The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), a trade association serving the global fresh produce and floral community is seeking two exceptional leaders to shape the future of food safety and regulatory advocacy for the produce industry:
These roles sit at the intersection of science, policy, and member service. Together, these Vice Presidents will prioritize collaborative efforts with food safety regulators on behalf of IFPA members, and provide vision, direction, and hands-on support to IFPA members, regulators, and international partners to ensure that fresh produce safety policies are grounded in science, practical for industry, and trusted by consumers worldwide.
Both positions are primarily remote, with a strong preference for candidates based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (exceptional applicants residing in California, Arizona, Florida, or Texas may be considered for the Science and Technology position).
Responsibilities
Serve as IFPA’s senior leaders and visible voices on food safety, quality, and regulatory matters across U.S. and global forums.
Provide support to IFPA’s Food Safety Council, ensuring member-identified priorities drive the association’s regulatory and technical agenda.
Represent the fresh produce industry to federal agencies (FDA, CDC, FSIS, EPA) and other regulatory bodies, advocating for science-based, risk-appropriate policies that protect public health and maintain trade access.
Strengthen IFPA’s reputation as a trusted source of technical and policy expertise with both regulators and industry stakeholders.
Work collaboratively across IFPA teams — Government Relations, Science & Technology, Global Strategy — to align technical and policy priorities, ensuring consistency between regulatory advocacy and scientific guidance.
Translate emerging issues, inspection trends, and regulatory developments into actionable industry responses and member resources.
Serve as the go-to resource for members navigating regulatory requirements, inspections, sampling assignments, or compliance communications.
Provide practical, science-based guidance on food safety programs, audit readiness, product quality, and risk mitigation across field, indoor, and post-harvest environments.
Deliver timely, accurate, and referenced responses to technical and regulatory inquiries, ensuring clarity and confidence for members across all sectors of the supply chain.
Develop and disseminate best practice guidance documents, technical toolkits, and communication resources that translate complex science and policy into usable member solutions.
Coordinate with members and partners to align positions and amplify industry impact.
Maintain proactive dialogue with members to identify emerging challenges, ensuring IFPA’s work remains responsive and relevant.
Lead and contribute to industry-wide food safety education and outreach initiatives, ensuring training content reflects the latest science and regulations.
Represent IFPA at conferences, coalition meetings, and invited talks, articulating clear, credible perspectives on behalf of the global produce industry.
Serve as a public and media-facing spokesperson on technical and regulatory topics when appropriate.
Collaborate with internal communications and marketing teams to elevate awareness and utilization of IFPA’s technical and policy resources.
For Regulatory Affairs: Lead the drafting and coordination of IFPA comments on proposed U.S. regulations, ensuring that submissions reflect science-based positions and member consensus.
For Food Safety & Quality: Translate research outcomes into applied tools and recommendations that strengthen member compliance and continuous improvement.
Monitor and interpret national and international regulatory developments — including Codex Alimentarius, GFSI, and other standard-setting bodies — identifying implications for produce trade and safety.
Advocate for practical, harmonized standards and prevent the creation of unnecessary non-tariff barriers to trade.
When appropriate, engage with international forums to promote alignment of science-based produce safety standards.
Model adaptability, professionalism, and openness to feedback in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
Lead and mentor staff, volunteer leaders, and high-potential professionals to strengthen the association’s technical and regulatory leadership pipeline.
Contribute to association-wide strategy and cross-departmental projects related to sustainability, technology, and supply chain resilience.
Ensure IFPA’s leadership in global discussions on traceability, innovation, and climate-smart production systems that intersect with food safety and regulatory frameworks.
Qualifications
Advanced degree (Ph.D., M.S., J.D., or comparable) in food science, microbiology, public health, agriculture, regulatory affairs, or a related field.
Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in produce safety, food regulation, or public policy — with demonstrated ability to work across government, industry, and academic environments.
Deep understanding of U.S. food regulatory frameworks (FSMA, traceability, audits, labeling, MRLs, and import/export rules) and familiarity with international harmonization processes.
Demonstrated experience engaging with FDA and other federal agencies, including participation in the rulemaking process, public comment drafting, or policy interpretation.
Proven ability to translate complex scientific or regulatory concepts into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build trust, consensus, and credibility across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and leadership presence — capable of both setting strategy and executing day-to-day work.
Demonstrated success in managing volunteer councils, multi-stakeholder coalitions, or cross-functional teams.
High digital fluency — comfortable leveraging project management and communication platforms (Teams, Wrike, Salesforce, etc.).
Recognized credibility or established relationships within the food safety or regulatory community that can be built upon to advance IFPA’s mission.
Spanish proficiency is a plus but not required.
Domestic and limited international travel is required (approximately 10–12 trips per year).
To apply, read position descriptions for each position or learn more about these opportunities to shape the future of fresh produce safety and regulatory policy, visit https://www.freshproduce.com/who-we-are/careers-and-internships/
International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the entire fresh produce supply chain. IFPA advocates on behalf of the global fresh produce industry, connects and guides its members to future proof the industry. Food safety, sustainability, supply chain efficiency and data-driven decision making are key areas of support that IFPA provides to its members.
