Manager - QA Europe

Job Description Summary:

The role provides technical guidance and support across more than 20 franchise markets, helping restaurants, suppliers, products, and operational processes comply with Pizza Hut standards and applicable legislation. The position partners closely with franchisees, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Product Development, and Global teams to identify and escalate risk, strengthen compliance, support business growth, and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

Food Safety and Quality Leadership

• Support execution of QA programmes and standards established by Global Food Safety & Quality across European franchise markets.
• Implement and maintain food safety policies, procedures, standards, guidance, and governance processes in line with Global Food Safety & Quality requirements.

•Monitor food safety performance through audits, compliance reviews, incidents, and trend analysis.

•Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen food safety culture and operational compliance.

•Influence senior stakeholders and franchise leadership teams through data-driven guidance and risk-based recommendations, escalating final risk decisions to Global Food Safety & Quality as appropriate.

•Manage food safety, audit and quality-related service provider contracts, ensuring services are delivered in line with contractual requirements, business objectives, and compliance expectations.

Supplier Management

• Manage the execution of regional supplier approval and compliance programmes for food, packaging, distribution centers, premiums and critical service providers, in line with global standards.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments and due diligence activities where applicable, providing recommendations to inform approval decisions.
• Review supplier audit outcomes and ensure effective corrective action implementation where applicable.
• Maintain approved supplier frameworks and compliance governance processes as defined by Global Food Safety & Quality.
• Support sourcing, contingency, and supplier transition projects through technical evaluation and risk assessment.
• Partner with Procurement, Operations, FIT and Supply Chain teams to strengthen supplier performance and resilience.

Franchisee Support and Capability Building

• Act as the primary food safety and quality business partner for European franchisees, providing guidance and recommendations to support local compliance.
• Provide technical guidance and coaching on food safety, regulatory compliance where applicable, supplier requirements, and quality standards.
• Support markets in resolving food safety, quality, and compliance challenges.
• Develop and deliver training, workshops, and franchisee communications.
• Support market readiness for inspections, audits, and regulatory change

Audit Programme Management

• Manage third-party and internal audit programmes across suppliers and restaurants.
• Partner with audit providers to maintain programme consistency and effectiveness.
• Analyse audit performance and identify systemic risks and improvement opportunities.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of audit methodologies and governance structures.
• Support the regional restaurant closure and reopening programme, reviewing food safety risks, corrective actions and approval documentation and providing recommendations to the appropriate decision-makers so that restaurants recommence operations only when regulatory and Pizza Hut food safety requirements have been met.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Lead and support regional projects relating to food safety, quality, compliance, supplier management, and governance.
• Represent Food Safety and Quality within cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, and Franchise Partners.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance for projects involving supplier transitions, product approvals, regulatory implementation, and operational improvements.
• Develop business cases, recommendations, and risk assessments for leadership review.

People Leadership (One direct report – QA Specialist)

• Provide leadership, coaching and development for direct report, ensuring clear objectives, ongoing performance management, and individual development planning.
• Build capability within the Food Safety & Quality team through mentoring, knowledge sharing, training, and succession planning.
• Set priorities and allocate resources to ensure effective delivery of regional food safety, quality and compliance programmes.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, goal setting, and career development discussions.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and customer-focused team culture.
• Support organisational change initiatives and promote adoption of new ways of working.
• Act as a role model for Pizza Hut values, behaviours, and leadership expectations.

Working Relationships

Develop collaborative partnerships and influence cross-functional teams including FIT, Operations, RSC, Procurement, Supply Chain, Marketing, Legal, Franchisees and Suppliers. Build trusted relationships by demonstrating Heart, Smart, and Courage while driving alignment and delivering business results.

Collaboration & Culture Fit

• Leads with Heart, Smart, and Courage, inspiring positivity and trust.
• Strong customer service orientation with a passion for food safety and quality.
• Skilled in building and sustaining effective relationships across diverse teams, suppliers, and external partners.
• Adaptable to various leadership styles and capable of influencing without authority

Required Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Food Technology, Microbiology, Animal Science, Dairy Science, Biology, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline required. Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Food Manufacturing, Product Development, Supplier Quality, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience leading, developing, and managing a team, including performance management, coaching, objective setting, and capability building
• Experience working across multiple markets and cultures.
• Experience managing auditing, supplier compliance, and governance programmes.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience conducting product quality investigations, supplier corrective actions, and root cause analysis.
• Strong analytical, reporting, problem-solving, and project management skills, with the ability to interpret data, assess risk, identify business impacts, and deliver clear recommendations to support effective decision-making
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Lead auditor qualification (GFSI scheme, ISO) advantageous
• Experience within QSR, foodservice, retail, or food manufacturing sectors.
• Experience supporting franchised business models desired.