Quality, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager

American Peat Technology, LLC; Aitkin (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off (PTO)

Medical, dental and vision plans

Matching 401(k)

Life Insurance

Paid volunteer opportunities

Job summary

American Peat Technology (APT) seeks a Quality, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager to lead quality control, product regulatory compliance, and environmental permitting across the United States and Canada. This hands-on role oversees the Lab Manager and works with R&D, Production, Sales and regulators to ensure compliance.

The position involves testing, registrations, labeling review, and new product commercialization, at multiple Minnesota sites, with a focus on maintaining

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent in a scientific/technical field.
• Experience in quality control, regulatory affairs, or environmental compliance is preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead and maintain quality-control program including testing methods and release criteria.
• Own product registration programs across the US and Canada; manage renewals and filings.
• Oversee environmental compliance at Minnesota operations and coordinate permit activities.
• Collaborate with R&D, Production, Sales, and regulators to ensure compliance for new products.

Skills

Quality Systems

Regulatory Affairs

Laboratory Operations

Analytical Thinking

Cross-functional Collaboration

Attention to Detail

Communication Skills

Education

Associate degree in science/engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Quality, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager

American Peat Technology (APT) is seeking a Quality, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager to lead and maintain our quality control, product regulatory compliance, environmental permitting, and product registration programs.

This is a hands-on, technical position supporting APT’s manufacturing of granular peat products, microbial inoculants, turf products, fertilizers, soil amendments, and other agricultural products sold throughout the United States and Canada.

The position combines laboratory testing, manufacturing quality control, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, product registrations, and new product commercialization. This individual will have significant ownership and authority for APT’s quality, regulatory, and environmental compliance programs and will directly supervise the Lab Manager.

The position works closely with R&D, Production, Sales, the Safety Coordinator, management, regulatory agencies, consultants, outside laboratories, and other internal and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Control & Product Quality

• Lead and maintain APT’s quality-control program, including testing methods, product specifications, acceptance standards, and finished-product release criteria.
• Oversee quality testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products, including applicable moisture, particle size, bulk density, pH, ash, nutrient, microbial, heavy metals, and other product testing.
• Provide direction and oversight to the Lab Manager and support effective laboratory operations, documentation, equipment, training, and testing priorities.
• Evaluate testing data, investigate unexpected results and nonconformances, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Exercise appropriate authority to hold or prevent the release of materials or products that do not meet established quality requirements.

Product Regulatory Affairs & Registrations

• Own and maintain APT’s product registration program for products sold throughout the United States and Canada.
• Research and interpret requirements for fertilizers, soil amendments, microbial and biological products, turf products, and other agricultural products.
• Manage registrations, renewals, amendments, fees, reports, and required supporting documentation.
• Review product labels, claims, guaranteed analyses, and supporting materials for regulatory compliance.
• Monitor regulatory changes and coordinate responses to regulatory agency questions and requests.

Environmental Permitting & Compliance

• Own environmental compliance for APT’s Minnesota manufacturing operations, including applicable state and federal permits and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate permit applications, renewals, modifications, reports, monitoring information, and other required documentation.
• Monitor operations for compliance and maintain accurate, audit-ready records.
• Serve as a primary contact for environmental regulatory agencies and coordinate with outside consultants and technical resources.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, investigations, and corrective actions.

New Product Development & Commercialization

• Partner with R&D, Sales, Production, and other departments to identify regulatory, registration, labeling, testing, and quality requirements for new products.
• Establish product specifications, QC requirements, acceptance standards, and finished-product release criteria.
• Coordinate required product registrations and approvals prior to commercial sale.
• Review proposed labels, claims, formulations, raw materials, and product or process changes for regulatory and quality impacts.
• Maintain and continuously improve APT’s regulatory and quality-control commercialization sign-off process.

What We’re Looking For

• Associate degree in a scientific, technical, environmental, agricultural, microbiological, chemistry, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant technical experience.
• Previous experience in quality control, manufacturing, environmental compliance, regulatory affairs, laboratory operations, or a related technical field preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and technical reasoning skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to independently research, interpret, and apply technical procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn applicable laboratory, quality, regulatory, and business systems.
• Experience with agricultural product registrations, microbiology, qPCR, product labeling, laboratory method development, or manufacturing process improvement is preferred.

Core Competencies

We are looking for someone who demonstrates attention to detail, analytical thinking, problem solving, ownership and accountability, people leadership, organization and planning, sound judgment, effective communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.

Schedule & Location

This position is generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with occasional additional days or hours as needed.

Work locations include APT’s main plant in Spencer Township, APT2, and the Applied Research Center in Aitkin, Minnesota.

This position reports to the VP of Business Development and works closely with other members of the R&D team.

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO)
• Medical, dental and vision plans
• Matching 401(k)
• Life Insurance
• Paid volunteer opportunities

Work Environment

This position works across office, laboratory, manufacturing, and production environments. Responsibilities include laboratory and computer-based work as well as movement throughout manufacturing and production areas.

The position may involve exposure to laboratory chemicals, biological or microbial materials, agricultural products, fertilizers, peat, dust, odors, varying temperatures, moving equipment, and moderate to high noise levels. Appropriate PPE is required.

The position requires the ability to occasionally lift or move materials, samples, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.