Regulatory Specialist

Gate Gourmet, a gategroup company, is the world's largest independent provider of catering and provisioning services for the airline industry. For the past 70 years, we have served over 250 carriers in more than 30 countries. Gate Gourmet combines culinary expertise with the highest standards of food safety and production to deliver delicious, healthy, and affordable meals to over 270 million travelers around the globe. Job Summary This role is responsible for managing and ensuring compliance with bonded storage requirements, liquor licensing laws, and a broad range of regulatory permits across North America operations. The position serves as a primary support liaison to regulatory authorities: including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and state, local, or provincial environmental agencies; to maintain compliance, mitigate operational and legal risks, and support business continuity. The role leads permitting activities, oversees environmental related project management, and reviews contracts and legal documentation for regulatory implications. This position ensures strong governance of bonded goods, controlled products, and regulated materials. Annual Hiring Range/Hourly Rate $95,000-$105,000/Per Year Paid time off 401k, with company match Company sponsored life insurance Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans Employee Assistance Program Employee Discounts Main Duties and Responsibilities Oversee all aspects of customs bonded storage operations, ensuring full compliance with CBP regulations and internal company policies. Manage bonded goods inventory control processes, including FIFO requirements, CF 7512 documentation and closure, export timelines, and related record‑keeping. Ensure bonded cages (Customs Authorized Storerooms) meet all required security, access control, and inventory protection standards. Serve as the primary point of contact for CBP audits, inspections, verifications, and operational inquiries. Manage and maintain liquor licenses across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring timely applications, renewals, and ongoing compliance with state and local regulatory requirements. Develop, implement, and maintain processes for the handling, storage, and reporting of controlled substances in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Monitor and maintain compliance with local or state regulatory permits associated with catering, environmental oversight, waste management, and related operational activities. Investigate permitting or compliance issues; coordinate resolutions with regulatory authorities, legal counsel, and internal stakeholders as required. Track regulatory and legislative changes—including CBP, USDA, environmental, and licensing requirements—and communicate implications to leadership and operational teams. Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on regulatory readiness, process standardization, system enhancements, and efficiency improvements. Review vendor contracts, service agreements, and operational documentation to assess and ensure compliance with customs, licensing, environmental, and other regulatory requirements. Collaborate with Legal, Procurement, Supply Chain, and operational teams to mitigate risk and ensure contractual obligations align with regulatory standards. Develop and deliver training programs on customs compliance, bonded storage requirements, liquor licensing, and other applicable regulatory obligations. Provide guidance to unit managers, compliance staff, and operational teams on best practices and evolving regulatory expectations. Maintain accurate, organized records of customs documentation, permits, and licenses to ensure audit readiness and regulatory transparency. Prepare compliance reports, dashboards, metrics, and risk assessments for senior leadership and regulatory agencies as needed. Qualifications Education Associate’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Supply Chain, International Trade, Environmental Management, or related field required. Equivalent work experience may be considered. Work Experience Minimum 3 years of experience in customs compliance, bonded storage management, regulatory permitting, or regulatory affairs, preferably within aviation, airline catering, logistics, or a similarly regulated operational environment. Experience in inventory management processes and CBP regulatory requirements preferred. Experience managing liquor licensing, regulatory permitting processes, and supporting regulatory audits. Demonstrated experience in project management and reviewing contracts, service agreements, or legal documents. Technical Skills (Certification, Licenses, and Registration) In-depth knowledge of CBP regulations, bonded storage requirements, and liquor licensing laws. Familiarity with USDA, FDA, and other relevant regulatory frameworks. Licensed Customs Broker or related certification preferred. PMP or equivalent project management certification is a plus. Core Competencies Required Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills. Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across regulatory agencies, internal teams, and all levels of the organization. Proficient in Microsoft Office and compliance/permitting management systems. Able to perform in fast‑paced, deadline‑driven, and operational environments. Skilled at partnering in unionized settings and engaging frontline teams. Language / Communication Skills Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers verbally and in writing Job Dimensions Geographic Responsibility: NA Type of Employment: Full‑time Exemption Classification: Exempt Travel %: 30% Work Environment / Requirements of the Job: Normal office environment Gategroup Competencies Required to be Successful in the Job Thinking – Information Search and analysis & problem resolution skills Engaging – Understanding others, Team Leadership and Developing People Inspiring – Influencing and building relationships, Motivating and Inspiring, Communicating effectively Achieving – Delivering business results under pressure, Championing Performance Improvement and Customer Focus Demonstrated Values to be Successful in the Position Employees at gategroup are expected to live our Values of Excellence, Integrity, Passion and Accountability. To demonstrate these Values, we expect to observe the following from everyone: We treat each other with respect and we act with integrity We communicate and keep each other informed We put our heads together to problem solve and deliver excellence as a team We have passion for our work and we pay attention to the little details We foster an environment of accountability, take responsibility for our actions and learn from our mistakes We do what we say we will do, when we say we are going to do it We care about our coworkers, always taking an opportunity to make someone’s day better The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. gategroup is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status or other category under applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr gategroup