Regulatory Compliance Manager

As a leader and innovator in the snack food industry for over 50 years, J&J Snack Foods provides branded snack foods to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets across the U.S. Its products include such icons as SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, and Dippin’ Dots along with other key brands like LUIGI’S Real Italian Ice, The Funnel Cake Factory Funnel Cakes, and Hola Churros. J&J also has a strong presence in bakery providing cakes, cookies, and pies to some of the largest grocery and convenience retailers in industry. Our company continues to deliver record sales led by a talented team and a commitment to “Fun Served Here”.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Position reports to the Senior Director of FSQA & Regulatory and assists with developing and executing a strategic vision for JJSF regulatory compliance and labeling. Position leads/manages the Regulatory Team and develops/documents internal processes, validates regulatory related aspects of the business such as product labeling, claim verifications, export compliance, documentation management, and provides internal/external regulatory support. The Regulatory Compliance Manager keeps abreast of regulatory issues, litigation trends and provides leadership updates to mitigate business risks.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead and develop a highly performing JJSF Regulatory Team to ensure efficient operations.
• Partner with internal/external customers on multiple projects to support all JJSF brands and private label products.
• Assures accuracy for product labels, documents, print materials and that claims comply with federal, state, local, and when applicable, international regulations.
• Works with Sales and Marketing, to ensure regulatory compliance of all advertising and marketing materials from product ideation to implementation.
• Leads and documents activities necessary for claim substantiation and product compliance, e.g., reviewing formulas and/or program audits, test results and/or third-party certifications.
• Provides guidance for R&D when products are subject to ingredient restrictions, required nutritional properties, allergen limitations, child nutrition programs, claims, or exporting requirements.
• Manages the preparation and submission of USDA label approval requests.
• Drives compliance to JJSF Corporate Standards where applicable (e.g., specifications, record retention).
• Coordinates with Purchasing and Supply Quality to approve ingredients and identify risks which may include allergen risk assessments for precautionary labeling or ingredient substitutions.
• Researches and interprets regulatory data including, but not limited to changing regulations, advisory panel output, position statements and scientific studies; presents summaries and suggested courses of action to leadership.
• Drafts, maintains, and updates regulatory guidance and SOPs for the department.
• Responds to routine customer inquiries, requirements and follows up as appropriate.
• Serves as an internal expert in food regulations by managing the distribution of information on global and international standards, regulatory positions, proposed legislative changes, and other regulatory information as needed.
• Participates in symposia, industry and governmental groups and conferences.

COMPETENCIES:

• Capable of developing and executing business strategy for nutrition labeling and related claim substantiation to drive growth and innovation.
• Possess ability to interpret and apply federal, local, state, and international food laws and regulations to all products sold domestically or internationally.
• Capable of aiding with company’s international market requests by providing foreign labeling/composition regulations and international food safety laws.
• Have extensive project and Regulatory Compliance Team management skills.
• Have a passion to lead, educate, and grow a diverse group of individuals.
• Capable of working with multiple departments simultaneously to achieve a variety of goals.
• Be able to demonstrate business acumen through issue identification, risk management, and cross-functional consensus building.
• Must exhibit a high degree of adaptability to engage effectively with all levels and styles of employees and management.
• Self-motivated, can operate autonomously while working collaboratively with other cross-functional team members as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Capable of managing simultaneously workloads, multiple customer demands, and shifting priorities within a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and adapt well to change.
• Must demonstrate excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Can handle complexity and judgment to meet business needs.
• Capable of taking an independent initiative; achieve results to benefit the department and company.
• Have a respectable professional persona and act as a representative for the department.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Must complete all the above and any other duties as assigned by management.
• Proficient in all Office Programs: Excel, PPT and Word.

Required Skills: 

• Must have extensive knowledge of federal, local, state, & international food regulations.
• Experience with Genesis R&D required.
• Experience working successfully within a time-sensitive, process-driven environment.

Preferred Skills / Experience:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Food Safety, or related field.

Required Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in the food industry required and 2 years’ management experience in regulatory compliance and food labeling.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• May travel to other plant sites on occasion.