Director, Product & Regulatory Compliance presso Simmons Foods

Purpose of the Position

The Director of Product and Regulatory Compliance is a strategic and operational leader responsible for ensuring integrity, accuracy, and regulatory compliance of product specification and label related data across Simmons Foods’ systems and business units. This role leads cross-functional teams that manage product specifications, supplier regulatory onboarding, PLM/NPD workflow governance, and label compliance across pet food, poultry, and other business segments. The Director will drive excellence in regulatory systems, cross-functional collaboration, and external partnerships to support innovation, speed-to-market, and enterprise compliance.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position. 

Specification & Data Management:  Lead teams responsible for building and maintaining all product, raw material, ingredient, and packaging specifications within Simmons’ Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.  Ensure data accuracy, version control, and alignment with business and regulatory requirements.

Supplier Regulatory Onboarding:  Oversee the regulatory onboarding of all new raw material, ingredient, and packaging suppliers, ensuring timely and complete documentation.  Manage the intake, validation, and maintenance of supplier-provided regulatory and specification data within Simmons’ systems.

PLM & NPD Workflow Governance:  Own and manage PLM and New Product Development (NPD) project workflows on behalf of the business.  Partner with IT, R&D, and business units to optimize system functionality, including workflow process optimization and data reporting effectiveness, and ensure alignment with innovation and commercialization timelines.

Regulatory Label Compliance:  Lead the review, approval, and modification of product labels to ensure compliance with AAFCO, FDA, USDA, and other applicable regulatory bodies.  Proactively provide regulatory guidance across multiple business units, staying on top of evolving regulatory landscapes and expected business impacts.  Manage state level label registrations and tonnage fee processing on behalf of the pet food business.

Strategic & Financial Leadership:  Develop and manage departmental budgets, performance metrics, and long-term planning milestones.  Align functional goals with enterprise and business unit strategies to support growth and compliance.

Cross-Functional & External Collaboration:  Build and maintain strong partnerships with internal stakeholders including R&D, Quality, Procurement, Marketing, Legal, and Operations.  Establish and nurture external relationships with suppliers, regulatory consultants, and system vendors.

Key Competencies: in Regulatory Expertise, Systems Thinking & Data Governance, Strategic Leadership, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Supplier & Stakeholder Engagement, Change Management, and Budget & Performance Management. 

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization. 

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas. 

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position. 

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment, kitchen environment, office environment, and surrounding property. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As needed in required environment. 

Travel: Occasional travel domestically to and from multiple facilities.

Technical Experience: 10+ years of experience in regulatory compliance, product data management, or technical services in the food or pet food industry.  Deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks including AAFCO, FDA, USDA, and international standards.  Proven leadership experience managing cross-functional teams and complex systems (e.g., PLM, ERP).  Strong project management, communication, and strategic planning skills.

Industry Experience: Experience in both pet food and poultry industries is highly desirable.

Minimum Education:. Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Regulatory Affairs, or related field or 4 years related experience.

Preferred Education: Master’s Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Regulatory Affairs, or related field

We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.