Regulatory & Compliance Manager

Description

Regulatory and Compliance Manager

Reports To: Director, Technical Services Department: Technical Services/Product Development

Location: Corona/Salinas, CA Position Type: Full-Time

Classification: Exempt Salary Range: $110,000.00 – 120,000.00 annually

Position Summary

The Regulatory and Compliance Manager at Latitude 36 Foods serves as a cornerstone in upholding regulatory compliance for the company’s cutting-edge, portion-packed food solutions across diverse market segments. Reporting directly to the Director of Technical Services, this role delivers essential regulatory expertise to support the Product Development, Innovation, and Commercialization teams. The Manager ensures products align with USDA, FDA, and CFR requirements throughout the development lifecycle, from concept to market launch. By guiding the intersection of product innovation and regulatory standards, the role ensures adherence to food safety specifications, accurate labeling and artwork, shelf-life studies, and comprehensive compliance measures. With a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, this position is integral to creating customer-driven, consumer-focused products that meet rigorous legal and quality standards, driving success in a competitive marketplace.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a regionally accredited four-year college or university and at least 5 years of progressive food industry experience in the regulatory department, preferred. Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Regulatory Affairs, Biology, or a related field, preferred.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience of strong working knowledge with ERP and SaaS systems.
• Advanced level knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite with high proficiency in Excel.
• Travel to Customers, and/or other Latitude sites, up to 15% of the time within US and CAN (may vary based on business needs and growth)

Desired Qualifications

• Regulatory Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of USDA, FDA, and CFR regulations related to food products. Proven experience in regulatory compliance, food labeling, and securing product approvals.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with food safety programs such as HACCP, GMP, and risk analysis. Experience in food product formulation, ingredient functionality, and regulatory compliance for packaging materials (e.g., 21 CFR).
• Professional Experience: A minimum of 3–5 years in regulatory affairs or food science roles within the food manufacturing industry. Expertise in managing product documentation, regulatory submissions, and supplier certifications.
• SOP Development and Training: Responsible for drafting, reviewing, and approving Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and providing training to ensure team compliance with updated regulations.
• Skills and Attributes: Exceptional analytical skills and attention to detail to interpret and implement complex regulatory requirements. Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Project management skills and the ability to work independently with accuracy. Proven problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to addressing regulatory challenges. Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, external consultants, and regulatory agencies to support new product launches.

Responsibilities

• Product Development Support: Ensure new formulations and ingredient choices meet USDA, FDA, and CFR regulatory requirements. Provide regulatory insights during product concept and prototype development. Evaluate innovative ingredients, processes, and claims for compliance.
• Commercialization Assistance: Facilitate smooth transitions from product ideation to market readiness. Prepare and approve regulatory documentation for product launches, including conducting shelf-life studies and reviewing final product labels.
• System Validation and Supplier Coordination: Validate regulatory information, finished goods specifications, and compliance systems. Verify ingredient compliance, onboard supplier documentation, and secure necessary certifications.
• Customer Engagement: Act as a regulatory expert to address inquiries, provide documentation, and ensure customer-specific compliance needs are met during product development and commercialization.
• Regulatory Compliance Management: Monitor regulatory changes and communicate updates to internal teams. Ensure processes, products, and labels comply with evolving standards, maintaining detailed audit-ready documentation.
• Training and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Train teams on regulatory standards and best practices. Collaborate with Engineering on packaging material compliance and foster a compliance-oriented culture.
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the manager.

Physical Requirements/Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the team member is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The team member is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use their hands and fingers to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The team member must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This description should not be construed to contain every responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this job. Incumbents are required to perform other related functions assigned. Latitude 36 Foods, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is looking for diversity in candidates for employment.