As part of our work at World of Auditing, we often benchmark with other industries or disciplines, including financial auditing. This article outlines strategies to shift perceptions, increase visibility, and attract new talent to strengthen the future of food safety auditing, reflecting the insights from the “Internal Auditing: Vision 2035 Report.”
Strategies to Build a Resilient Talent Pipeline
The food industry is grappling with an urgent challenge: a critical shortage of skilled food safety auditors. Food safety auditors are pivotal in identifying risks, ensuring compliance, and providing insight to organizations, contributing to their continuous improvement cycle. Despite the importance of this role, food safety auditing remains undervalued and under-promoted, often overshadowed by other more visible career paths in the industry.
Addressing the challenges requires a strategic effort to raise the profile of food safety auditing, shift perceptions of its purpose and impact, and ultimately build a robust pipeline of skilled professionals ready to tackle the industry’s future challenges.
a. Perception as a Compliance-Only Role
Food safety auditors are frequently viewed as compliance enforcers, which can limit the perceived value of their work. This perception may overshadow their essential role in risk management, brand protection, and operational improvement.
According to the Vision 2035 Report published by the Internal Audit Foundation, a significant percentage of respondents associate auditors with terms like “police” (48%) and “compliance-focused” (54%), illustrating how this compliance-heavy view limits auditors’ perceived value. This perception certainly applies to food safety auditing, where auditors are often seen solely as compliance enforcers rather than advisors who contribute strategically to risk management and operational resilience.
By positioning food safety auditors as trusted advisors who add strategic value, the profession will attract individuals who seek impactful and meaningful careers. Presenting auditors as partners who actively contribute to brand reputation and consumer safety elevates their role, helping organizations view them as essential to both compliance and strategic success.
b. Limited Awareness in Educational Pathways
Food safety auditing is under-represented in food science and safety programs, meaning prospective students and professionals often lack exposure to or understanding of the field. This limits the profession’s visibility and career path while hindering the creation of a strong talent pipeline.
The Vision 2035 Report findings reveal that 54% of educators and 33% of students cite a lack of awareness or exposure to auditing as a barrier to pursuing careers in the field, despite the availability of auditing-related undergraduate courses in finance and accounting departments. Food safety auditing, less prominent in food science programs, lacks visibility among students who might otherwise consider it a milestone in a successful career path.
Collaborating with academic institutions to introduce food safety auditing within food science curricula will significantly improve awareness. By offering internships, facilitating guest lectures, and developing mentorship programs, food safety auditing becomes an attractive and accessible career path for students. Early exposure enables students to see the profession’s value and consider it a viable career choice. Supporting academia in researching food safety auditing is essential to better qualify and quantify the challenges.
c. Difficulty in Cultivating Enthusiasm and Commitment
Auditing roles perceived as purely compliance struggle to attract and retain motivated professionals. Auditors will likely feel more fulfilled and enthusiastic about their work when they understand its broader impact on organizational health and consumer safety.
The Vision 2035 Report shows that 75% of auditors find purpose and motivation in roles where they can add value to their organizations. For food safety auditors, highlighting their role in shaping safer food practices, advising on preventive measures, and protecting public health will help attract passionate individuals motivated by impact.
d. Limited Leadership Support and Recognition
Without solid backing from company leaders, food safety auditing will be relegated to a purely procedural role, making it difficult for auditors to gain recognition as valuable contributors to the organization’s strategic goals.
The Vision 2035 Report underscores the importance of leadership support, noting that auditors often struggle to gain full recognition without endorsement from company leaders.
Encouraging industry leaders to champion food safety auditing will significantly elevate the profession’s profile and importance. By aligning auditing goals with company priorities, leaders help ensure auditors are considered essential partners in achieving quality and safety standards. Leadership support also reinforces the value of auditing, leading to better integration of food safety objectives with broader business goals.
e. Insufficient Networking and Mentorship Opportunities
A lack of mentorship and networking options can deter new talent from entering the field and reduce the sense of community among existing auditors. Without these connections, early-career auditors may struggle to navigate the profession and gain insights from experienced peers.
According to Vision 2035, the lack of networking and mentorship opportunities is a key deterrent for individuals considering auditing careers.
Creating professional networks and mentorship opportunities within food safety auditing fosters a supportive community and attracts new talent. Networking events, workshops, and professional groups enable auditors to share insights, gain valuable experience, and strengthen their commitment to the profession. These connections help build a more resilient and engaged talent pool for food safety auditing.
Addressing the challenges facing food safety auditing is essential for securing public trust and maintaining high standards in the food industry. As also detailed in the Future of Food Safety Auditing Think Tank’s white paper, by preparing the discipline for the future with a focus on visibility, strategic recognition, and talent development, we can ensure that food safety auditing continues to play a vital role in protecting consumer health and supporting organizational integrity.
References:
- Internal Audit: Vision 2035
- The Future of Food Safety Auditing Think Tank White Paper – World of Auditing
By Tülay Kahraman
November 18, 2024
