About us

LSG Sky Chefs is one of the world’s largest airline catering and hospitality providers, known for its outstanding reputation and dynamic approach in the industry. Voted “Airline Caterer of the Year in North America” for 2023 and 2024, we are committed to excellence and innovation, driven by the dedication and expertise of our talented employees. Our team members are the heart and soul of our success, consistently delivering exceptional culinary experiences and outstanding service to our clients and their passengers across North and Latin America.

Role Purpose Statement

The job incumbent will develop and maintain the company’s standards to ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local food safety regulations and requirements. This includes monitoring regulatory changes and cultivating strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to keep food safety practices current, while actively supporting the continuous improvement of the organization’s food safety culture and compliance.

This role is responsible for developing and implementing regulatory strategies, evaluating the effectiveness of food safety programs, and driving alignment with both regulatory expectations and corporate policies. The incumbent will consistently pursue excellence in service delivery, operational performance, and overall regulatory compliance.

Main Accountabilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Development and manage the implementation of the food safety program.
• Ensure LSG Sky Chefs practices comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Monitor and in-depth understanding of food safety regulations and standards from agencies such as the FDA, USDA, and international bodies.
• Plan, organize, develop and lead training in Food food safety standards that are customary within the airline catering and mandated by government regulations FDA/USDA (including FSMA) and full compliance with customer’s specifications include the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative).
• Gathering and exploring regulatory sources FDA/USDA to develop training materials and customize according to the target audience
• Attend professional events to keep the knowledge up to date and build network
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Codex Alimentarius Standards and Customer standards.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections in the target locations including functional areas to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

Regulatory Strategy

• Develop and implement regulatory strategies to support compliance with current and emerging regulations.
• Provide regulatory advice and guidance to cross-functional teams (FDA/USDA, including FSMA)
• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, industry associations, and external consultants.
• Maintain training and certification programs focused on FDA/USDA (including FSMA) to ensure the level of the people supports minimum requirements as well as the goals of the region
• Liaise with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance to regulations
• Design preventative systems to ensure compliance is monitored and assured
• Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders such as Legal, Ops Board, Procurement, Infrastructure Engineering and LPS to drive build in food safety in all departments
• Support the regional quality team with technical food safety knowledge in the mock audits (FDA, Customers and third party) and during the audits.
• Knowledge of risk assessment methodologies and how to apply them to identify and manage food safety risks
• Proficiency in the documentation required for compliance, including food safety plans, audits, and reports.
• Familiarity with microbiology related to food safety, including pathogens and contamination risks
• Capability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including program development, implementation, and compliance monitoring.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Biology or equivalent knowledge required
• GFSI training certified, preferably in FSSC 22000 and solid knowledge in food safety industry
• Five to seven years’ experience required
• Ability to design, develop, and write comprehensive food safety programs that align with regulations and industry standards.
• Skill in creating clear and actionable food safety policies and procedures.
• Experience in conducting external and internal audits and using those results to improve future performance
• Extensive knowledge of food safety management systems, KPI tracking systems, and ability use data and trends from those to improve food safety
• Proactive problem-solving and creative decision-making skills
• Ability to facilitate groups and communicate effectively at all levels in the organization
• Strong oral, written and interpersonal skill with analytical, organizational and planning expertise
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and Windows-based computer applications
• May require up to 50% travel