Senior Food Safety Manager

Job Details

Senior Food Safety Manager

We’re Pret: proud makers of freshly made food, organic coffee, and big ideas. Across 750+ shops and 20+ countries, our teams are shaping the future of Pret through innovation, inclusion, great customer service and a shared passion for doing the right thing. We’re growing fast on our mission to be the employer of choice in hospitality, everywhere we operate – so this an exciting time to hop on board.

We Believe in Growing Good Things

Growth is at the heart of everything we do. From the freshly hand-made food we create every day, to supporting our teams, we help our people grow in confidence, skills and to pursue their unique paths. Pret is where passionate, hardworking, wonderful people (like you!) find what they need to shine. And the proof is in the pudding – over 80% of our managers started on the shop floor! So did 20% of our Support Centre teams, including our CEO, Pano.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for passionate team players to bring joy to our customers every day. As a Senior Food Safety Manager, you’ll be responsible for ensuring that all Pret food products and operations internationally meet our food safety standards and comply with relevant legislation, while also shaping the long‑term strategy that protects brand trust and enables operational excellence across markets. The role drives continuous improvement by developing and enhancing global food safety policies, overseeing microbiological and allergen surveillance, and ensuring robust testing protocols that lead to meaningful action. It also leads global food safety audit programmes across equity and franchise operations, creating consistency, elevating performance, and supporting Pret’s strategic priorities—delivering compliance to the technical and safety framework, and ensuring customers everywhere can enjoy Pret’s freshly made food with confidence.

Key responsibilities

• Reporting to the head of compliance within the technical and sustainability team, this is a full-time role.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of food safety standards across all international markets, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Define and maintain global food safety policies and procedures ensuring they are science-based, risk-informed, and practically applicable across global markets.
• Lead Pret’s microbiological and allergen surveillance programs, ensuring regular testing is conducted and results are reviewed, reported, and acted upon.
• Work alongside technical, safety, and compliance teams to follow up on food safety related non-compliances, ensuring robust corrective actions plans are in place, and closed out.
• Support rapid response to food safety incidents, recalls, or regulatory challenges, ensuring effective root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Oversee global food safety audit programs and ensure timely resolution of non-conformances.
• Track quarterly KPIs, identifying risks, driving continuous improvement, and reporting internally.
• Ensure consistent food safety performance across both company-owned (equity) and franchised operations, adapting approaches to suit different operating models while maintaining high standards.
• Support the development of food safety training for shop teams to ensure consistent understanding and application of standards.
• Collaborate with the compliance team to support food technical & safety reviews, ensuring food safety documentation and practices are always audit-ready.
• Stay informed of changes in food safety legislation and emerging risks, advising the business and updating policies accordingly.
• Responsible for maintaining a network to “bring the outside in”, as well as sitting on industry groups to ensure Pret stays on top of industry changes and best practice.
• Audit Compliance - To comply with Pret's internal audit requirements and ensure thorough due diligence and processes are properly documented and systematically tracked at all times.

Experience and Skills required

• Degree qualified in environmental health, food science, microbiology or related discipline.
• Strong understanding of food safety legislation expertise in microbiological risks, contamination control, and food hygiene practices.
• Familiarity with surveillance testing (microbiological, allergen, chemical) and interpreting lab results.
• Ability to assess food safety risks across shop operations.
• An advanced food safety qualification. Level 4 HACCP would be beneficial.
• Skilled in root cause analysis and implementing corrective/preventive actions.
• Strong communication skills to engage with cross-functional departments.
• Ability to translate complex food safety requirements into clear, practical guidance for audiences with limited technical knowledge.
• Experience working with or working for regulatory bodies.

About you

• Be kind, honest and generous: bring genuine warmth and your authentic self to work every day.
• Bring your passion: share our passion for food and exceptional customer service.
• Spread joy every day: small acts of kindness are a big part of what makes the Pret experience special.

We offer

• A salary range of £55,000 - £65,000 p.a. plus a bonus potential of 20%
• Gold Card: We love making people’s day through our food and drinks. That goes for our teams too. That’s why everyone gets a Gold Card. When you’re in the office, your food and drinks are on us. And when you’re not, you can use your Gold Card to get up to 5 Barista-made drinks a day, and 50% off everything else (food, snacks, bottled drinks – the lot).

A few more perks

• You’ll get 33 days of annual leave (including flexible Bank Holidays), increasing to 38 days the longer you’re with us.
• Free private medical cover, with the option to add family or partner at an additional cost
• 4% of your pension contribution matched by Pret, rises to 5% after 5 years
• Life assurance at 3x annual salary
• Loyalty award for 5, 10, 15, 20 years’ service
• Flexible Benefits Platform packed with lifestyle discounts
• Season ticket loans
• Healthcare cash plan
• Financial wellbeing provisions
• Free mortgage services
• Sabbatical after 3 years
• Opportunities to support our charity, The Pret Foundation

We also offer

• Individual ways to grow - We offer lots of opportunities for learning, whether you join us for a short stint or the long game, you’re good to grow with us. Including fully funded professional qualifications, leadership development and mentoring.
• Diversity and belonging - Everyone is welcome at Pret, we want you to feel confident and valued for who you are and to truly belong.
• Pace and variety - Our work is fast paced with lots of variety, you’ll build a diverse skill set and learn a lot!
• Community and purpose - We’re proud to make a difference through The Pret Foundation, from tackling homelessness to reducing food waste and creating positive change for people and communities.

Our values

• Happy Teams Happy Customers
• Amazing Standards Every day
• Never Standing Still
• Doing The Right Thing

The interview journey

Every interview process at Pret begins with the same two stages. First, you’ll have a relaxed 30-minute conversation with our recruitment team so we can get to know you and your experience. Next, you’ll be invited to a one-hour, in-person interview with the hiring manager at our Head Office in London Victoria.

Depending on the role and function, there may be additional stages. These could include time spent in one of our shops, completing a task, or meeting a senior leader.

Before you apply

This role is based at Pret’s Support Centre in London Victoria, where we work in a hybrid way - typically three days a week in the office.

We’d love to get to know you, not a robot, so please do not rely on AI to complete your application.

Deadline to apply for this role: 16th April 2026