Senior Food Safety Microbiology Expert

In this global role, you will drive microbiological risk anticipation and assessment across Ferrero’s entire product portfolio, supporting all stages of the product lifecycle — from design and sourcing to manufacturing, handling, storage, and distribution. You will act as a key expert in food safety microbiology, providing scientific leadership and ensuring compliance with internal and external standards. Your work will have a broad impact, requiring close collaboration with central teams, local Business Units, and multiple Food Safety & Quality departments, as well as other internal stakeholders such as Global Brands Soremartec, Strategy & Innovation, Legal, Institutional Affairs & Corporate Communication, Industrial & Supply, Sales Business Development, and IT. Externally, you will represent Ferrero within scientific associations, regulatory bodies, and professional communities, enhancing the company’s credibility and influence in global food safety.

You will lead the definition and implementation of end-to-end, risk-based methodologies, tools, and processes for microbiological risk assessment, specifications, sampling plans, process validations, shelf-life determinations, and challenge tests. Through horizon scanning, you will proactively identify emerging microbiological hazards in raw materials and finished products, analyzing scientific and regulatory developments to anticipate risks and ensure compliance.
You will act as the microbiological subject matter expert for all product categories, assessing risks across the full value chain and supporting risk management through technical and scientific evaluations. You will contribute to root cause analyses, define mitigation measures, and develop guidelines that enable “safe by design” products.
You will drive the implementation of predictive tools and state-of-the-art technologies for microbiological assessment, fostering science-based decision-making and prevention strategies. By engaging with external scientific networks, you will bring new insights and advocate for Ferrero’s position within the food safety community. Internally, you will build capability by developing models, tools, and training programs that enhance microbiological expertise across the Group.

You bring deep expertise in food microbiology and a strong background in risk assessment and management across complex, global operations. You combine analytical rigor with a forward-looking mindset, allowing you to identify emerging risks and design effective, science-driven solutions. You are a collaborator by nature, skilled at working across diverse teams and disciplines, and comfortable engaging with both technical experts and senior stakeholders. You bring a proactive and curious attitude, constantly exploring new scientific trends, technologies, and regulatory evolutions to strengthen Ferrero’s leadership in food safety.
You communicate clearly and effectively in multicultural environments, and you are fluent in English — this is a mandatory requirement given the global scope of the role. Additional languages are considered an asset. Your ability to translate complex scientific knowledge into actionable strategies will help shape Ferrero’s standards and ensure the highest levels of product safety worldwide.
If you are ready to take on a global role that combines scientific excellence, strategic impact, and cross-functional collaboration, we invite you to apply and join Ferrero’s journey toward the next generation of Food Safety & Quality.

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Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.
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