Emirates Airlines Food Safety Halal Specialist

Emirates Airlines industry in Dubai, UAE is looking for a Food Safety Halal Specialist to support the evaluation and management of food safety and Halal compliance across its global network of food and beverage suppliers. The role involves conducting international supplier audits, assessing food safety and Halal standards, managing corrective actions, supporting regulatory compliance, and strengthening food safety systems across global catering operations.

The successful candidate will work with existing and prospective Emirates F&B suppliers worldwide, ensuring that products, processes, documentation, and operational practices comply with internationally recognised food safety, HACCP, Halal, and regulatory requirements.

This is a highly international role requiring frequent overseas travel to conduct supplier audits and compliance assessments.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and prepare the annual audit programme for assessing food safety and Halal compliance across selected Emirates food and beverage suppliers worldwide.
• Conduct independent, objective, and comprehensive food safety and Halal audits of Emirates F&B partners in accordance with internationally recognised auditing principles.
• Assess supplier facilities, food handling practices, hygiene standards, HACCP systems, GMP implementation, Halal controls, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop, review, and regularly update Emirates food safety and Halal compliance manuals, procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Monitor changes in international and country-specific food safety, Halal, and regulatory legislation and communicate relevant updates to key stakeholders.
• Deliver regular technical presentations and compliance updates to internal teams, catering stakeholders, suppliers, and other relevant business functions.
• Develop, maintain, and improve the Emirates supplier self-assessment questionnaire in line with internationally recognised HACCP and food safety principles.
• Ensure suppliers complete annual self-assessments and effectively close identified corrective and preventive actions within agreed timelines.
• Liaise with Group Legal, Customer Affairs, Insurance, Internal Audit, Dubai Municipality, and other relevant stakeholders regarding food safety incidents, investigations, complaints, and regulatory queries.
• Investigate food safety-related concerns and prepare accurate technical reports, evidence, records, and supporting documentation.
• Analyse supplier audit findings, non-conformities, incidents, corrective actions, and performance data to identify recurring food safety and Halal compliance trends.
• Provide recommendations to catering leadership to continuously improve food hygiene, food safety, supplier performance, and operational compliance across the Emirates network.
• Develop and deliver technical training covering food safety, GMP, HACCP, pest control verification, personnel hygiene, preventive maintenance, food handling, and Halal compliance.
• Review, verify, approve, and maintain ingredient declarations within the catering management system.
• Ensure Emirates-nominated food and beverage products comply with applicable food safety, ingredient, regulatory, and Halal requirements.
• Maintain accurate food safety and Halal documentation, supplier records, incidents, corrective actions, audit findings, and compliance information within the catering management system.
• Monitor supplier compliance with agreed service-level requirements and contractual food safety and Halal obligations.
• Manage the Emirates product recall process and serve as a key member of the product recall team.
• Organise and conduct regular product recall mock exercises using different incident scenarios to test the effectiveness and readiness of the recall process.
• Maintain accurate recall registers, procedures, documentation, contact information, and responsibilities.
• Ensure all members of the recall team understand their roles and responsibilities during a food safety or product recall incident.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at strengthening food safety culture, supplier compliance, food hygiene, and Halal assurance across the international Emirates catering network.

Qualification & Experience

To be considered for the Food Safety & Halal Compliance Specialist position, candidates should meet the following requirements:

• A completed Bachelor’s Degree or Honours Degree in Science or an equivalent qualification.
• A degree in Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Environmental Health, Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline would be advantageous.
• An internationally recognised Food Safety and Halal Internal Auditor or Lead Auditor certification from a recognised training institution.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience conducting internal and external food safety, food quality, or supplier compliance audits.
• At least 5 years of experience in the food and beverage, food manufacturing, catering, aviation catering, or related food industry.
• Practical experience in food manufacturing, catering operations, food safety management systems, and/or food safety laboratory environments.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food hygiene, food safety management systems, supplier auditing, corrective action management, and Halal compliance.
• Experience with food ingredient evaluation, supplier approval, product compliance, food safety documentation, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in in-flight services or in-flight catering would be an added advantage.
• Completion of relevant professional or operational training at an advanced level.
• Strong analytical, auditing, investigation, reporting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
• Ability to communicate technical food safety and Halal requirements effectively to suppliers, management, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Highly organised, self-motivated, independent, and capable of managing multiple international supplier assessments and compliance activities.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally frequently as part of the role.

Key Skills

Food Safety | Halal Compliance | HACCP | GMP | Food Safety Auditing | Supplier Audits | Lead Auditor | Internal Auditing | Food Quality | Catering Food Safety | Food Manufacturing | Supplier Approval | Corrective Actions | Product Recall | Food Hygiene | Regulatory Compliance | Ingredient Compliance | Food Safety Training | Risk Assessment | International Auditing

Career Opportunity

This role offers an opportunity for an experienced food safety professional to work within an international aviation and catering environment, supporting food safety and Halal compliance across a global supplier network.