Senior Chemist, Product Steward

Celanese•Irving, TX

About The Position

Celanese is seeking a senior-level Food Contact Regulatory Affairs subject matter expert to join its Americas Product Stewardship team. The role provides independent technical and regulatory expertise for U.S. FDA food contact and indirect food additive requirements, with an additional focus on MERCOSUR food contact regulations. It supports the development, manufacture, and commercialization of products used in food contact applications. The successful candidate will independently monitor and interpret regulatory requirements, assess product and raw material compositions for compliance, and manage food contact regulatory portfolios across Celanese business lines. The role ensures food contact compliance is established, maintained, and continuously evaluated in alignment with regulatory developments and business needs. It also provides strategic regulatory guidance to internal cross-functional stakeholders to support business growth while meeting applicable legislation and customer requirements. This is a senior individual-contributor role with a high degree of independence. The role makes technical regulatory assessments, documents defensible compliance determinations, advises stakeholders on risk-based options, and escalates high-risk or novel questions to Legal, Toxicology, Quality, or Product Stewardship leadership as appropriate. The preferred locations are Celanese facilities in Florence, Kentucky; Irving, Texas; or Wilmington, Delaware.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Toxicology, Regulatory Affairs, Food Science, or a related scientific discipline.
At least 8 years of experience in Product Stewardship, Regulatory Affairs, Product Safety, Food Contact Compliance, or a related technical regulatory role.
Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying U.S. FDA and/or MERCOSUR food contact regulations, particularly for chemicals, polymers, additives, compounds, or specialty materials.
Strong understanding of food contact compliance assessments, migration principles, substance authorization frameworks, and regulatory risk evaluation.
Experience working with cross-functional business and technical teams in a global environment.
Familiarity with SAP EHS, Product Compliance systems, and regulatory databases.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Excellent analytical thinking, problem-solving, organization, and risk assessment capabilities.
Ability to independently interpret regulations, apply them to product compositions and use conditions, document conclusions, and provide pragmatic, risk-based recommendations balancing business objectives and compliance obligations.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Experience with additional global food contact regulatory frameworks, including European Union, China, and Japan regulations.
Experience supporting food contact compliance for polymers, compounds, and related materials, including substance assessments, compliance determinations, and portfolio management.
Spanish or Portuguese reading capability, or demonstrated experience working with translated regulatory texts and local counsel or consultants.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior Product Stewardship subject matter expert for U.S. FDA food contact regulations applicable to polymeric materials and additives, including relevant provisions under 21 CFR.
Provide expertise on Food Contact Notifications (FCNs), Food Additive Regulations, and Threshold of Regulation (TOR) exemptions.
Address MERCOSUR food contact regulations for plastic materials and articles, including applicable positive lists and related compliance requirements.
Monitor, evaluate, and communicate emerging regulatory developments, legislative changes, and enforcement trends affecting food contact applications.
Independently assess raw materials, additives, formulations, and finished products for compliance with applicable food contact requirements.
Maintain and manage the food contact product portfolio, keeping regulatory assessments and compliance determinations current and aligned with evolving legislation.
Conduct product risk assessments and risk management activities with toxicologists to evaluate substance status, migration considerations, and food contact compliance.
Lead assessments of complex food contact compliance questions and provide regulatory expertise for customer requirements, business decisions, and commercialization activities.
Define and oversee external testing strategies, collaborating with accredited laboratories and test institutes as needed.
Partner with manufacturing, quality, procurement, legal, and technology teams to ensure compliance throughout the product lifecycle.
Contribute to continuous improvement of product stewardship processes, regulatory databases, and compliance management systems.
Develop and provide food contact regulatory guidance, knowledge-sharing, and training for internal stakeholders.
Make technical regulatory assessments, document compliance determinations, advise stakeholders on risk-based options, and escalate high-risk or novel issues to the appropriate leadership or specialists.