Regulatory & Compliance Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Regulatory & Compliance Manager owns the company’s regulatory, food-safety governance, and certification framework across Dervati, PS Seasoning, and Pro Smoker. This role monitors regulatory changes and translates them into company requirements, approves formulas and labels before commercialization, maintains registrations and certifications, and leads audit and inspection readiness. The Regulatory & Compliance Manager builds durable systems, documentation, and training so compliance does not depend on any one person, and gives leadership a clear, early view of compliance risk. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food regulations, SQF/GFSI programs, labeling, and food-safety systems.

Our Values

• Create with Purpose —  Build controlled documents, standards, and systems that hold up under audit and keep working without constant involvement.
• Carry It Forward —  Bring solutions, not just problems; find a compliant path for new products and claims and keep commercialization moving.
• Take Ownership with Integrity —  Own compliance outcomes, communicate truthfully with leadership and regulators, and close every corrective action with evidence.
• Serve Others First —  Partner with R&D, Quality, Operations, Purchasing, Sales, and customers, and develop others so compliance knowledge is shared.
• Protect What Matters —  Identify regulatory, food-safety, allergen, and labeling risks early and act before they reach our people, products, or customers.

Primary Responsibilities

Regulatory Intelligence

• Monitor FDA, USDA-FSIS, state, international, organic, labeling, ingredient, and customer regulatory changes.
• Assess the impact of changes on products, labels, facilities, and processes.
• Translate regulatory changes into clear company requirements and communicate updates to management and affected departments.

Formula, Ingredient, and Label Compliance

• Review and approve ingredient declarations, allergen statements, nutrition facts, net contents, claims, certifications, and product names before commercialization.
• Maintain approved label records and provide regulatory sign-off in the product development and change-control process.
• Support private-label and customer-specific labeling requirements.

Food-Safety System Governance

• Own the corporate framework for HACCP, FSMA preventive controls, HARPC, and prerequisite programs.
• Establish validation and verification requirements and change-control expectations.
• Ensure food-safety plans are current, reassessed on schedule, and approved by qualified individuals.

SQF/GFSI and Certification Programs

• Oversee SQF certification and ensure ongoing compliance with program requirements.
• Manage organic, gluten-free, kosher, halal, non-GMO, and customer certifications.
• Establish corporate certification standards and keep all certificates current.

Regulatory Registrations and Licenses

• Maintain FDA facility registrations, USDA grants of inspection, state licenses, and required permits.
• Maintain process filings, scheduled-process documentation, and export registrations.
• Track renewal dates to ensure no registration, license, or permit lapses.

Audit & Inspection Management

• Act as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies and certification bodies during inspections and audits.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections, certification audits, customer audits, and the internal audit program.
• Prepare audit responses, track corrective-action commitments, and verify evidence of closure.

Supplier Approval Program

• Establish supplier risk classifications, documentation requirements, questionnaires, and audit requirements.
• Verify supplier certificates and regulatory compliance and maintain approval status.
• Partner with Purchasing and Quality Control; QC monitors actual supplier performance.

Document and Records Control

• Govern policies, procedures, forms, and specifications.
• Manage record retention, electronic document control, version control, and controlled distribution.
• Ensure records are complete, accurate, and readily available for audits and inspections.

Recall, Traceability, Food Defense, and Food Fraud

• Maintain recall plans, regulatory notification protocols, and crisis procedures, and lead mock recalls.
• Establish traceability standards across the organization.
• Maintain food-defense plans and food-fraud vulnerability assessments.

Compliance Training and Management Reporting

• Define required regulatory and SQF training and track completion.
• Report compliance status and risk to leadership and conduct management review.
• Escalate systemic or unresolved risks with a recommended path forward.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop the Regulatory & Compliance team, delegate meaningful ownership, and build backup coverage for critical responsibilities.
• Set clear expectations, follow up consistently, and address missed commitments promptly and fairly.
• Build standard work, documentation, and routines so the department performs without constant involvement.
• Foster a culture of food safety, compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in regulatory compliance, food safety, or quality within a food manufacturing facility, including 2 years leading programs or people.
• Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA-FSIS, FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, food labeling, and SQF requirements.
• Experience reviewing and approving labels, nutrition facts, allergen statements, and claims.
• Experience managing regulatory inspections and internal and external audits.
• PCQI and HACCP certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days).
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, attention to detail, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, document control, and nutrition labeling software.
• SQF Practitioner certification and experience with organic, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and non-GMO programs are highly preferred.