Sr. Manager, Food Labeling

Location: Corporate • Reports to: Director, Food Safety and Policy • FLSA Status: Exempt • Job Family: Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory • Career Track/Level: Management, M4

About the role

The Senior Manager, Food Labeling is responsible for establishing, leading, and scaling Reser’s enterprise food labeling program to ensure regulatory compliance while supporting business growth and speed-to-market. This role serves as the company’s senior authority and decision owner for North American food labeling regulations and is accountable for program development, governance maturity, system optimization, and long-term scalability. This position leads and develops a labeling organization, setting foundational expectations, building cross-functional trust, and elevating technical capability across the team. The Senior Manager partners closely with Regulatory, R&D, Quality, Operations, Marketing, and Commercial teams to ensure confidence in labeling decisions, translate complex regulatory requirements into practical solutions, and establish labeling as a valued business partner. Periodic on-site support at manufacturing facilities is required to implement, standardize, and embed labeling programs.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the corporate food labeling strategy, including rebuilding foundational programs, ensuring they are sustainable, scalable, and capable of supporting evolving business needs.
• Serve as the senior authority on food labeling regulations, including FDA, FSIS, CFIA, and other applicable North American requirements, providing regulatory interpretation and risk‑based guidance.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve labeling policies, procedures, workflows, and governance to ensure consistent, trusted, and compliant execution across the organization.
• Lead the creation, maintenance, and optimization of the enterprise nutrition and labeling database, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and effective use across systems and teams.
• Oversee technical validation of labeling content, including ingredient statements, allergens, nutrition facts, claims substantiation, and case labeling requirements.
• Build, lead, and develop a junior and developing labeling team, establishing role clarity, expectations, coaching plans, and structured capability development.
• Provide mentorship and final regulatory judgment for complex or ambiguous labeling decisions, balancing compliance with business agility while building organizational confidence in labeling outcomes.
• Partner cross‑functionally to support new product development, reformulations, customer‑specific projects, and commercialization initiatives.
• Communicate current and emerging regulatory and customer labeling requirements to ensure timely and compliant implementation.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators to assess labeling compliance, program effectiveness, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Support internal and external audits and respond to regulatory agency inquiries related to labeling compliance.
• Lead change management efforts to rebuild trust in labeling processes, improve cross functional collaboration, and position labeling as a proactive, solutions oriented business partner.
• Elevate labeling knowledge and regulatory awareness across cross functional teams through training, guidance, and practical decision frameworks.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Regulatory Affairs, Biological Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in food labeling compliance across FDA and FSIS regulated products; Canada and Mexico experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of people management experience, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
• Demonstrated experience building, re-building or transforming labeling programs, processes, or systems in complex organizations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or graduate certification in Food Law, Food Safety, or a related field, preferred.
• Experience in food manufacturing operations or quality assurance, preferred.
• FSMA PCQI, HACCP certifications (FDA, FSIS, Seafood), preferred.
• Working knowledge of Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, preferred.
• Experience implementing or managing digital labeling systems, PLM, ERP, or enterprise data platforms, preferred.

Skills

• Strong business orientation with the ability to balance regulatory rigor with operational and commercial needs.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgment in ambiguous or fast‑paced environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, labeling software, nutrition databases, and enterprise data systems.

Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to help employees live a healthier life, build rewarding careers and save for the future.