At dnata catering & retail, food safety is not a compliance function, it is a competitive differentiator. We serve millions of inflight meals annually to some of the world’s most discerning airline customers, and the standards we hold ourselves to reflect that responsibility. We are seeking an experienced and influential General Manager to lead our national Food Safety and Quality Assurance function, setting the benchmark for best-in-class performance across all Australian operations.
Role: General Manager Food Safety
Reporting to: EGM Risk & Compliance
Location: Australia (National) - Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney.
Team scope: Multi-site, national QA function
Type: Full-time, permanent
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a national leadership role with significant accountability, and a genuine mandate to shape food safety culture across a complex, high-volume catering operation. As GM Food Safety, you will own the national quality assurance and food safety strategy for dnata catering & retail Australia, ensuring seamless execution of programs that meet or exceed Federal and State regulatory requirements, Halal certification standards, and Biosecurity obligations.
This role sits at the intersection of compliance rigour, operational partnership, and cultural leadership. You will be the primary advisor to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on all food safety matters, bringing clarity, credibility, and proactive risk management to one of the most technically demanding functions in aviation services.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Strategy
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for food safety, compliance, and quality assurance across all national operations.
- Develop, implement, and oversee national quality assurance frameworks ensuring compliance with food safety, Halal, and Biosecurity regulations.
- Serve as the primary advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on all quality assurance matters, translating risk into clear, actionable guidance.
- Establish and maintain a culture of food safety excellence, continuous improvement, and proactive risk management.
- Ensure compliance with all Federal and State food safety legislation, regulations, and airline customer requirements.
- Maintain oversight of national Food Safety Manuals, policies, and procedures, keeping them current, accessible, and operationally embedded.
- Develop and implement risk prevention and mitigation strategies across food safety, Halal certification, and Biosecurity waste management.
- Lead internal and external audit programs, ensuring timely and effective resolution of non-conformances.
- Stay current with industry best practices, regulatory changes, and emerging food safety risks in aviation catering contexts.
- Oversee the execution of food safety and compliance programs across all sites, maintaining best-in-class performance standards.
- Collaborate with cross-functional operational teams to embed quality and food safety standards into day-to-day practice.
- Ensure the QA team is equipped with appropriate training, knowledge, and tools to uphold compliance standards consistently.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency without compromising food safety outcomes.
- Develop and manage the national Quality Assurance budget with a focus on sustainability and cost efficiency.
- Drive cost efficiencies across the QA function while maintaining non-negotiable compliance and food safety standards.
- Ensure financial sustainability through effective cost control and waste reduction initiatives.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, regulatory bodies, airline customers, and suppliers.
- Represent dnata catering in industry forums, regulatory meetings, and customer engagement processes related to food safety and compliance.
- Ensure key stakeholders are informed and updated on food safety performance in a timely manner.
Essential
- Extensive experience in food safety, quality assurance, and compliance within a large food manufacturing or airline catering environment.
- Strong leadership experience managing multi-site QA teams, building capability, setting standards, and holding accountability.
- Excellent working knowledge of Federal and State food safety regulations.
- Demonstrated experience with Halal compliance and Biosecurity waste management requirements.
- Prior experience engaging with regulatory bodies and airline clients on food safety and compliance matters.
- Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Quality Assurance, or a related field.
- Lead Auditor Certification — HACCP, ISO 22000:2018, or equivalent.
- Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment & Training.
- Experience operating in a safety-sensitive, high-volume production environment, aviation, large-scale food manufacturing, or similar.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organisational culture.
As part of the Emirates Group, dnata operates at a scale few food service organisations in Australia can match. Our work matters, every decision made in this role affects the safety and experience of millions of passengers. This is an environment where a commitment to food safety is genuinely valued at the highest levels of leadership.
- National influence — you will shape food safety culture across every dnata catering facility in Australia.
- CEO-level visibility and direct access to senior leadership — your voice carries weight.
- The complexity and rigour of aviation catering — a step up from most food manufacturing environments in terms of regulatory expectation and operational discipline.
- A committed, capable team across multiple sites — ready for strong leadership and clear direction.
- Competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and scope.
- A culture grounded in safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Dale Young - Partner
dyoung@sharpandcarter.com.au
0400 687 506
dnata is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
