Mirian Bueno Almendarez
Tegucigalpa,Honduras
Summary
Highly skilled food safety expert with broad experience and specialized skills in global food safety issues, with over 15 years of government experience, international project management, and actively working with international food safety standards and regulations. Recognized for high productivity, leadership, risk management, analytical thinking, and creativity in problem-solving. Results-oriented with a passion for continuous improvement and innovations in food safety. Notable impacts in previous roles include achieving food safety inspection systems equivalence between SENASA Honduras and the US-FSIS, the development of a country-wide risk-based inspection model, strategical planning, and providing expert technical knowledge to international food safety organizations.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Director for Food Safety
National Service of Health and Agri-Food Safety (SENASA)
Tegucigalpa
08.2016 - Current
- Ensured adherence to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to food safety through effective management of daily operations, thereby fostering public health protection and trade promotion.
- Delivered knowledge of relevant organizational food safety programs through leadership, insight, and mentoring to newly hired staff.
- Created and implemented policies and procedures to assess, manage, and communicate food safety risks.
- Negotiated with external government partners to enhance food trade initiatives.
- Effectively managed the organization's food safety annual budgeting, financial planning processes, and project portfolios.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans by analyzing data to inform strategic decisions and designing key performance indicators to ensure organizational goals were met.
- Ensured continuous improvement through periodic reviews of current systems, processes, and procedures.
- Coordinated the implementation of technological solutions designed to improve the organization's operational effectiveness.
- Led cross-functional technical and non-technical teams in the development of innovative solutions to complex food safety problems.
- Expertly led multiple food safety projects concurrently, overseeing all phases from initiation to completion.
- Created and maintained relationships with key stakeholders and external organizations to build partnerships to enhance food safety systems.
- Developed forward-thinking solutions for anticipated global food safety challenges.
- Acted as a public spokesperson, representing the organization at global food safety events, conferences and networking activities.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of current global food safety issues.
- Facilitated food safety meetings and provided leadership and technical guidance to international organizations such as FAO, WHO, WTO. .
Technical Assistant for Food Safety
National Service of Plant and Animal Health (SENASA).
09.2008 - 07.2015
Provided support in implementing comprehensive food safety regulations, programs, and procedures.
Brought technical expertise to food safety meetings, providing insights and updates.
Collaborated on the development and facilitation of food safety workshops.
· Drafted and revised food safety technical manuals and procedural documents.
Maintained meticulous attention to detail while overseeing technical documentation and reports, ensuring adherence to international food safety standards.
Participated in implementing development projects, providing technical expertise and coordinating project tasks for efficient completion.
· Conducted food safety audits to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
Performed comparative system analysis during the equivalence process between SENASA Honduras and the US-FSIS.
Monitored and reviewed updates to international food safety regulations, ensuring compliance with requirements for accessing new markets.
Education
Master of Science - Food Safety
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan05-2025
Master of Science - Management And International Business
UTH Florida University
Miami06-2020
Food Safety Certificate - Food Safety
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, USA04-2016
Veterinary Medicine Degree - Veterinary Medicine
Universidad De San Carlos De Guatemala
Guatemala City04-2008
Skills
- Technical leadership
- Strategy Development
- Risk Management
- Continuous improvements
- Data Analytics
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Cultural Awareness
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Regulatory compliance oversight
- Relationship Building
- Regulatory issues
- Clear written and verbal communication skills
Certifications
- Management Indicators Lego Serious Play Methodology, 01/2022
- Soft Skills 2.0, 11/2021
- Certificate in Cultural Awareness, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 03/2021
- Certificate in Leadership and Innovation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 11/2020
- Certified Six Sigma, 07/2020
- Strengthening of Management: Coordination and Intersectoral Management of Public Policies (10th Edition), IBD/INDES, 2019
- Executive Leadership Certificate, Cornell University, 02/2016
- Achieving Leadership Success Through People, American Management Association (AMA), 12/2015
- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey, 09/2015
- Certificate SPS In-Depth Virtual Course Level 3, World Trade Organization, 10/2021
- Two Seminars in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, International Development Bank/World Trade Organization, 11/2014
- E-learning Course on SPS Measures, World Trade Organization
- Two Seminars on International Standards, International Standardized Organization, 05/2014
- Certified Internal Auditor FSSC 22000, 11/2013
- Four Certified HACCP Alliance International Seminars, 2010-2014
- Equivalence of Inspection and Certification Systems, PRACAMS/EU, 03/2014
- Risk Management for Campylobacter and Salmonella in Poultry, FAO/IICA/OIRSA, 06/2013
- Food Processing and Technology for Acid and Acidified Shelf-Stable Products, FDA/JIFSAN, University of Purdue, 03/2012
- Food Safety Audits and Official Inspection for Meat Plants, IICA/Texas A&M University, 03/2011
- Meat and Poultry Inspection Seminar for International Officials, University of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico/USDA-FSIS, 06/2010
- Ante and Post-mortem Inspection and Audit of Slaughterhouses, USDA/IICA
- Ten Modules of Prerequisite Programs, 2008-2010
Awards
- Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship 2015-2016, Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, A Fulbright exchange activity and highly selective program granted by the United States Department of State for developing leadership and professional skills.
- Cochran Fellowship Program, selected 4 times by the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture to participate in US-based specialized food safety and trade workshops.
Certification
- TOEFL/iBT - English Profficency Test. Result: 101 out of 120
- Six Sigma Green Belt - Six Sigma Institute
- MBTI Assessment - ESTJ
- HACCP Alliance
- ISO 19011 Internal Auditor
- Management Indicators Lego Serious Play Methodology. Digital token.
- Soft Skills 2.0 Digital token.
- Certificate in Cultural Awareness. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Certificate in Leadership and Innovation. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Executive Leadership Certificate. Cornell University.
- Achieving Leadership Success Through People. American Management Association (AMA).
- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Steven Covey.
- Equivalence of Inspection and Certification Systems
- Certified Internal Auditor FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000:2005; ISO/TS 22002-1:2009 & PAS 223:2011)
Languages
Spanish
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Technical Director for Food Safety
National Service of Health and Agri-Food Safety (SENASA)
08.2016 - Current
Technical Assistant for Food Safety
National Service of Plant and Animal Health (SENASA).
09.2008 - 07.2015
Master of Science - Food Safety
Michigan State University
Master of Science - Management And International Business
UTH Florida University
Food Safety Certificate - Food Safety
Cornell University
Veterinary Medicine Degree - Veterinary Medicine
Universidad De San Carlos De Guatemala
- TOEFL/iBT - English Profficency Test. Result: 101 out of 120
- Six Sigma Green Belt - Six Sigma Institute
- MBTI Assessment - ESTJ
- HACCP Alliance
- ISO 19011 Internal Auditor
- Management Indicators Lego Serious Play Methodology. Digital token.
- Soft Skills 2.0 Digital token.
- Certificate in Cultural Awareness. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Certificate in Leadership and Innovation. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Executive Leadership Certificate. Cornell University.
- Achieving Leadership Success Through People. American Management Association (AMA).
- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Steven Covey.
- Equivalence of Inspection and Certification Systems
- Certified Internal Auditor FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000:2005; ISO/TS 22002-1:2009 & PAS 223:2011)
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