Manager, Strategy & Innovation

Kraft Heinz • Chicago, IL

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

This individual is responsible for ensuring Kraft Heinz compliance with existing and emerging federal and state food & food packaging laws, regulations and guidance documents. The role provides organizational leadership and engages with external partners, all while providing expertise to ensure company compliance, brand sustainability and excellence in regulatory management. As a member of the Food Regulation & Strategy team, the Strategy and Innovation Manager will lead Kraft Heinz North America food and/or food packaging regulatory compliance strategies across our diverse product portfolio. This role will serve as a subject matter expert on food and/or food packaging regulations, ensuring our products meet all applicable compliance requirements while supporting innovation and market expansion initiatives. The successful candidate will lead the end-to-end regulatory compliance cycle—monitoring and interpreting emerging requirements through proactive horizon scanning, assessing impact and advising internal stakeholders, and translating obligations into clear policies, controls, and implementation plans. Partnering across the Kraft Heinz business, the role will embed regulatory requirements into growth and commercialization activities, support strategic decision-making, and help shape the organization’s regulatory posture through timely guidance and constructive engagement with regulators and industry groups. The position will also oversee ongoing compliance monitoring and enforcement readiness, including issue escalation, corrective actions, and continuous improvement of the regulatory management framework. By providing tools, programs, and actionable insights to enable risk-informed decision making for key business initiatives, the Strategy and Innovation Manager is able to demonstrate organizational leadership across the North America portfolio. This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days onsite weekly.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biology, Toxicology, Engineering, or related scientific field
• Minimum 5-8 years food regulatory experience with at least 3 years focused on leadership opportunities
• Deep understanding of/proficiency in federal and state regulations affecting food, including mandatory labeling elements, product claims and/or consumer packaging
• Experience with regulatory submissions, agency interactions, compliance program development, and commercialization processes
• Experience participating in and working with trade organizations and/or government agencies for the purpose of advocacy
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences and facilitate negotiations
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational and presentation skills across all levels within the organization

Nice To Haves

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, matrix-oriented organization
• Change management and influence skills
• Technical writing and presentation capabilities
• Conflict management and issue resolution
• Customer and consumer understanding
• Advanced product knowledge and domain expertise

Responsibilities

• Monitor and interpret evolving regulations from FDA, USDA, CFIA, and state/Province regulatory bodies regarding food safety, labeling, and ingredient requirements
• Lead regulatory assessments for new product development, reformulations, market expansions
• Develop and implement comprehensive compliance strategies for food products and food packaging across all product categories and markets – including strategies for food and color additives, packaging initiatives such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, Minimum Recycled Content targets & reporting requirements, packaging materials strategies, and other ingredients, claims, and labeling requirements, as well as KHC-directed initiatives and commitments.
• Manage regulatory submissions, notifications, reporting requirements, and correspondence with regulatory agencies as needed
• Assist R&D and Quality communities in managing federal requirements for food packaging, including FDA safety requirements for food contact substances and materials and package fill requirements.
• Work with suppliers to advance KHC expectations for packaging safety and compliance based on KHC intended uses and needs.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for regulatory issues across the portfolio
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders such as R&D, Quality, Marketing, Supply Chain, and other teams to ensure regulatory requirements are integrated into product development processes and initiatives, and to integrate regulatory strategies within regular business planning sessions
• Provide regulatory guidance during ingredient sourcing decisions and supplier qualification processes
• Lead FRS and cross-functional teams through regulatory challenges and commercialization transitions
• Train internal stakeholders on regulatory requirements, compliance protocols, and best practices
• Transition regulatory support from development phases to full commercialization as appropriate
• Assist Government Affairs, ESG, and other functions in monitoring emerging packaging requirements, identifying business, financial, and other implications for KHC, and developing KHC positions (internal and external) for proposed legal and regulatory requirements.
• Actively contribute information to assist with cross-functional issue awareness and risk management.
• Maintain deep expertise in food and/or food packaging regulations, color additive and other ingredient requirements, nutrition/labeling requirements, reporting, and certification processes
• Horizon scanning - Track regulatory trends, proposed rule changes, and industry developments affecting food labeling, food safety, and packaging composition/substances of interest, and claims
• Analyze competitive landscape and industry best practices for regulatory compliance across all focus areas
• Develop and maintain regulatory procedures, job aids, guidance documents, and databases
• Assess risks relevant to regulatory requirements and provide related strategic advice
• Leverage regulatory developments and portfolio expertise to identify opportunities, risks, and implications for business growth
• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, industry associations, external regulatory consultants, suppliers, customers, and certification bodies
• Represent the company at industry conferences, regulatory meetings, and trade association committees
• Communicate regulatory requirements and developments, risks, and strategies to all relevant cross-functional stakeholders to drive uniform understanding and clarity on next actions
• Train and support key cross-functional stakeholders with food and/or packaging compliance-related responsibilities including R&D, Quality, Toxicology, Legal, Government Affairs, ESG, Businesses, Tax, Procurement Sales and Finance
• Collaborate with legal counsel and other functions on regulatory enforcement actions and compliance matters
• Maintain deep understanding of development and commercial processes relevant to regulatory requirements, including product development, manufacturing operations, logistics, procurement, commercialization, and customer relationships
• Facilitate negotiations and influence business partners when dealing with highly complex regulatory situations

Benefits

• Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs.
• Events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager