Manager Global Compliance & Package Safety

tms; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Parental leave

401(k) matching

Profit sharing

Paid time off

Job summary

tms in North America seeks a Global Compliance & Packaging Safety Manager to lead regulatory compliance, safety assurance, and risk management for disposable fast-food packaging and reusable packaging. You will ensure packaging and food contact materials meet FDA, state, and local requirements and company policies.

You will drive Anticipatory Issues Management, collaborate with Legal, Sourcing, and Sustainability, and oversee audits, documentation, and supplier data.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of packaging safety or regulatory affairs experience.
• Experience with fast food packaging and reusable packaging.
• Knowledge of FDA/CFIA regulations and Prop 65.
• Strong documentation and risk assessment skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead regulatory compliance and safety management for NA packaging.
• Ensure materials comply with FDA, state laws, and policies.
• Maintain validation docs like FCNs and NOLs.
• Collaborate with suppliers and labs for safety data.
• Oversee internal audits and risk assessments of packaging materials.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to manage enforcement risks.
• Lead reusable packaging regulatory activities in North America.

Skills

Regulatory affairs

Packaging safety

FDA knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's in Food Science / Packaging Eng

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Regulatory databases

Documentation tools

Job description

tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world’s leading brands. With more than 1,400 employees across 28 countries., we offer an impressive range of solutions – from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.

Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald’s, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas.

Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best.

What Matters The Most

Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving.

tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com.

WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE

GCPS Manager, NORTH AMERICA will sit within our tms, Category Services Packaging – Global Compliance & Safety

Summary Of Role

The Global Compliance & Packaging Safety Manager – North America is responsible for leading the regulatory compliance, safety assurance, and risk management strategies for disposable fast-food packaging and reusable packaging within the North American region.

The role ensures that all packaging and food contact materials (FCMs) meet applicable federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, as well as company policies and global standards.

In addition to compliance oversight, the position supports Anticipatory Issues Management, proactively identifying, evaluating, and communicating emerging risks and opportunities in the food packaging landscape, with a focus on food contact materials/packaging, substances of concern, regulatory change, and food safety.

Key Responsibilities

JOB SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Regulatory Compliance & Safety Management
• Ensure all food packaging and contact materials used in North America comply with applicable regulations (e.g., FDA, Health Canada, state laws such as California Prop 65).
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of compliance and safety validations, including Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCNs), No Objection Letters (NOLs), and supplier declarations of compliance.
• Partner with suppliers and material vendors to obtain, review, and manage safety and regulatory documentation for materials and components used in packaging.
• Partner with third party test laboratories to ensure application of appropriate compliance and safety testing protocols.
• Oversee internal compliance protocols, audits, and risk assessments for packaging materials, including new product development and changes to existing formats.
• Coordinate with Packaging Development, Quality, Sourcing and Product Management teams on enforcement or litigation risks related to packaging safety.
• Reusable Packaging Compliance
• Lead regulatory and safety evaluations of reusable, refillable, and returnable packaging systems within North America.
• Ensure compliance with applicable sanitation, durability, and reuse safety standards, including FDA food code interpretations and local health regulations.
• Provide technical and regulatory input into the design and implementation of reusable packaging initiatives to support circularity and sustainability goals.
• Anticipatory Issues Management (AIM)
• Monitor scientific, regulatory, and societal trends that may impact packaging safety and compliance (e.g., substance restrictions, use restrictions, content limitations, recycled content mandates, etc.).
• Support early warning systems to flag potential issues and advise internal stakeholders on risk mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to the development of proactive company positions and responses to emerging challenges in the packaging and FCM space, including monthly global AIM reporting.
• Monitor industry groups, regulators, and NGOs to track and engage on regulatory developments and stakeholder expectations.
• Global & Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Serve as the North America lead within the global Packaging Safety & Compliance team, ensuring alignment with global standards, policies, and initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Packaging Development, Innovation, Legal, Sourcing, Market Operations, and Sustainability teams to embed compliance and safety considerations early in packaging development cycles.
• Contribute to global knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement activities.

Qualifications

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ORGANIZATION

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Packaging Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Core Competencies & Skills

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE

• Deep knowledge of U.S. and Canadian food contact regulations (FDA, CFIA), and familiarity with state-specific requirements.
• Understanding of packaging materials science and safety testing protocols.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and documentation skills.
• Proactive problem-solver with the ability to manage complex regulatory landscapes.
• Effective communicator, able to influence and guide cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge in risk analysis, supplier engagement, and regulatory interpretation.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience in packaging safety, regulatory affairs, or food contact materials, preferably within the foodservice, QSR, or CPG industries.
• Experience managing compliance for fast food, disposable packaging, retail food contact products, and or reusable food contact packaging systems.

Preferred

• Knowledge of international food packaging regulations (EU, China GB, Mercosur).
• Active participation in industry associations or regulatory task forces.
• Experience supporting compliance, sustainability or circular packaging programs from a Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR) perspective.
• Role may is hybrid two days a week, based on business needs.
• Occasional domestic travel required (estimated 5-10%).

Direct Reports

• None currently.
• May oversee contractors (e.g., third party test laboratories, consulting firms, etc.) or matrixed team members for project work.

Starting salary between: $108,450-$134,450

Our total rewards philosophy integrates programs for compensation, benefits, recognition, learning and development, corporate culture, corporate citizenship and work-life balance. While individual program components may differ by country, some things remain constant:

• Our commitment to rewarding results
• Opportunities to work with talented and driven individuals at every level of our company who respect each other, treat each other fairly and hold one another accountable for our customers’—and our company’s—success

There's more ...

Generous Medical, Dental, Vision And Other Great Benefits

Paid parental and medical leave programs

401(k) with a company match component and profit sharing

15 days of paid time off plus company holidays

Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment assistance

Inclusive employee resource groups

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

RECRUITING AGENCIES

tms does not accept agency resumes submitted by third-party vendors unless a valid agreement has been signed and the tms Talent Acquisition Team has granted authorization for submissions for a specified position. Please do not submit or forward resumes to our site, tms employees, or any other company location. tms is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.