Catering Compliance Officer

Location: Abu Dhabi
Company: Etihad Airways

Job Overview

Etihad Airways is seeking a qualified professional for the role of Catering Compliance Officer in Abu Dhabi.

This role plays an important part in supporting the airline’s Quality Management Program related to food safety, Halal compliance, and catering standards across its food and beverage supply chain. The position focuses on monitoring catering partners, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting the implementation of safety standards across all catering and service operations.

The Catering Compliance Officer works closely with internal departments and external partners to ensure that all catering operations meet the required food safety regulations and Halal certification standards. The role also involves assisting in audits, maintaining documentation, and supporting training activities related to food safety and hygiene.

Working in this role provides an opportunity to contribute to the quality and safety of inflight catering services while ensuring that all operational partners follow internationally recognized food safety and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

Food Safety and Compliance Monitoring

• Support compliance activities related to food safety standards, Halal requirements, and HACCP guidelines across all catering and food service partners.
• Assist in monitoring adherence to established quality management systems and safety procedures.
• Ensure catering partners comply with both UAE regulatory requirements and international food safety standards.
• Support internal teams in implementing policies designed to maintain high levels of food safety and quality assurance.

Regulatory Compliance Management

• Monitor updates to local and international food safety regulations.
• Assist in reviewing and updating internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory changes.
• Work with internal departments to implement new regulatory requirements effectively.

Audit and Inspection Support

• Assist in planning and conducting food safety audits and inspections across the supplier network.
• Support the evaluation of supplier compliance with Etihad’s catering quality standards.
• Help document audit findings and assist in implementing corrective actions where necessary.
• Maintain records of inspection results and compliance performance metrics.

Documentation and Quality Assurance

• Support the development and maintenance of food safety and quality assurance documentation.
• Ensure documentation related to Halal compliance, food safety, and quality control is accurate and updated.
• Maintain compliance records required for internal reviews and external regulatory inspections.

Complaint Investigation and Resolution

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders during food safety or catering-related complaint investigations.
• Assist in documenting investigation findings and ensuring proper follow-up actions are implemented.
• Maintain records of complaint resolutions and corrective measures.

Vendor Compliance and Onboarding

• Support documentation and compliance procedures during the onboarding of new catering vendors.
• Assist in reviewing vendor certifications, safety records, and regulatory documentation.
• Ensure suppliers meet required safety and compliance standards before beginning operations.

Compliance Reporting and Data Analysis

• Track performance indicators related to food safety compliance and audit outcomes.
• Assist in preparing periodic compliance reports for management review.
• Support the analysis of trends in supplier compliance performance and audit findings.

Training and Awareness Programs

• Assist in organizing training sessions related to food safety, hygiene practices, and allergen awareness.
• Support the delivery of educational programs for catering staff and partners.
• Promote awareness of safety procedures and regulatory requirements among operational teams.

Records Management

• Maintain accurate records of compliance activities, audits, inspections, and corrective actions.
• Ensure documentation is stored securely and available for regulatory or internal review when required.
• Support compliance monitoring systems to track safety performance across suppliers.

Allergen Management and Product Safety

• Assist in managing allergen declarations and ingredient documentation for catering suppliers.
• Support procedures for product recall management when necessary.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to ensure accurate allergen information is maintained and communicated.

Education Requirements

Candidates applying for this role should possess the following qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Environmental Health, or a related discipline.

Experience Requirements

Applicants should meet the following experience criteria

• 5–8 years of professional experience in food safety, HACCP management, or quality assurance.
• Experience in catering, food manufacturing, hospitality, or airline catering operations is preferred.
• Prior experience supporting food safety audits or regulatory compliance programs is advantageous.

Preferred Certifications

• Formal HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) training certification.
• Certification or experience in food safety auditing is highly desirable.

Skills and Competencies

Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate the following skills

• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and compliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of HACCP systems and quality assurance practices.
• Excellent attention to detail when reviewing documentation and compliance records.
• Strong communication skills for coordinating with suppliers and internal teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
• Good organizational and analytical abilities for tracking compliance data and audit results.

Work Environment

The role is based in Abu Dhabi and involves collaboration with catering suppliers, regulatory authorities, and internal airline departments. The position may require occasional travel to supplier facilities for inspections, audits, or compliance reviews.

Employees in this role contribute directly to maintaining the safety, quality, and regulatory compliance of inflight catering services provided by the airline.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways was established in 2003 and has grown into one of the world’s leading airlines. From its hub in Abu Dhabi, the airline operates flights to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.

Through strategic partnerships and codeshare agreements, the airline provides access to hundreds of international destinations. Over the years, the airline has received global recognition for its service quality, inflight products, cargo operations, and loyalty programs.

The airline’s Journey 2030 strategy aims to expand its global presence by increasing fleet capacity and significantly growing its passenger network. As part of this strategy, the airline plans to double its fleet size and triple its customer base in the coming years.

Recruitment Notice

Applicants should be aware of potential recruitment fraud. Etihad Airways does not request payments or personal banking information during the recruitment process. Interviews are conducted either in person or through official video or telephone interviews before any employment offer is issued.

Candidates are advised to verify job communications through official airline recruitment channels to avoid fraudulent job offers.