Job Title: Food Safety Director

Salary: Based on experience

Location: RW (Primary)

Category: International

Job Type: Full-time

Career Level: Manager

Education: Master’s Degree

Travel: Up to 25%

Job Description

Food Safety Director 

About CNFA 

CNFA is an international agricultural development organization that specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable, enterprise-based agricultural initiatives. We work with businesses, foundations, governments, and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world’s growing demand for food. Since our inception in 1985, we have designed and implemented enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve access to inputs and financing in 47 countries around the world.

Program Description 

CNFA is currently seeking applications from qualified candidates for a Food Safety Director position to support a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress (FFPr) program, Haranira Ubuziranenge, in Rwanda. Haranira Ubuziranenge, which translates to “ensuring or striving for safety” in Kinyarwanda, aims to strengthen the capacities of public and private stakeholders in Rwanda to develop, enforce, and adopt international science-based food safety standards. To achieve this goal, the Project will implement interventions across three key components: 1) Strengthening Food Safety Frameworks and Government Institutions; 2) Enhanced Laboratory Technical Capacity in Testing, Inspection, and Certification; 3) Increased Food Safety Awareness and Capacity Building of Producers.

Position Summary 

Reporting to the Chief of Party (COP), the Food Safety Director will lead and manage relationships with private sector actors and facilitate capacity building of food and agriculture businesses to comply with regulations and standards. S/he will develop and/or review existing food safety audit protocols and leads food safety audits for private sector entities to assess levels of compliance with relevant standards and regulations, and design customized food safety capacity building interventions.

Position Roles and Responsibilities 

• Lead engagement with the private sector to facilitate strong food safety behaviors and compliance with national and international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations.
• Organize and facilitate technical trainings for public and private sector stakeholders; oversee food control capacity building interventions with responsible institutions.
• Oversee food safety assessments to identify key intervention areas.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities and data collection.
• Support the development of training, extension, and outreach materials
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on food safety policies, regulations, and international best practices.

Job Requirements

Key Qualifications 

• Advanced degree in Food Safety or bachelor’s degree with substantial relevant experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of working experience in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) systems.
• Demonstrated experience in food safety management with public and private sector actors.
• Practical experience with SPS issues in the horticulture sector viewed from public health and trade facilitation angles.
• Strong understanding of the Rwandan food safety policy landscape and relevant government institutions.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Oral and written fluency in English is required, fluency in Kinyarwanda is preferred, French is an asset.

Deadline: December 20th, 2024