Corporate Regulatory and Labeling Manager (3504)

Carl Buddig & Company•South Holland, IL

2d•$80,000 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

Carl Buddig and Company, a family-owned business with over 80 years of history in the meat manufacturing industry, is seeking a Regulatory and Product Development Manager. This role is crucial for ensuring regulatory compliance and driving product development across Carl Buddig Company (CBC), Carl Buddig BBQ (CBQ), and Old Wisconsin Sausage (OWS). The manager will oversee product, packaging, label, claim, and formulation compliance with USDA, FDA, CFIA, and other regulations, while also leading new product development and improvement initiatives. This position acts as a central point of contact, coordinating with various departments like R&D, Operations, Quality Assurance, Marketing, Sales, and Purchasing, as well as external consultants and suppliers, to ensure products meet both company standards and regulatory requirements from development through launch and maintenance. The company emphasizes teamwork, innovation, and community involvement, with 2,500 employees across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

Requirements

Strong understanding of USDA, FDA, and Canadian food labeling regulations.
Knowledge of food product development principles, formulation, ingredient functionality, and commercialization processes.
Excellent project management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to collaborate across departments and influence cross-functional teams.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Ability to work independently and make sound business decisions.
Ability to legally work in the United States is required.
Ability to work 40 or more hours per week.

Nice To Haves

Experience with product specification management systems is preferred.
Adobe Creative Suite knowledge.
Experience with USDA label approval processes and meat and poultry regulatory requirements strongly preferred.
Experience managing food product development projects from concept through commercialization.
Working knowledge of Canadian food regulations and labeling requirements preferred.
Regulatory, food science, quality, HACCP, or related certifications are considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage and lead regulatory compliance activities across all product categories and business units.
Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, CFIA, and applicable state and international regulations.
Coordinate and submit USDA and Canadian label approvals as required.
Serve as the primary regulatory resource for labeling, ingredient declarations, nutrition facts, allergen management, product claims, standards of identity, and country-of-origin requirements.
Review and approve packaging artwork, labels, and marketing materials for regulatory compliance and company standards.
Partner with regulatory consultants and industry experts to remain current on regulatory changes and emerging requirements.
Maintain regulatory documentation, approvals, specifications, and supporting records.
Provide guidance and training to internal teams regarding regulatory requirements and compliance initiatives.
Serve as the primary contact for customer inquiries related to product claims, ingredients, sourcing, labeling, and regulatory matters.
Issue film/label samples for graphics books as updates are made.
Oversee the assembly, verification, and maintenance of Nutrition Facts Panels and related nutritional documentation for all products.
Review and approve final product formulations to ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, CFIA, and customer-specific regulatory requirements.
Evaluate formulation changes for impacts to nutrition labeling, ingredient statements, allergen declarations, standards of identity, and product claims.
Verify the accuracy of nutritional calculations, laboratory analyses, ingredient specifications, and supporting documentation used for label development.
Collaborate with R&D, Quality Assurance, Operations, and Marketing to ensure final formulations align with approved labeling and regulatory requirements.
Assess and approve label claims, marketing statements, and package declarations based on formulation and regulatory requirements.
Maintain regulatory oversight of formulation, ingredient, and nutritional data within company specification systems.
Provide regulatory guidance regarding formulation adjustments, ingredient substitutions, and product changes that may affect labeling compliance.
Lead cross-functional project teams to ensure timely execution of development and regulatory objectives.
Create and maintain project timelines, risk assessments, and commercialization plans.
Manage Management of Change (MOC) documentation associated with new products, formulation changes, packaging updates, and process modifications.
Support successful product launches by coordinating activities across internal and external stakeholders.
Monitor project progress and communicate updates to management and business partners.
Serve as a technical resource for customers, suppliers, operations teams, and commercial partners.
Support audits, inspections, customer requests, and regulatory inquiries.
Assist with customer product specifications, regulatory questionnaires, and product documentation requests.
Work with external suppliers and vendors to ensure ingredient and packaging compliance.