Top Career Growth Tips for Food Safety Professionals

Food safety has always been crucial, but with the rise of pathogens and challenges from pests and chemicals, it’s vital for food and beverage manufacturers to have strong food safety leaders. This has led to a strong emphasis on developing the food safety leaders of the future.

Jill Stuber, founder of Catalyst, a coaching and leadership development company for the food industry, and vice chair of the Developing Food Safety Professionals Group of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP), says that possessing solid technical skills is essential in the food safety space. “We’ve seen people improve their work outcomes and get promoted when they practice and adopt soft skills such as self awareness, creating safe spaces, and leading with curiosity,” she says. “Leaders who empower team members and invest in personal and professional growth are more likely to enhance their career growth prospects, as they will be known for growing competent, dynamic, and innovative teams.”

Takashi Nakamura, PhD, vice president of food safety for Fresh Del Monte, highlights three areas of focus in building any career: attitude, aptitude, and attendance. All are necessary to become a strong food safety leader. “Resiliency is key when it comes to food safety, since the next outbreak or recall is just around the corner,” he adds. “Our days really begin on Friday since testing begins on Monday, so the ability to manage oneself both mentally and physically in a 24–7 environment is that we can never control. This world is that of pathogens, and it’s important to know that we inhabit their world, and not the other way around. There will be more tough days than easy days in our business and function.”

Aptitude should be a top characteristic in a food safety leader, and candidates should build themselves up as subject matter experts. “Establishing credibility and empowering others in this type of job function requires constant vigilance in developing your skill sets and competencies,” Dr. Nakamura says. “Don’t settle for what you have achieved, but rather look for the opportunity to build via a disciplined and rigorous program—regardless of the degrees you have or the training you’ve achieved. The world is constantly evolving and adapting, and as stewards of critical functions in an organization, we as professionals need to do the same.”

He also notes the importance of regular on-site visits that include visiting the floor, walking the fields, and touring the facilities. “This function is not one where you stay behind a desk in an office,” Dr. Nakamura says. “You will need to see, touch, and hear what is going on in your operations. Be present to those other functions and engage. Be engaged in associations, stay in touch with universities and institutes, and establish and expand your network.”

Food safety is a rapidly evolving field, so professionals must stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies to enhance their career growth. Continuous education and training are critical. “Professionals can stay ahead of emerging trends by regularly reading industry publications, research studies, and reports related to food safety issues and events,” says Jorge Hernandez, vice president of quality assurance for the Wendy’s Company, who has over three decades of experience as a food safety leader. “They can also pursue additional training, certifications, attend workshops, webinars, conferences, and/or taking online courses related to food safety. This will help them enhance their knowledge and skills in the field.”

Key Skills

Jennifer McEntire, PhD, founder of Food Safety Strategy and former chief food safety and regulatory officer at the International Fresh Produce Association, shares that future food leaders should possess strong foundational knowledge of food safety hazards and critical thinking skills to determine when these hazards become risks. “Knowing how to do the research to gather this information to make data-driven decisions is critical,” she says. “It’s not just analytical skills though; it’s important to listen and learn from others. Leaders also have a natural curiosity.”