Airline Lounges Director of Food Health and Safety

Role Overview

Sodexo Live! is looking to add a strong Aviation Lounges Director of Health and Safety to our executive team.  The Director of Health and Safety for Sodexo Live!- Airport Lounges, North America, is responsible for the strategic leadership and execution of health and safety initiatives across all airport lounges. This role ensures compliance with food safety regulations and occupational safety standards to protect employees, guests, and company assets. The director develops and maintains policies, conducts risk assessments, leads training efforts, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement in safety practices. They work closely with operations and culinary leadership and external agencies to ensure regulatory compliance, incident prevention, and emergency preparedness.  The right person for this role will be comfortable "in the room" with client executives, Sodexo leadership, and Operations leadership actively leading and developing gameplans for success.  This is a remote role with 25% estimated travel nationally.  Some of your best traits that we want to see would be:

 

• Leadership & Communication: Ability to influence and engage employees at all levels to foster a strong safety culture.
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Expertise in identifying risks, analyzing safety data, and developing effective solutions.
• Training & Development: Skilled in designing and delivering safety training programs for diverse audiences.
• Regulatory Compliance: Strong ability to interpret and apply safety regulations and standards.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Proficiency in analyzing incident reports, safety metrics, and compliance data to drive decision-making.
• Emergency Response Coordination: Ability to develop and execute emergency response plans effectively.

What You'll Do

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Health & Safety Program Development and Oversight
• Food Safety Management
• Employee Training and Safety Culture Development
• Regulatory Compliance and Incident Management
• Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management
• Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

 

What We Offer

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training.

 

Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

What You Bring

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health, Food Science, Public Health, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in health and safety management, preferably in the hospitality, food service, cruise lines, or aviation industry.
• Extensive knowledge of OSHA, FDA, USDA, HACCP, and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing health and safety programs.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to influence and drive safety culture.
• Ability to analyze data, manage risk, and make informed decisions to improve safety outcomes.
• Certification in relevant safety disciplines (e.g., Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), or Certified Food Safety Manager) preferred.
• Experience working in multi- location food manufacturing, restaurant groups, or airport-based environments is a plus.

Typical Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive understanding of occupational health and safety regulations (e.g., OSHA, City/County Health departments, FDA, USDA, airport authorities etc).
• Risk assessment methodologies and hazard control strategies.
• Incident investigation techniques and root cause analysis.
• Emergency preparedness, response planning, and crisis management.
• Workplace ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and environmental health principles.
• Safety management systems and best practices for continuous improvement.

Who We Are

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and