Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Kinsa is recruiting for a: Regulatory Compliance Specialist – Food & Beverage

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Position Purpose:

Our client is proud to be a family owned and operated business. They provide the industry with a wide range of fruit products including juice concentrates, purees, IQF and essential oils sourced from around the world. Reporting to the Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Manager, the Regulatory Compliance Specialist is responsible for maintaining the effective and consistent operation, verification, and current compliance of our organization’s regulatory programs and policies, and serves as subject matter expert liaison with customers, vendors, and internal departments.

Must Have:

Successful candidates must have at least 3 years of experience in food regulatory compliance or food safety.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborate with internal and external departments to accurately respond to inquiries and ensure high customer satisfaction and retention

Administer our regulatory compliance system by overseeing our supply chain program supplier verification program and managing key certification standards for the organization

Plan, prepare for, and assist with customer, vendor, third-party, and internal audits

Participate in or lead compliance and risk reviews for new and existing products and processes

Participate in Food Safety, Food Fraud and Defense, and other committees, meetings, initiatives, programs, and projects

Develop and maintain extensive knowledge of fruit and vegetable manufacturing, processing, packing, and distribution standards, policies, and procedures

Maintain thorough understanding of food safety regulation, including hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls and applicable certifications (e.g., FSMA, Juice HACCP, Acidified and LACF, GFSI, SQF, FSC22000, organic, sustainability, Kosher, Halal)

Ensure that our food safety and regulatory programs and practices remain up-to-date and in step with changing certification and government regulation requirements

Qualifications and Core Competencies:

Three years of experience in food regulatory compliance or food safety; PCQI certification a plus; experience with HACCP, GFSI, organic, kosher, halal certification standards preferred.

B.S. or equivalent degree in an applicable discipline or equivalent industry experience

Strong ability to understand, interpret, and apply food safety principles, certification program structure and requirements, and governmental regulations

Exemplary analytical, research, critical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities

Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment to make appropriate determinations and recommendations to management

Able to initiate tasks and projects without external input, while understanding the goals, needs, and expectations of the organization

Solid planning, time management, and project management skills, with ability to multitask in a fast-paced, team environment to reliably deliver timely and accurate results

Strong technical writing, verbal communication, and relationship management skills

Knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to quickly learn new business systems, software, and platforms; experience with compliance management portals a plus (FoodLogiQ, Tracegains, etc.)