Job Number:
HC-03916
Date Posted:
March 19, 2026
Position Title:
Vice President, Food Safety & Quality
Party:
N/A
Office Code:
Office/Company:
International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
Reports To:
Location:
Washington, DC
Contact:
Salary:
Primary Role
Secondary Role:
Job Type:
Full Time
Description:
The Vice President, Food Safety & Quality is the go-to scientific contact for industry members and other stakeholders seeking technical support, education, and insight related to all aspects of produce safety, quality, and related aspects of production (including field and indoor), and pre- and post-harvest quality.Leadership – 60%, Membership Consultation – 20%, Education and Training – 10%, Support Research and Innovation – 10%D. (or comparable) degree in microbiology, public health, food science, agriculture, or related scientific field with specific course work in food microbiology is required.
Responsibilities:
• Provide support to the Food Safety Council by leading assigned subcommittees, technical work groups and taskforces on a variety of activities including the development of practical, science-based “best practice” guidance documents.
• Identify and execute strategies to raise awareness of such resources within the industry as well as other stakeholder communities.
• Serve as a technical ambassador/liaison of the industry and association to government food safety agencies (FDA, FSIS, CDC, SENESECA, EFSA), academia and the media, coalitions, technical committees.
• Provide support to the Vice President Food Safety Regulatory Affairs to evaluate and comment on the scientific and technical aspects of regulatory policies, assist in preparing public comments for regulatory agencies.
• Develop and propose to the Chief Science Officer long-term strategies for the association’s global food safety and quality priorities based on horizon scanning of trends and industry knowledge gaps.
• Lead with adaptability, leveraging digital tools (Wrike, Teams, AI platforms) to plan, track, and communicate progress.
Qualifications:
• D. (or comparable) degree in microbiology, public health, food science, agriculture, or related scientific field with specific course work in food microbiology is required.
• 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.
Instructions:
Email to apply
Other:
Applicants must explicitly highlight in their cover letter both their technical expertise and leadership experience/readiness to successfully complete responsibilities for this position;
