A food safety supervisor has many different tasks, though the main goal of a food safety supervisor is to inspect a client's facility. Safety supervisors can be employed by food distributors, food manufacturing plants, or food packaging facilities. In addition, to ensure that a client's facility lives up to inspection standards, safety supervisors must be prepared to educate employees.

Often, it is the role of a food safety supervisor to provide technical training to employees of a food facility. This training includes relaying safety information, and administering food safety tests. Supervisors must also be willing to work with managerial employees in order to devise scheduled inspections, ascertain important food-related information, and create future manufacturing plans. On occasion, supervisors may be asked to attend lectures related to food-safety.

This position requires an extensive amount of clerical work, technical work, and business travel. Supervisors must be able to draft reports based upon food safety findings, and present these reports to clients. Thus, in order to thrive as a food supervisor, communication and presentation skills are essential.

In order to obtain a position as a food safety supervisor, candidates must have a bachelors of science degree. In addition, 5-10 years of experience within the food industry is crucial. Those seeking this type of job position must also be able to write coherently, possess great organizational skills, and be able to book travel arrangements with ease.

Today, a large part of the food-safety world is electronic, which means that candidates must have a strong computer background. While candidates should display a strong education and personality, physical capabilities are also essential. Supervisors may be required to climb large machines, and to adequately inspect awkward machines by bending and stretching. Therefore, a supervisor must be in top physical shape in order to perform job duties.

A food safety supervisor must have a valid driver's license, be willing to drive to locations at a moment's notice, and be ready to confront facility management. A large part of this position is based upon communicating food-safety facts to facility management, which may be stressful at times.

Those seeking to gain a food safety supervisor position should gain experience within the food manufacturing field prior to apply for this type of position. People with a strong educational and work-related background are often successful within this field. In addition, people that stay abreast of current food-safety guidelines and trends tend to gain well-paid food safety positions.