Chemical Management - Program Manager Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at Mars, Incorporated in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Program Manager SRA - Chemical Management

As an associate of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs (SRA), the Program Manager Scientific and Regulatory Affairs creates and sustains a competitive advantage for Mars Wrigley and supports the achievement of its overall business goals by leading regulatory risk assessment and mitigation of global innovation projects related to packaging. This position proactively partners with innovation stakeholders and Regional SRA experts to identify potential regulatory risks and works to bring solutions to the table to enable innovation while ensuring compliance. The job holder turns scientific and regulatory insights into foresight to anticipate issue and increase business preparedness. This position works with internal cross-functional teams in R&D teams, regional SRA teams, Corporate Affairs and engages externally industry trade groups, government agencies and scientific consortium to bring the outside in.

What are we looking for?

• A Bachelor's degree in a technical area, such as chemistry, toxicology, food chemistry, food science.


• Master's degree in a technical area, such as chemistry, toxicology, food chemistry, food science preferred.


• Additional trainings in SRA


• 7+ years of experience in scientific and/or regulatory compliance with food products and/or related product categories (such as food supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals) with proficiency in food law, nutrition policy, and ingredient management on a global scale.
  
  

• Experience in Treating and Snacking category is preferred.


• Experience working on large-scale regulatory projects involving packaging; a demonstrated track record of working successfully across functions to achieve shared goals; and proven ability to interact cross-functionally at all levels within the organization are required.

• Experience working with trade associations and government agencies to clarify and resolve regulatory matters is required

What would your key responsibilities be?

Regulatory assessment of food contact material in support of agile innovation projects:
• Serves as the SRA lead and primary point of contact for global agile innovation business stakeholders (e.g. R&D, Marketing) for new packaging materials. Provides scientific and regulatory advice for food contact material through cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Science & Technology and Quality. Brings solutions in addition to risk assessments
• Provides scientific and regulatory advice on route to market for new innovations, working with external experts where needed for new categories or channels
• Escalates key decision points to SRA LT to ensure proper governance
• Communicates project highlights and key regulatory issues with SRA community for broader team visibility, understanding and learning
• Establishes and works with relevant external technical consultants to ensure SRA project success criteria is achieved with highest level of quality and efficiency
• Navigating the SRA environment for the mid to long-term by working with regional SRA and other key stakeholders to support the development of SRA strategic roadmap for relevant regulatory approvals
• Leverage existing horizon scanning tools to help make recommendations on material use to ensure we protect our Freedom to Operate

Global SRA Oversight over Freedom to Operate Priority Topics:
• Maintain up to date knowledge on key developments in food law and policy via horizon scanning, regulatory and scientific conference attendance, and participation in professional association activities
• Works with internal partners to understand priorities and impacts of developing legislation and aligns appropriate external positions. Represents the company with external partners to influence developing policy and legislation in line with our aligned positions in a proactive manner; takes leadership to materialize opportunities to support our growth plans
• Translate global inputs and regional inputs from regulatory issues topic charters to maintain internal Regulatory Issues Management dashboard to provide visibility to business stakeholders, and provide recommendations on actions to take to continue to protect our Freedom to Operate (F2O)
• Work with relevant technical teams (e.g. Science and Technology, Corporate Affairs) working on F2O projects, to provide necessary SRA support and guidance
• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand priorities to identify SRA opportunities for proactive regulatory approvals and adjustments to be considered to continue to enable the Freedom to Operate agenda
• Turn scientific and regulatory insight into foresight and build appropriate internal and external network to anticipate the impact on the business and shape the regulatory environment