Role Introduction
The Compliance Manager sits under the Customer Experience and Design Department mainly responsible for leading the independent food safety, quality and operational risk governance function across the global Dining and Hospitality network. You will be responsible for owning the safety and compliance framework, audit strategy and risk visibility processes and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, standards and Cathay policies.
Acting as the independent safety authority and risk conscience of the function, you will also be responsible for providing structured assurance, oversight of investigations, and governance challenge to ensure cabin and dining safety policies and procedures are maintained at all times.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and own the Dining and Hospitality food safety, quality and operational risk governance framework, establish and maintain a structured risk assessment methodology to identify, prioritise and monitor the oversight of catering-related risks across the network; and design and oversee the global catering audit strategy, including risk-based audit scheduling and independent inspection programmes
- Manage outsourced audit providers where applicable, including scope definition, performance monitoring and quality assurance of audit outputs; and conduct independent audits, risk assessments and supplier capability reviews where required, particularly for high-risk stations or new tenders
- Own and maintain catering-related safety inspection checklists and compliance manuals, ensuring alignment with regulatory and International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit standards; and act as the focal point for internal and external safety audits relating to catering operations and represent Dining & Hospitality in corporate safety governance groups on catering-related matters
- Lead investigation of significant safety, food contamination, allergen, hygiene or security incidents in collaboration with relevant teams; and lead visibility of catering-related operational and food safety risks, ensuring risk registers, mitigation tracking and audit transparency are maintained
- Act as steward for compliance alignment relating to catering safety, logistics governance and audit readiness, while operational execution remains with functional teams; and support crisis preparedness, simulations and response activities from a governance and reporting standpoint and ensure root cause analysis is conducted rigorously and corrective actions are defined, tracked and validated
- Monitor and report compliance performance metrics, audit findings and systemic risk themes to leadership; ensure regulatory updates and global best practices are reflected in compliance frameworks and internal standards; and ensure corrective action plans arising from audits and investigations are tracked to closure (functional ownership remains with relevant teams)
- Provide expert technical guidance on food safety legislation, operational safety and catering risk controls; and provide regular reporting of food and operational safety compliance and mitigation actions
- Ensure safety risk assessments are embedded within change initiatives, supplier transitions and new product introductions; and partner with Dining Performance and Enablement teams to ensure risk controls are clearly documented and operationally executable
- Maintain visibility of supplier compliance maturity and identify high-risk exposure areas across the network; drive a culture of safety awareness, risk transparency and disciplined reporting across the function
- Provide independent escalation of material safety or compliance risks to the Head of Dining and Hospitality; maintain structured audit records, compliance logs and risk registers to ensure audit readiness at all times and contribute to continuous improvement of safety governance processes and audit methodologies
Requirements
- Degree in Food Science or related disciplines is a must
- 7-10 years quality assurance or quality control experience in airline catering operations is a must
- Quality Management System or Food Safety Management System Lead Auditor qualification is preferred
- Working knowledge in quality assurance techniques (such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) and auditing
- Solid experience and knowledge in airline business, processes and procedures
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions
- High level of integrity and professionalism
- Proficiency in English (written and spoken); proficiency in Chinese is an advantage
- Advanced computer literacy, including Microsoft Office
Personal & Application Information
Cathay Pacific is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Personal data provided by job applicants will be used strictly in accordance with our Applicant Personal Information Collection Statement and for recruitment purposes only. Candidates not notified within eight weeks may consider their application unsuccessful. We keep records of your data for no longer than is necessary for the purpose for which we obtained them and any other permitted linked purposes. If your application is unsuccessful, we will keep your details on file for as long as is necessary to process your application or for the purposes of further job opportunities if you agree to such longer periods.
