Regulatory Manager (Food)

SUMMARY:
Regulatory Manager (Food) 
An established leader in the pet food industry is seeking a Regulatory Manager (Food) to join the Corporate Governance & Technical division. This role acts as the custodian of regulatory compliance, ensuring that all food products, packaging, and marketing materials meet South African and international standards. The successful candidate will manage product registrations, oversee regulatory submissions, guide cross-functional teams, and safeguard the business against compliance risks—ensuring that all offerings are safe, compliant, and market-ready.

POSITION INFO:
Minimum Requirements

• Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.

• Experience: At least 5 years’ proven regulatory affairs experience within the food industry.

• Strong knowledge of Act 36, food safety regulations, labelling standards of South Africa, and advertising codes.

• Previous track record engaging with regulatory and industry bodies.

• Hands-on experience with product registrations, renewals, dossier upgrades, and technical amendments.

• Solid understanding of exports and international compliance requirements.

• Ensure full compliance of food products, packaging, and marketing material with SA regulatory and advertising standards.

• Provide regulatory guidance to marketing, NPD, and cross-functional teams.

• Liaise with regulatory bodies and participate in key industry-led forums to remain aligned with legislation.

• Draft, review, and contribute to policies and SOPs that strengthen governance.

• Approve all product artwork, packaging, and labelling changes.

• Conduct internal audits, compliance reviews, and risk assessments.

• Prepare and submit regulatory applications, reports, and documentation to relevant authorities.

• Manage product registrations, renewals, and technical amendments under Act 36.

• Oversee dossier upgrades for new product development (including G & V registrations).

• Build submission plans, set timelines, and ensure all registrations are completed accurately and on time.

• Maintain an updated database and archive of legal documents and regulatory records.

• Manage submissions and compliance requirements for SADC and other international markets.

• Engage with external regulatory bodies and authorities in foreign jurisdictions.

• Identify and mitigate regulatory risks across product development and production processes.

• Monitor operations, SOPs, and quality processes to ensure strict adherence to regulations.

• Maintain clear audit trails and documentation for all regulatory activities.

• Support and manage regulatory inspections and external audits.

• Strong knowledge of local and international food regulations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for liaising with regulatory bodies and stakeholders.

• Analytical thinker with problem-solving capability and a detail-oriented mindset.

• Project management expertise, able to manage multiple submissions and deadlines.

• Ethical integrity with a commitment to compliance and governance.

• Leadership skills to foster a strong culture of compliance across the organisation.

• Adaptability and continuous learning to keep pace with evolving regulatory landscapes.