Regulatory Specialist

The Regulatory Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring that all snack products comply with food safety regulations and labeling standards. This position is responsible for both regulatory compliance and consumer complaint management, focusing heavily on food safety, quality assurance, and labeling accuracy. The role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and other food safety standards, while also handling private label customer complaints to improve overall product quality and consumer satisfaction.  This role will ensure the company's products meet the highest standards of food safety and regulatory compliance, addressing private label customer complaints while continuously improving product quality and safety processes.

Responsibilities:

Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance: 

• Ensure all snack products meet FDA, USDA, and industry-specific food safety regulations, including requirements for organic, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher certifications. 

• Collaborate with the Quality Assurance team to implement food safety programs and maintain proper documentation to comply with all applicable regulations. 

• Stay updated on changes in food safety regulations and ensure that the company’s products are consistently compliant with evolving standards. 

• Support the development and review of food safety policies and procedures to ensure continuous improvement in product safety and quality. 

Labeling and Regulatory Compliance: 

• Develop, review, and maintain product labels to ensure they are compliant with food safety regulations, including accurate ingredient listings, nutritional facts, allergen warnings, and certification logos. 

• Ensure proper documentation is in place to substantiate any labeling claims, such as organic, gluten-free, vegan, or kosher certifications. 

• Maintain records of all label versions, regulatory approvals, and updates in alignment with compliance and food safety standards. 

Private Label Customer Complaint Management with a Food Safety Focus: 

• Manage private label customer complaints related to food safety concerns, investigating thoroughly and determining root causes. 

• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Production, and Regulatory teams to resolve food safety complaints promptly and effectively. 

• Ensure that corrective actions are taken to prevent recurrence of food safety issues and that resolution meets both regulatory and consumer satisfaction requirements. 

• Maintain accurate records of private label customer complaints, investigations, resolutions, and actions taken to improve food safety processes. 

Cross-functional Collaboration: 

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, R&D, Production, Marketing, and Regulatory teams, to address food safety and labeling issues. 

• Coordinate with external certification bodies, regulatory agencies, and suppliers to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and accurate labeling. 

Continuous Improvement and Risk Mitigation: 

• Analyze trends in private label customer complaints related to food safety to identify areas of risk and opportunity for improvement. 

• Recommend and implement improvements to enhance food safety, product quality, and labeling accuracy. 

• Participate in the development of food safety training programs for production and customer service teams to enhance understanding of regulatory compliance and complaint handling. 

Reporting and Documentation: 

• Prepare and present reports on food safety compliance, private label customer complaints, root causes, and corrective actions to management. 

• Ensure thorough documentation and record-keeping for regulatory filings, product labels, and food safety audits. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Regulatory Affairs, Nutrition, or a related field with a focus on food safety.
• 3-5 years of experience in food safety, regulatory affairs, and private label customer complaints management in the food manufacturing industry. 
• Experience with organic, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher certifications, as well as food safety audits and compliance. 
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations, including HACCP, GMP, and allergen management. 
• Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle complex regulatory issues. 
• Proficiency in managing food safety programs, analyzing complaint trends, and implementing corrective actions. 
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with food safety software and labeling tools.
• 10%-20% travel to manufacturing sites, external auditors, and industry events as needed. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with flexibility to respond to food safety concerns and regulatory updates outside of regular business hours. 

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)