Senior Supplier Quality & Regulatory Compliance Manager - IMEA

Why This Role Matters

In today’s food industry, consumer expectations around safety, sustainability, transparency, and regulatory compliance are higher than ever. Organizations must ensure that every ingredient sourced meets strict quality, regulatory, and ethical standards.
At Griffith Foods, a global product development partner founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, supplier compliance and raw material integrity are central to delivering safe and innovative food solutions.
The Senior Supplier Quality & Regulatory Compliance Manager plays a strategic role in ensuring that all raw materials and packaging used across the IMEA region comply with local and global food regulatory frameworks. This role directly supports sustainable sourcing, risk mitigation, regulatory alignment, and customer satisfaction.
By maintaining supplier certifications, conducting risk assessments, managing regulatory documentation, and coordinating cross-functional collaboration, this position safeguards product quality while enabling innovation and commercial growth.

Job Description

The Senior Supplier Quality & Regulatory Compliance Manager is responsible for managing supplier documentation, certifications, and raw material compliance across the India, Middle East, and Africa (IMEA) region.
This role acts as a bridge between suppliers, R&D, purchasing, quality, sustainability, and commercial teams. The position ensures that all raw materials and packaging materials meet regulatory requirements, customer specifications, and internal quality standards.
The role requires deep knowledge of food regulatory frameworks, supplier assurance processes, international standards such as ISO 9000 and ISO 14000, and risk assessment methodologies. The candidate will also support sustainability initiatives and supplier audits while maintaining compliance documentation within digital systems.

Key Features of the Role

• Strategic oversight of supplier compliance for IMEA region
• Direct interaction with suppliers and cross-functional teams
• Responsibility for raw material risk assessment and documentation
• Exposure to global food regulatory frameworks
• Support for sustainability and audit readiness initiatives

Core Responsibilities

Supplier Documentation & Certification Management

• Manage supplier documentation, certifications, and regulatory declarations.
• Maintain up-to-date raw material certifications within internal digital systems.
• Ensure documentation accuracy and traceability for compliance and audit purposes.
• Coordinate with suppliers to obtain missing or updated compliance documentation.

Raw Material Compliance

• Ensure raw materials (RM) meet regulatory standards applicable to India, Middle East, and African markets.
• Conduct risk assessments for new and existing raw materials.
• Review ingredient specifications and verify regulatory alignment.
• Ensure packaging materials comply with food contact and import/export regulations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Liaise with R&D and Purchasing teams for onboarding new suppliers and new raw materials.
• Provide regulatory input during product development and reformulation activities.
• Support commercial teams with customer-facing regulatory documentation.

Supplier Assurance & Risk Management

• Support supplier audits and sustainability initiatives.
• Conduct risk assessments covering regulatory, safety, and supply chain vulnerabilities.
• Troubleshoot compliance gaps and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor supply chain information to ensure uninterrupted regulatory alignment.

Regulatory & Market Knowledge

• Ensure compliance with India, Middle East, and Africa food regulations.
• Maintain awareness of global regulatory updates affecting raw materials and packaging.
• Support import/export compliance documentation.

Digital Systems & Documentation Management

• Manage supplier documents within internal digital applications.
• Maintain version control and document tracking systems.
• Support implementation of documentation management tools and automation processes.

Functional Knowledge Requirements

• Strong understanding of food science principles.
• Thorough knowledge of food regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Expertise in supplier assurance processes.
• Experience in raw material risk assessment and documentation.
• Familiarity with ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards.

Business Expertise

• Understanding of regulatory frameworks across IMEA markets.
• Knowledge of international food standards and import/export compliance requirements.
• Experience handling customer-facing regulatory documentation.
• Awareness of sustainability and environmental compliance expectations.

Leadership Expectations

• Operates as an individual contributor with high autonomy.
• Influences internal cross-functional teams to ensure regulatory alignment.
• Engages suppliers and external partners to drive compliance improvements.
• Promotes continuous improvement in supplier assurance processes.

Problem Solving & Analytical Skills

• Strong analytical thinking for risk assessment and compliance evaluation.
• Ability to identify documentation gaps and resolve regulatory discrepancies.
• Capability to manage multiple supplier portfolios simultaneously.
• Proactive approach in mitigating compliance and supply chain risks.

Impact of the Role

• Ensures compliant and sustainable raw material sourcing.
• Supports regulatory readiness for customer and third-party audits.
• Strengthens supply chain transparency and traceability.
• Contributes to product quality and brand reputation.
• Enables innovation through compliant supplier onboarding.

Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent communication skills for supplier and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong coordination abilities across global teams.
• Ability to influence and collaborate without direct authority.
• Professional interaction with regulatory bodies and customers when required.

Required Qualifications

• MSc in Food Science, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Regulatory Affairs, or Nutrition.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in food regulatory affairs or supplier quality management.
• Strong knowledge of IMEA regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing supplier documentation systems.

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to global customer requirements.
• Experience working with digital documentation and supplier management systems.
• Familiarity with sustainability reporting and compliance frameworks.

Certifications

• No specific license required.
• Knowledge of international standards such as ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 is essential.

Salary Insights

Compensation will be competitive and aligned with senior-level roles in the food regulatory and supplier quality domain. Salary will depend on:
• Years of relevant experience
• Depth of regulatory expertise
• Regional market exposure
• Leadership and cross-functional collaboration capability
Additional benefits may include performance bonuses, health benefits, and professional development programs depending on company policy.

Company Overview

Griffith Foods is a global, family-owned company founded in 1919, specializing in seasonings, marinades, coating systems, and sauces. Headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, the company operates with a strong commitment to sustainability and collaborative innovation.
Guided by its purpose, “We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World,” Griffith Foods partners with food companies to deliver solutions that are better for people and better for the planet. The organization values integrity, creativity, and long-term partnerships across its global supply chain.

FAQs

1. What is the primary focus of this role?
   Managing supplier compliance, documentation, and raw material regulatory alignment across IMEA markets.

2. Is prior supplier assurance experience mandatory?
   Yes, extensive experience in supplier documentation and regulatory compliance is required.

3. Does the role involve sustainability support?
   Yes, the position supports audits and sustainability initiatives.

4. What markets will be handled?
   India, Middle East, and Africa (IMEA region).

5. Is this a leadership role?
   It is an individual contributor role with significant cross-functional influence.

Application Tips

• Highlight supplier documentation and certification management experience.
• Emphasize regulatory knowledge specific to IMEA markets.
• Provide examples of risk assessments conducted.
• Showcase experience working with digital compliance systems.
• Demonstrate cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement capabilities.