Food Safety Director (Arlington)

FMI – The Food Industry Association: We’re Hiring a Chemical & Food Safety Programs Director (Hybrid Role)

Do you have chemical safety experience with a passion for advancing food safety across the food industry? Are you a technical expert who can translate complex science and regulations into meaningful programs for industry stakeholders? If so, this role might be for you!

Quick Snapshot:

In this role, you’ll develop and implement food and product safety programs for product suppliers; direct food protection activities and provide technical expertise for the FMI membership; interact with federal, state, and local regulatory officials; and represent FMI and its members with external constituents.

What You’ll Do in This Role:

• Develop and deliver food safety programs for product supplier members.
• Lead and manage the Product Supplier Scientific Affairs Committee, including member engagement, meeting planning, and execution of key initiatives.
• Serve as FMI’s technical expert on chemical contaminants in food, supporting science-based policy and regulatory approaches as well as provide technical expertise and guidance to members on food safety, regulatory, and scientific issues.
• Support chemical safety initiatives through research, coordination, and engagement with industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and subject matter experts.
• Assist in the development and implementation of programs, resources, and communications related to chemical safety and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor emerging chemical safety trends, regulations, and industry developments to help inform organizational priorities and member guidance.
• Develop and execute project plans aligned with FMI’s Strategic Plan, ensuring timelines, priorities, and deliverables are met.
• Evaluate member needs and prioritize projects so that critical food safety objectives are met.
• Establish and maintain contacts with regulators, academicians, experts, and others to resolve member questions and issues.
• Partner with external stakeholders to enhance food safety programs and public health outcomes.
• Conduct member outreach and site visits to understand industry practices and strengthen engagement.

Education and Skills You’ll Need to be Successful:

• College degree in a field related to food safety, food science, chemistry, or toxicology. Advanced degree is preferred.
• A minimum of seven to ten years of professional work experience with at least seven years directly related to food safety.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working in the food industry, including knowledge and experience with food processing including HACCP and Preventive Control programs, food microbiology and a working knowledge of chemical contaminants and toxicology.
• Knowledge of federal and state food regulations and regulatory authorities and agencies.
• Excellent written communication skills. Editing and proofreading skills are a plus.
• Excellent oral communication skills, including the ability to create presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint, and experience giving presentations to a variety of audiences.
• Strong people skills, customer service, and team orientation.

Why FMI? We are the champions for the food industry and the issues that make a difference to our members in the food industry. Our work touches the lives of over 120 million households in the U.S. and representing a $1 trillion industry with over 6 million employees. By joining our team, you will become part of a diverse, engaging, and supportive environment where your contributions directly impact the future of the food retail industry.

Our Benefits: We offer a generous benefits package that includes health benefits, 401(k), 11 paid holidays, paid leave benefits, a monthly cell phone reimbursement, monthly commuter benefits, a summer hours program allowing you to work only four hours on Fridays during the summer (once your work is done), volunteer opportunities (if you want to give back to your community), the chance to join our employee wellness group and much more!

This position offers a hybrid work schedule, requiring you to in our Arlington, Virginia office for a minimum of two full days per week. There are additional opportunities for employees to work fully remote throughout the year, including two weeks at the end of August, the week of Thanksgiving and two weeks at the end of December. We offer a $100 monthly transportation reimbursement to offset commuting costs.

*The annual salary range listed reflects the minimum and maximum annual compensation for this position and has been established in good faith and in accordance with Virginia and federal law. Individual salary offers within this range will be based on the candidate's relevant experience, education, skills, certifications, and other job-related factors.

Apply Now: If you are looking to apply your technical expertise to advance food and product safety, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more about FMI by visiting our website at

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FMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.