Product Compliance Specialist

About the Role

The Product Compliance Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring that products meet all relevant regulatory, safety, and stewardship standards. This position requires strong technical expertise and business acumen to assess compliance risks, support cross-functional teams in integrating regulatory and stewardship requirements, maintain accurate documentation, and uphold the company’s commitment to product safety and legal conformity.

Responsibilities

• Cover Customer and Raw materials risk-assessment evaluations with agility and teamwork collaboration.
• Monitor and interpret legislation and regulatory requirements related to raw materials, product development, manufacturing, and labeling. Provide timely guidance to stakeholders on compliance matters, with emphasis on both local and international regulations.
• Stay informed about emerging product safety concerns, particularly regarding substances present or potentially present in products.
• Define and oversee product compliance testing requirements. Ensure timely execution and alignment with regulatory standards.
• Vet raw materials for compliance and provide technical expertise to ensure new materials meet all applicable requirements.
• Respond to customer inquiries and concerns related to product compliance. Investigate implications and formulate clear, accurate responses.
• Develop and maintain standardized responses for recurring compliance inquiries.
• Review potential compliance issues and participate in initiatives to assess, address, and resolve them.
• Identify and implement process and procedural improvements.
• Escalate identified risks and issues appropriately, consulting with the manager for resolution strategies.
• Work cross-functionally with teams including R&D, Quality, Sales, Customer Service, Procurement, Legal, and Manufacturing.
• Work with external laboratories and institutes on product compliance matters.
• Recommend and support the implementation of additional controls under risk assessment and product safety systems.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with legal and internal company policies.
• Maintain thorough records of compliance activities and customer communications. Continuously update relevant databases and documentation.
• Support customer and regulatory audits and visits as needed.
• Participate in compliance-related projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology or a related technical field with a strong chemistry focus.
• Preferred industry experience in one or more of the following: Paper/nonwoven or plastics/polymer manufacturing, Food and food packaging, Tobacco, Cosmetics, hygiene, or healthcare.
• 2+ years of experience in a similar role/industry preferred.
• Strong knowledge of hygiene/product safety or specialization in compliance.
• Strong knowledge of food contact materials is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with product safety management systems and tools.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel.
• Regulatory tools management experience with software such as Sphera and/or 3E is desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; tech-savvy and computer literate.
• Ability to identify what needs to be done to meet goals or objectives, advance in the face of adversity or challenges, and remain positive.
• Demonstrated Continuous Improvement Mindset: Able to identify improvement opportunities, manage performance indicators, and solve problems by rigorously following continuous improvement principles. Ensure rigorous monitoring of processes, progress, and results via KPIs.
• Strong risk awareness with the ability to anticipate and identify potential issues.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail and the ability to synthesize complex data.
• Process-oriented with flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Effective planning and prioritization to meet deadlines.
• Comfortable working in a global, multicultural environment.
• Proactive, results-driven, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Eager to learn and develop professionally.
• Fluent in English; additional languages (e.g., German, Spanish, French) are a plus.

Competencies

• Planning & Organizing: Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize tasks to meet defined goals—uses resources wisely. Can effectively direct workflow.
• Decision Making: Can assess the scope, urgency, and level of risk associated with a situation. Includes the ability to take measures in a timely manner to solve problems involving various levels of complexity and ambiguity. Chooses the best solution based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
• Autonomy: Works well independently and assumes own responsibilities. Needs minimal supervision. Exercises good judgment.
• Client Focus: Ability to know the needs of markets and customers as well as how to work in collaboration with them to meet their current and future needs. Stays on top of trends and innovations that will influence the capacity of an organization.
• Continuous Improvement: Able to identify improvement opportunities, manage performance indicators, and solve problems by rigorously following continuous improvement principles. Ensures rigorous monitoring of processes, progress, and results via KPIs.