Manager, Regulatory

**The Opportunity**: As the Manager of Regulatory, you will lead a highly technical team responsible for ensuring compliance with food labeling regulations through appropriate ingredient and product specification data maintenance, development of mandatory label copy, compliant packaging graphics, and claims validation. You will play a critical role in optimizing tools and processes to deliver accurate, compliant, and efficient outcomes that meet Maple Leaf Foods’ business objectives. This role requires strategic assessment of regulatory challenges, strong leadership, and cross-functional collaboration across Marketing, Sales, Product Development, Packaging Technology, Packaging Graphics and Food Safety Quality Assurance teams as well as external customers. In addition, you will work collaboratively with the Government Industry Relations team as new regulations are proposed to assess the impact to Maple Leaf Foods.

**Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life**:

- Lead the Regulatory team in the development and maintenance of mandatory label copy to ensure compliant food product labels for Canada, US, and international markets, with focus on meat and plant protein food labelling requirements
- Oversee the packaging artwork approval process, ensuring compliance of ingredient specifications and claims validation.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advise on regulatory compliance risks, providing solutions to mitigate issues and support product launch timelines.
- Support refinement of Regulatory tasks that contribute to the overall Go-To-Market process, enabling efficiency and speed-to-launch improvements.
- Provide regulatory guidance to stakeholders, interpret complex or ambiguous regulations, and develop Maple Leaf Foods regulatory guidance documents.
- Advise on unique and time-sensitive challenges including border issues, market non-compliances, plant non-conformances, and government/industry relations.
- Coach, develop, and mentor a team of regulatory associates, fostering a safe learning environment with advancement opportunities.
- Communicate project feasibility and facilitate discussions on project prioritization, resource allocation, and compliance deliverables.
- Collaborate with Government & Industry Relations to anticipate regulatory changes, provide attestation support, and advise on business impacts of new legislation.

**What You’ll Bring**:

- Degree or Diploma in a related discipline (e.g. Regulatory Affairs, Food Science, Quality Assurance, Nutrition, Science)
- 10 years related experience with strong background in Regulatory Affairs spanning US, Canadian, and select international markets.
- Hands-on experience in regulatory tasks within a complex, fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing a technical regulatory team.
- Expertise with SAP RD and foundational knowledge in label set development and ingredient specification management.
- Strong communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership and external regulatory bodies.
- Analytical abilities, critical thinking, and detail-oriented documentation and reporting skills.
- Foundational knowledge in label set development and ingredient specification management using SAP Recipe Development (RD) would be an asset

**What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods**:

- Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
- An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.
- Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
- Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
- Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
- Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
- Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

**About Us**: We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, toge