Principal Specialist - Regulatory Affairs & Compliance

Gorton's•Gloucester, MA

16d

About The Position

What You’ll Do: Regulatory Compliance & Oversight - Provide technical expertise to support Gorton’s businesses in all areas related to ingredients, labeling and claims, legal, governmental and regulatory issues, including FDA registration requirements. - Ensure that all ingredients, products and packaging materials comply with all federal and corporate regulations, policies and guidelines in both the US and Canada, or country of sale. - Ensure compliance with regulatory oversight such FDA, SFCA, and global food safety standards across all operations. - Oversee import/export compliance programs (SFCA, USDC certificates, CFIA audits), packaging and labelling requirements, and documentation to ensure smooth global trade. - Monitor and evaluate emerging regulatory trends, enforcement actions, recalls, and global food safety risks to proactively manage regulatory risks and ensure company strategies remain aligned with current and future compliance requirements. - Coordinate comprehensive employee training on crisis management, regulatory updates, and compliance best practices. - Responsible for conducting the annual Food Fraud Ingredient Assessment. - Support 3rd party certification audits and corporate social responsibility programs. Agency & Stakeholder Liaison - Act as primary liaison with regulatory agencies (FSIS, FDA, CFIA, State), legal counsel, and consumer contact services. - Serve on Regulatory & technical affairs committees for various industry associations (i.e., NFI, CBA). - Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align company strategies with evolving regulatory landscapes. - Keep senior leadership informed on developing food safety/regulatory issues. Label & Claim Review - Partner with R&D, Marketing and other internal stakeholders in product and packaging review within Stage Gate process to ensure accurate, timely, and successful product commercialization. - Ensure that packaging key lines are reviewed and approved prior to printing. - Responsible for routine nutrition analysis verification of current products vs. current package declaration and any label claims. - Review and approve social media ads and ecommerce materials. - Approve 3rd party claims for use on package and/or website. Crisis Management, Product Recall & Traceability - Lead crisis management team, and product recall programs, including annual crisis exercises at all facilities. - Maintain corporate crisis, traceability and recall manuals. - Lead routine traceability lot trace exercises at all production sites Customer & Consumer Support - Primary contact for elevated customer and customer/consumer complaints from point of contact through resolution. - Provide technical support to sales with documents such as continuing product guarantees, letters of compliance, health certificates, technical data sheet and export documents. What You’ll Need: - Bachelors Degree in Food Science, Public Policy, Legal Studies, Microbiology with >10 years of relevant food industry experience. - 7+ years’ experience in FSQA leadership roles in food manufacturing subject to FDA inspection; international regulatory experience preferred. - Strong knowledge of food regulations and the legal process - Excellent communication skills, written and oral. Ability to understand and articulate various points of view. - Critical thinker with demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills - Highly motivated self-starter, with lots of initiative - Proficiency in relevant documentation and compliance systems (e.g., Genesis Foods, SharePoint). - Ability to interact with all levels of management and outside agencies - Experience supporting regulatory audits, managing import/export compliance, and leading crisis management programs. - Ability to travel <20% - Ability to safely handle, test, and taste seafood products as part of product development and commercialization process.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Food Science, Public Policy, Legal Studies, Microbiology with >10 years of relevant food industry experience.
7+ years’ experience in FSQA leadership roles in food manufacturing subject to FDA inspection; international regulatory experience preferred.
Strong knowledge of food regulations and the legal process
Excellent communication skills, written and oral. Ability to understand and articulate various points of view.
Critical thinker with demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills
Highly motivated self-starter, with lots of initiative
Proficiency in relevant documentation and compliance systems (e.g., Genesis Foods, SharePoint).
Ability to interact with all levels of management and outside agencies
Experience supporting regulatory audits, managing import/export compliance, and leading crisis management programs.
Ability to travel <20%
Ability to safely handle, test, and taste seafood products as part of product development and commercialization process.

Responsibilities

Provide technical expertise to support Gorton’s businesses in all areas related to ingredients, labeling and claims, legal, governmental and regulatory issues, including FDA registration requirements.
Ensure that all ingredients, products and packaging materials comply with all federal and corporate regulations, policies and guidelines in both the US and Canada, or country of sale.
Ensure compliance with regulatory oversight such FDA, SFCA, and global food safety standards across all operations.
Oversee import/export compliance programs (SFCA, USDC certificates, CFIA audits), packaging and labelling requirements, and documentation to ensure smooth global trade.
Monitor and evaluate emerging regulatory trends, enforcement actions, recalls, and global food safety risks to proactively manage regulatory risks and ensure company strategies remain aligned with current and future compliance requirements.
Coordinate comprehensive employee training on crisis management, regulatory updates, and compliance best practices.
Responsible for conducting the annual Food Fraud Ingredient Assessment.
Support 3rd party certification audits and corporate social responsibility programs.
Act as primary liaison with regulatory agencies (FSIS, FDA, CFIA, State), legal counsel, and consumer contact services.
Serve on Regulatory & technical affairs committees for various industry associations (i.e., NFI, CBA).
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align company strategies with evolving regulatory landscapes.
Keep senior leadership informed on developing food safety/regulatory issues.
Partner with R&D, Marketing and other internal stakeholders in product and packaging review within Stage Gate process to ensure accurate, timely, and successful product commercialization.
Ensure that packaging key lines are reviewed and approved prior to printing.
Responsible for routine nutrition analysis verification of current products vs. current package declaration and any label claims.
Review and approve social media ads and ecommerce materials.
Approve 3rd party claims for use on package and/or website.
Lead crisis management team, and product recall programs, including annual crisis exercises at all facilities.
Maintain corporate crisis, traceability and recall manuals.
Lead routine traceability lot trace exercises at all production sites
Primary contact for elevated customer and customer/consumer complaints from point of contact through resolution.
Provide technical support to sales with documents such as continuing product guarantees, letters of compliance, health certificates, technical data sheet and export documents.