Job Title: Regulatory Affairs Specialist - Food & Flavor
Job Description
This role leads regulatory oversight for a defined portfolio of food and flavor products, ensuring full compliance with U.S. and international regulations. The position serves as the regulatory expert for flavor ingredients and formulations, interprets complex regulatory requirements, and provides clear guidance on ingredients, formulations, certifications, claims, and labeling. The role also manages and develops a small regulatory team, improves regulatory systems and processes, and supports internal stakeholders and customers throughout the product lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Provide regulatory oversight for assigned product portfolios to ensure compliance with applicable U.S. and international food and flavor regulations, including FDA, FEMA, EFSA, CFIA, USDA, and TTB.
- Interpret regulatory requirements for ingredients, formulations, certifications, claims, and labeling, and translate them into practical guidance for internal teams.
- Review and approve standard and moderately complex product documentation, including formulations, labels, and customer regulatory statements, to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Serve as the regulatory expert for all flavor ingredients and formulations, supporting new product development and ingredient assessments.
- Supervise, mentor, and develop Senior Regulatory Specialists and Regulatory Specialists, providing coaching and performance feedback.
- Assign workload across the regulatory team and maintain clear priorities aligned with business needs and project timelines.
- Support onboarding, training, and continuous development of regulatory staff to build and maintain strong regulatory capabilities.
- Ensure accurate, consistent, and timely regulatory outputs from the team and support delivery of team key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Oversee the preparation, review, and maintenance of regulatory documents, including TDS, SDS, allergen and GMO statements, nutritional and natural certifications, Non-GMO Project forms, Kosher and Halal certifications, certificates of origin (COO), Prop 65 documentation, flavor labeling, TTB submissions, and related materials.
- Support global market-entry requirements by preparing certification packages and regulatory submissions for international markets.
- Respond to and support customer requests, audits, documentation portals, and documentation reviews with accurate and timely regulatory information.
- Provide clear compliance guidance to internal teams, including R&D, Quality, Procurement/Supply Chain, Marketing, and Sales, to support product development and commercialization.
- Monitor and interpret regulatory changes and industry updates impacting flavors, ingredients, and consumer products.
- Communicate relevant regulatory updates internally and recommend appropriate actions to maintain compliance and support business objectives.
- Drive continuous improvements in regulatory systems, digital tools, and documentation workflows to increase efficiency, accuracy, and traceability.
- Support preparation for audits, inspections, and internal or external compliance reviews.
- Partner with cross-functional teams such as R&D, Quality, Procurement/Supply Chain, Marketing, and Sales to ensure compliant product development and ingredient selection.
- Act as a regulatory subject-matter expert in cross-functional meetings, providing risk assessments and compliance recommendations.
- Collaborate with customers and regulatory agencies, as appropriate, to resolve regulatory questions and issues.
Essential Skills
- Experience in regulatory affairs within the flavor industry, with additional experience in food, beverage, ingredients, or related consumer goods considered a strong asset.
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Quality, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or a related scientific field.
- Working knowledge of global food and flavor regulations, including FDA, FEMA GRAS, USDA, CFIA, EU requirements, Organic, Kosher, Halal, TTB, labeling, and import/export regulations.
- Proven ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to ingredients, formulations, certifications, claims, and labeling.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing and approving product documentation such as formulations, labels, and customer regulatory statements.
- Capability to supervise, mentor, and develop regulatory professionals, including assigning workload and setting priorities.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and support team KPI delivery.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing documentation, responding to customer requests, and communicating regulatory updates internally.
- Proficiency with regulatory documentation such as TDS, SDS, allergen and GMO statements, nutritional and natural certifications, Non-GMO Project forms, Kosher and Halal certifications, certificates of origin, Prop 65 documentation, and TTB submissions.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in the flavor industry is strongly preferred; experience in food and beverage, ingredients, or related consumer goods is a plus.
- Familiarity with FEMA and FDA flavor and food regulations.
- Experience with Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, and Non-GMO Project Verification is preferred.
- Knowledge of IFRA requirements is a plus.
- Knowledge of dietary supplement regulations, AAFCO guidelines, and IFRA standards is advantageous.
- Comfort working with digital regulatory systems, documentation portals, and process improvement initiatives.
- Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with R&D, Quality, Procurement/Supply Chain, Marketing, Sales, customers, and regulatory agencies.
Work Environment
This is an on-site role with the potential for one day per week of remote work, depending on business needs. The position operates in a professional office and laboratory-oriented environment within the food and flavor industry, collaborating closely with world-renowned flavor experts and cross-functional teams. Work involves extensive use of digital regulatory systems, documentation tools, and customer portals, as well as participation in meetings to support product development, commercialization, and compliance activities.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of East Windsor, NJ.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $115000.00/yr.
Generous time off for vacations Paid Holidays 401(k) with company match Tuition reimbursement Medical/Dental/Vision Health & Wellness programs
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in East Windsor,NJ.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jun 12, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email ... for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.