Regulatory Manager (Packaging)
John Paul Mitchell Systems (“JPMS”) is recognized worldwide for developing and marketing innovative hair and skin care products since 1980. We serve the professional beauty industry with salon-quality hair care products, styling tools, and professional hair color through our family of brands including Paul Mitchell, MITCH, Awapuhi Wild Ginger, Tea Tree, Paul Mitchell Tools, Neuro, The Demi, Paul Mitchell the Color, Blonde, and Color XG. We were the first professional hair care company to take a stand against animal testing and continue our strong commitment to philanthropy and sustainability, supporting a wide range of causes and striving to make our operations climate neutral.
About The Role
Reporting to the EVP, Legal & Business Affairs, the Regulatory Manager – Packaging owns the regulatory and sustainability strategy for JPMS packaging across all markets. This role emphasizes packaging sustainability, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), recyclability, future-materials strategy, multi-market regulatory compliance, and packaging-related labeling and claims. You will work closely with the Packaging Engineer, who owns packaging innovation and provides technical testing and validation.
This position owns the strategic, non-engineering side of packaging, including:
- Packaging sustainability strategy and execution (plastic reduction, PCR/biobased transitions, recyclability)
- EPR registration, reporting, and fee management across markets
- Multi-market packaging regulatory compliance and horizon-scanning for changing requirements
- Packaging-related labeling, claims substantiation, and artwork compliance
- Regulatory data and documentation ownership for packaging, including PLM for specifications, testing data, approvals, and lifecycle documentation
This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days in-office in Santa Clarita.
Responsibilities
Packaging Sustainability & EPR (Core Accountability)
- Own JPMS’s packaging sustainability strategy—plastic reduction, transitions to PCR/biobased materials, recyclability, and design-for-recycling targets
- Manage EPR obligations across markets, including producer registrations, reporting, eco-modulation, and fee management
- Set the regulatory and sustainability requirements that the Packaging Engineer validates technically, and confirm proposed changes meet applicable obligations before commercialization
Multi-Market Packaging Compliance
- Maintain packaging regulatory compliance across all JPMS markets (e.g., US state packaging and toxics-in-packaging laws, EU PPWR and CPR, and other applicable frameworks)
- Monitor and assess upcoming or changing packaging regulations, perform impact analysis, and advise the business on required actions and timelines
- Conduct regulatory assessments of packaging materials and components against local and international requirements
Labeling, Claims & Artwork Compliance
- Review packaging labeling, on-pack claims, and artwork for regulatory compliance and claims substantiation, partnering with Marketing, R&D, and Legal
- Ensure recyclability, sustainability, and environmental marketing claims are accurate, substantiated, and defensible across markets
Future-Materials & Innovation Enablement
- Provide the regulatory and sustainability guardrails for packaging innovation, advising the Packaging Engineer on compliance and EPR implications of new materials, formats, and dispensing solutions
- Track emerging materials and regulatory trends to keep JPMS’s packaging roadmap compliant and forward-looking
Regulatory Data & Documentation Ownership
- Own packaging regulatory and sustainability documentation, including EPR filings, compliance records, substantiation files, and approvals
- Ensure data accuracy and audit readiness across markets and maintain records
- Own packaging data in PLM—specifications, drawings, protocols, results, approvals, and change history—ensuring accuracy and audit readiness across the lifecycle
Requirements
Required Qualifications
Skills- Strong knowledge of packaging sustainability and EPR frameworks across multiple markets
- Working knowledge of packaging regulations (e.g., toxics-in-packaging and recycled-content laws, EU PPWR/CPR)
- Experience with recyclability assessment and design-for-recycling principles
- Packaging labeling, claims substantiation, and environmental-claims review
- Ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear specifications for technical and engineering partners
- Sound regulatory judgment and risk-based decision making
- Strong analytical and impact-assessment skills
- Cost- and value-aware approach to compliance
- Project and documentation discipline
- Clear cross-functional communication, with the ability to operate independently while partnering effectively
- Effective team leadership
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Packaging Science, Chemistry, Regulatory Affairs, or a related discipline
- 7+ years of experience in regulatory affairs, packaging sustainability, or EPR/compliance within CPG, beauty, personal care, or similar regulated environments
- 2+ years supervisory experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with EPR scheme management, packaging eco-modulation, and beauty/personal-care or CPG packaging regulation strongly preferred
We are eager to meet people who believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways—not just candidates who check all the boxes.
Working Conditions
- Office and warehouse environments
Pay
The expected base salary range for this position is $125,000 to $135,000, determined by factors including geographic location, experience, skills, and education. This position is also eligible for participation in the company discretionary bonus plan, based on personal performance and company results.
Benefits
JPMS offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including:
- Medical, dental, vision, life, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance
- Retirement savings plans and company match
- Paid family leave
- Education-related programs
- Paid holidays
- Discretionary vacation time