Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Specifications (GB & EMENA)

McCain Foods; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Pension insurance

Job summary

McCain Foods is hiring a Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Specifications (GB & EMENA) to lead end-to-end regulatory compliance and specification governance for potato and appetiser-based products across the region. The role includes ownership of raw material and finished product specifications and guiding regulatory strategy while aligning global standards with local requirements.

The position can be based in Amsterdam or Lille or Scarborough, with leadership responsibility for a team and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8+ years’ experience in regulatory affairs and specification management within the food/FMCG industry.
• Strong knowledge of GB & EMENA food regulations (labeling, additives, allergens, contaminants, claims, MRLs, etc.).
• Proven experience working with specification management systems (SAP, PLM) and strong data governance skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead regulatory compliance across GB & EMENA, ensuring adherence to labeling, ingredients, contaminants, and import/export requirements.
• Own and govern end-to-end product and material specifications (raw materials, packaging, finished goods).
• Provide regulatory guidance for innovation, product development, and reformulation initiatives.
• Monitor regulatory changes and assess business impact; implement compliance strategies across markets.
• Approve product claims, labeling, and marketing materials to ensure regulatory accuracy and compliance.
• Partner cross-functionally (R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Marketing, Legal) to support compliant product launches and supply continuity.
• Manage regulatory and specification risks, including crisis response, recalls, and non-conformance investigations.
• Maintain specification systems (e.g., PLM/SAP), ensuring data accuracy, traceability, and version control.
• Engage with external stakeholders (regulatory bodies, trade associations, certification agencies) as a subject matter expert.
• Lead and develop a team, fostering strong governance, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Regulatory expertise

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Food Science or related field

Tools

SAP

PLM systems

Job description

Position Title: Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Specifications (GB & EMENA)

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Requisition ID: 37501

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About The Role

The Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs & Specifications (GB & EMENA) is responsible for ensuring end-to-end regulatory compliance and specification governance across potato and appetiser-based products within the region. This role provides expert guidance on food regulations, owns raw material and finished product specifications, and enables safe, compliant, and efficient product commercialization while aligning global standards with local requirements.

The position is ideally located in Lille (France), Amsterdam (Netherlands), or Scarborough (United Kingdom).

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead regulatory compliance across GB & EMENA, ensuring adherence to food laws related to labeling, ingredients, contaminants, and import/export requirements
• Own and govern end-to-end product and material specifications (raw materials, packaging, finished goods)
• Provide regulatory guidance for innovation, product development, and reformulation initiatives
• Monitor regulatory changes and assess business impact; implement compliance strategies across markets
• Approve product claims, labeling, and marketing materials to ensure regulatory accuracy and compliance
• Partner cross-functionally (R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Marketing, Legal) to support compliant product launches and supply continuity
• Manage regulatory and specification risks, including crisis response, recalls, and non‑conformance investigations
• Maintain specification systems (e.g., PLM/SAP), ensuring data accuracy, traceability, and version control
• Engage with external stakeholders (regulatory bodies, trade associations, certification agencies) as a subject matter expert
• Lead and develop a team, fostering strong governance, accountability, and continuous improvement

What You’ll Need To Be Successful

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, or a related field
• Minimum of 8+ years’ experience in regulatory affairs and specification management within the food/FMCG industry
• Strong knowledge of GB & EMENA food regulations (labeling, additives, allergens, contaminants, claims, MRLs, etc.)
• Proven experience working with specification management systems (e.g., SAP, PLM) and strong data governance skills
• Demonstrated success in leading cross‑functional initiatives in a matrix organization
• People leadership experience with a track record of coaching and developing teams
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities, trade associations, or certification bodies (preferred)

Benefits Of The Role

• Competitive salary package aligned with experience and market benchmarks.
• Opportunity to be a part of a global iconic brand, fun and high performing team
• A varied and responsible job in an effective and international team with flat hierarchies
• Local benefit (Health and Pension insurance)
• Work in an environment you actively help to shape and create.

About The Team

This role is part of the Regulatory Affairs & Specifications function within the GB & EMENA region. The Senior Manager leads a team of 6 direct reports. The team is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance and specification governance across the product portfolio, working closely with cross‑functional partners including R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, and Marketing to support safe and compliant product commercialization across the region.

Job Family

Research & Development

Division

Global Research and Development

Department

Regulatory Affairs

Location(s)

NL - Netherlands : North Holland : Amsterdam
FR - France : Nord : Villeneuve-d'Ascq
GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough

Company

McCain Alimentaire SAS

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family‑owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

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