Specialist, Food Safety

Job Summary

The Specialist, Food Safety, plays a critical role in supporting the organization’s food safety programs and initiatives. This position is responsible for implementing and maintaining food safety systems, conducting risk analyses, and ensuring compliance with applicable food safety regulations and standards. The role involves collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to uphold the safety and quality of the organization’s food products and services.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1 ـ Assist in implementing strategic policies and plans related to food safety and suitability.

2 ـ Ensure adherence to adopted guidelines, regulations, and standards.

3 ـ Review relevant legislation, standards, regulations, and technical circulars as needed.

4 ـ Contribute to drafting and updating legislative documents in the food safety domain.

5 ـ Participate in tasks related to risk assessment, risk management, and food risk communication.

6 ـ Assist in developing and updating blocking lists and procedural circulars to manage identified risks.

7 ـ Support the development and implementation of campaigns (field, print, audio, or visual) to combat food-related rumors.

8 ـ Respond to inquiries and promote public awareness of food safety issues.

9 ـ Review and process technical requests for registration, authorization, or certification.

10 ـ Ensure proper accreditation and updating of halal bodies and other certifying entities.

11 ـ Monitor compliance with food safety and inspection processes.

12 ـ Recommend and support the implementation of corrective actions for identified non-compliance issues.

13 ـ Coordinate with relevant authorities as required.

14 ـ Develop and participate in monitoring and evaluation plans and programs.

15 ـ Support technical reviews and contribute to relevant scientific research.

16 ـ Assist in identifying and tracing sources of risks across the food chain.

17 ـ Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote good operational practices.

18 ـ Ensure the quality of control processes in various sections of the department.

19 ـ Assist in establishing standard operating procedures and supporting internal audits.

20 ـ Perform other tasks as required to meet organizational needs and food safety objectives.

Essential Education

Bachelor's degree in food science, public health, veterinary medicine, or any related discipline

Essential Experience

Min 6 years of experience in food safety

Available Addendums

Food Registration

1. Create principles, procedures, and clear templates for registering food, food establishments

and others.

2. Review foodstuff registration requests to ensure:

A. Accuracy of the food main and subcategories of the food

B. Compliance of the relevant technical regulations and standard, especially ingredients,

Arabic language, and validity

C. No health claims or misleading information on the label.

D. Adding warnings related to ingredients or allergies where needed

E. Assure that any specific requirements for any special characteristics are met or declared,

such as organic or genetically modified foods.

F. Compliance of the product level of risk with the relevant risk management guidance.

3. Review requests for food establishments registration to ensure:

A. Confirming the group to which the facility belongs (restaurants, import, ...) and licensing

that activity.

B. Registration information is included accurately and clearly.

C. Risk level of the food establishment is determined in line with the type of its activity.

4. Review the remaining registration requests according to the relevant food safety and suitability

requirements

5. Ensure, before approving the registration, that all requirements are fulfilled, including the

approvals of other concerned authorities and units, such as inspection.

Food Risk Communication

1. Representing FSD in any early warning system of which Qatar is a part, in order to report risks

and receive various notifications.

2. Participate meetings and committees related to food risk and follow-up of incoming reports,

news and rumors.

3. Classification of external notifications and create a clear mechanism to inform Risk

Management Unit about them and what actions have been taken by the notifying body.

4. Receiving local reports, classifying and submitting them to Risk Management Unit.

5. Prepare the necessary reports on recalls, notifications and information related to food safety.

6. Daily follow-up of published and circulating news about food hazards from all available

national and international sources

Risk Management

1. Take the appropriate decision from among all the practical options available regarding the

emerging risks of reduce risks associated with food

2. Evaluating the negatives and positives results of each of the potential options before issuing

the final decision regarding risks.

3. Analyzing information received on food risks and determining the actual level of risk, following

a structured, science-based approach.

4. Create risk data, classify, and prioritize risk

5. Ensure that risk management decisions and related practices are transparent, consistent, and

fully documented

6. Ensuring that economic factors and the effectiveness of decisions are taken into

consideration, so that there are alternative options in setting standards and guidelines.

7. Proposing a risk assessment policy included within risk management and ensure separation

between the risk assessment process and risk management.

8. Interactive contact with consumers and other interested parties, if required

9. Apply accurate and professional risk management process, which must include results of risk

assessment, development of management options, implementation of decisions and follow-

up.

Standard and Technical Regulations

1. Reviewing, updating and proposing Food Law and the relevant regulations, according to the

latest updates regarding food safety and suitability requirements

2. Review, update and suggest standard specifications and technical regulations in coordination

with the competent authority whenever required.

3. Reviewing, updating and proposing the relevant circulars, decisions and guidelines according

to latest update regarding food safety and suitability requirements

4. Participating relevant technical meetings and working groups in all relevant authorities on

what is proposed.

5. Follow up the requirements for updating and proposals until approved

6. Follow up the implementation of legislation, regulations, circulars, and decisions and study

challenges of application to prepare proposals for their updating.

7. Follow up updates regarding international bodies and global reference bodies concerned with issuing directives or regulations related to food safety and suitability.

8. Contributing to risk studies by providing specialists with the necessary legislative and technical information.