International Fresh Produce Association Australia & New Zealand
Vice President, Food Safety & Quality
International Fresh Produce Association Australia & New Zealand, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022
Vice President, Food Safety & Quality
As Vice President, Food Safety & Quality, you serve as the association’s subject‑matter expert on microbiological and chemical hazards that impact fresh produce safety and quality. You will lead industry‑wide AI efforts for knowledge transfer and root‑cause analysis, collaborate with the Vice President of Food Safety/Regulatory Affairs, and contribute to the bottom line through member recruitment, education, training and cross‑functional initiatives.
Position Responsibilities Leadership (60%)
Provide support to the Food Safety Council by leading assigned subcommittees, technical workgroups and taskforces on activities such as developing practical, science‑based “best practice” guidance documents.
Serve as a technical ambassador/liaison to government food safety agencies (FDA, FSIS, CDC, SENESECA, EFSA), academia, media, coalitions and technical committees.
Support the Vice President Food Safety & Regulatory Affairs in evaluating and commenting on scientific and technical aspects of regulatory policies and preparing public comments for agencies.
Develop and propose long‑term strategies to the Chief Science Officer based on horizon scanning of industry trends and knowledge gaps.
Provide vision, direction and catalyst for multidisciplinary teams, ensuring alignment with the IFPA Strategic Plan and annual business plans.
Lead with adaptability, leveraging digital tools (Wrike, Teams, AI platforms) to plan, track and communicate progress.
Model self‑awareness, professionalism and openness to feedback, building trust and cohesion among diverse teams.
Mentor, coach and develop direct reports and high‑potential staff to strengthen the food safety leadership pipeline.
Membership Consultation (20%)
Leverage AI and data‑analytics platforms to deliver scalable, timely and accurate responses to member needs.
Provide direct responses to individual member inquiries on all technical aspects of fresh produce safety and quality during production, processing and handling throughout the supply chain, and document outcomes to ensure transparency and service consistency.
Analyze trends in technical requests to inform the development of approaches that meet members’ food safety, quality and other technical needs efficiently and scalable, and recommend outputs and projects based on member inquiry data.
Connect industry members with practical, science‑based services and solutions, at commercial or developmental phases.
Support the review of members’ food safety plans (e.g., hazard evaluations, environmental monitoring programs) and provide technical input.
Education and Training (10%)
Lead global food safety education and outreach partnerships, developing and executing a strategy that ensures training programs remain current with science, regulations and industry needs.
Serve as a subject‑matter expert, providing technical content and review for educational initiatives with the support of the Manager, Food Safety Programs.
Deliver training in formats assisted by modern technology and through partnerships on food safety and quality.
Coordinate the creation and evaluation of technical resources with the education, marketing and analytics teams to measure impact and inform continuous improvement.
Support Research and Innovation (10%)
Translate research outcomes into practical tools, guidance and communication materials for members within defined timelines.
Advocate for the produce industry’s research needs by aligning IFPA priorities with public and private funding opportunities and championing projects that advance food safety, quality and innovation.
Serve as a liaison between academia, industry and internal departments to ensure research findings inform policy, education and advocacy initiatives.
Leverage digital databases and AI tools for horizon scanning and evidence synthesis.
Provide technical consultation and insight to research and service providers.
Other duties as assigned Cover Letter Instructions Applicants must explicitly highlight in their cover letter both their technical expertise and leadership experience/readiness to successfully complete responsibilities for this position; include 3–5 relevant impactful examples that highlight technical expertise, core competencies and experience in leading organizational change.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required core competencies and experience
Ph.D. or comparable degree in microbiology, public health, food science, agriculture or related field with coursework in food microbiology. Bioinformatics, biostatistics, genomics, molecular biology, post‑harvest physiology, organic are a plus.
Demonstrated agility and adaptability in a fast‑paced, feedback‑driven environment.
Strong self‑direction and accountability for deliverables with minimal supervision.
Excellent communication and emotional intelligence skills—ability to read context, adjust tone and build consensus across diverse stakeholders.
Proven ability to translate complex scientific or technical concepts into actionable guidance for non‑technical audiences.
Experience leading or contributing to multi‑stakeholder projects involving industry, academia and regulators.
Strong conflict resolution and team leadership skills, including the ability to hold others accountable while maintaining trust.
Familiarity with AI and data‑driven systems for risk analysis, surveillance, or member resource curation (experience working with technical teams on AI projects is acceptable).
Demonstrated success in developing business or strategic plans aligned with organizational strategy.
Proven ability to author or oversee scientific white papers, best‑practice guidance or industry standards documents.
Technological proficiency: comfortable using project management systems (e.g., Wrike, Asana, or Smartsheet) and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce); demonstrated ability to learn new digital tools quickly and integrate them into daily workflow.
At least 10 years relevant technical and leadership experience in produce safety/quality in industry or regulatory; academic experience alone is not sufficient for this position.
Well versed in hazards and risks associated with various production systems (pre‑harvest, post‑harvest, organic, controlled environment, etc.).
Comprehensive understanding of the elements of produce production, handling and distribution that impact product quality and safety, such as the role of transportation, organic production, etc.
Familiarity with the FDA processes.
Direct experience handling recalls, outbreaks and related crises.
Bi or multilingual, especially Spanish fluency, is a plus, but not required.
Measures for Success
Deliver timely, accurate, and well‑referenced technical guidance that meets member needs and demonstrates practical application across the supply chain in a variety of formats (e.g., AI/technology‑enabled, webinars, on‑site presentations).
Elevate the visibility and influence of IFPA’s technical resources through collaborative engagement, resulting in broader member utilization and external recognition.
Demonstrate situational leadership and emotional intelligence by adapting communication and management style to effectively motivate and develop individuals and teams, and to support volunteer leadership initiatives.
Be recognized by members, partners and regulatory stakeholders as a trusted and credible voice in produce safety and quality, evidenced by the depth and volume of member inquiries; invitations to speak, publish; or represent the association in influential forums.
Integrate cross‑departmental collaboration and digital fluency into daily operations, improving efficiency, transparency and organizational alignment.
Travel Business related travel required, not to exceed 12 times per year.
Work Environment & Location Requirement This position is primarily remote but requires the candidate to be based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Applications from individuals located in areas with high concentration of IFPA members (California, Arizona, Florida or Texas) will also be considered. Candidates must be available to commute to IFPA’s D.C. office and/or U.S. federal agencies often with short notice.
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Position Responsibilities Leadership (60%)
Provide support to the Food Safety Council by leading assigned subcommittees, technical workgroups and taskforces on activities such as developing practical, science‑based “best practice” guidance documents.
Serve as a technical ambassador/liaison to government food safety agencies (FDA, FSIS, CDC, SENESECA, EFSA), academia, media, coalitions and technical committees.
Support the Vice President Food Safety & Regulatory Affairs in evaluating and commenting on scientific and technical aspects of regulatory policies and preparing public comments for agencies.
Develop and propose long‑term strategies to the Chief Science Officer based on horizon scanning of industry trends and knowledge gaps.
Provide vision, direction and catalyst for multidisciplinary teams, ensuring alignment with the IFPA Strategic Plan and annual business plans.
Lead with adaptability, leveraging digital tools (Wrike, Teams, AI platforms) to plan, track and communicate progress.
Model self‑awareness, professionalism and openness to feedback, building trust and cohesion among diverse teams.
Mentor, coach and develop direct reports and high‑potential staff to strengthen the food safety leadership pipeline.
Membership Consultation (20%)
Leverage AI and data‑analytics platforms to deliver scalable, timely and accurate responses to member needs.
Provide direct responses to individual member inquiries on all technical aspects of fresh produce safety and quality during production, processing and handling throughout the supply chain, and document outcomes to ensure transparency and service consistency.
Analyze trends in technical requests to inform the development of approaches that meet members’ food safety, quality and other technical needs efficiently and scalable, and recommend outputs and projects based on member inquiry data.
Connect industry members with practical, science‑based services and solutions, at commercial or developmental phases.
Support the review of members’ food safety plans (e.g., hazard evaluations, environmental monitoring programs) and provide technical input.
Education and Training (10%)
Lead global food safety education and outreach partnerships, developing and executing a strategy that ensures training programs remain current with science, regulations and industry needs.
Serve as a subject‑matter expert, providing technical content and review for educational initiatives with the support of the Manager, Food Safety Programs.
Deliver training in formats assisted by modern technology and through partnerships on food safety and quality.
Coordinate the creation and evaluation of technical resources with the education, marketing and analytics teams to measure impact and inform continuous improvement.
Support Research and Innovation (10%)
Translate research outcomes into practical tools, guidance and communication materials for members within defined timelines.
Advocate for the produce industry’s research needs by aligning IFPA priorities with public and private funding opportunities and championing projects that advance food safety, quality and innovation.
Serve as a liaison between academia, industry and internal departments to ensure research findings inform policy, education and advocacy initiatives.
Leverage digital databases and AI tools for horizon scanning and evidence synthesis.
Provide technical consultation and insight to research and service providers.
Other duties as assigned Cover Letter Instructions Applicants must explicitly highlight in their cover letter both their technical expertise and leadership experience/readiness to successfully complete responsibilities for this position; include 3–5 relevant impactful examples that highlight technical expertise, core competencies and experience in leading organizational change.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required core competencies and experience
Ph.D. or comparable degree in microbiology, public health, food science, agriculture or related field with coursework in food microbiology. Bioinformatics, biostatistics, genomics, molecular biology, post‑harvest physiology, organic are a plus.
Demonstrated agility and adaptability in a fast‑paced, feedback‑driven environment.
Strong self‑direction and accountability for deliverables with minimal supervision.
Excellent communication and emotional intelligence skills—ability to read context, adjust tone and build consensus across diverse stakeholders.
Proven ability to translate complex scientific or technical concepts into actionable guidance for non‑technical audiences.
Experience leading or contributing to multi‑stakeholder projects involving industry, academia and regulators.
Strong conflict resolution and team leadership skills, including the ability to hold others accountable while maintaining trust.
Familiarity with AI and data‑driven systems for risk analysis, surveillance, or member resource curation (experience working with technical teams on AI projects is acceptable).
Demonstrated success in developing business or strategic plans aligned with organizational strategy.
Proven ability to author or oversee scientific white papers, best‑practice guidance or industry standards documents.
Technological proficiency: comfortable using project management systems (e.g., Wrike, Asana, or Smartsheet) and CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce); demonstrated ability to learn new digital tools quickly and integrate them into daily workflow.
At least 10 years relevant technical and leadership experience in produce safety/quality in industry or regulatory; academic experience alone is not sufficient for this position.
Well versed in hazards and risks associated with various production systems (pre‑harvest, post‑harvest, organic, controlled environment, etc.).
Comprehensive understanding of the elements of produce production, handling and distribution that impact product quality and safety, such as the role of transportation, organic production, etc.
Familiarity with the FDA processes.
Direct experience handling recalls, outbreaks and related crises.
Bi or multilingual, especially Spanish fluency, is a plus, but not required.
Measures for Success
Deliver timely, accurate, and well‑referenced technical guidance that meets member needs and demonstrates practical application across the supply chain in a variety of formats (e.g., AI/technology‑enabled, webinars, on‑site presentations).
Elevate the visibility and influence of IFPA’s technical resources through collaborative engagement, resulting in broader member utilization and external recognition.
Demonstrate situational leadership and emotional intelligence by adapting communication and management style to effectively motivate and develop individuals and teams, and to support volunteer leadership initiatives.
Be recognized by members, partners and regulatory stakeholders as a trusted and credible voice in produce safety and quality, evidenced by the depth and volume of member inquiries; invitations to speak, publish; or represent the association in influential forums.
Integrate cross‑departmental collaboration and digital fluency into daily operations, improving efficiency, transparency and organizational alignment.
Travel Business related travel required, not to exceed 12 times per year.
Work Environment & Location Requirement This position is primarily remote but requires the candidate to be based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Applications from individuals located in areas with high concentration of IFPA members (California, Arizona, Florida or Texas) will also be considered. Candidates must be available to commute to IFPA’s D.C. office and/or U.S. federal agencies often with short notice.
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