Regulatory Labeling Specialist

Vet's Plus; Menomonie (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vet's Plus in Wisconsin is seeking a Regulatory Labeling Specialist to ensure pet food labeling complies with FDA, AAFCO, NASC, and state requirements. You will partner with Product Development, QA, Manufacturing, and Marketing to manage registrations, labels, and claims while monitoring regulatory changes.

The role requires experience with labeling regulations, strong writing skills, and the ability to translate complex rules into actionable guidance for cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific field
• 2+ years of experience in regulatory, labeling, quality assurance, or food safety.
• Working knowledge of FDA, NASC and AAFCO standards.
• Work in a food, beverage, pet food, or regulated manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with GMPs, HACCP principles, sanitation programs, and quality systems.
• Experience with inspections, audits, and documentation management.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, submit, and maintain state feed registrations and product licenses.
• Coordinate product registrations for all U.S. states and applicable international markets.
• Maintain registration databases and renewal schedules.
• Respond to inquiries from state feed control officials and regulatory agencies.
• Reporting and tonnage fee process.
• Develop and review product labels, packaging, inserts, websites, advertisements, social media content, and marketing materials for regulatory compliance.
• Verify compliance with AAFCO labeling requirements, ingredient definitions, nutritional adequacy statements, guaranteed analyses, and feeding directions.
• Lead the AAFCO Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) project to modernize and update the all labels to comply with the requirements.
• Evaluate product claims for compliance with FDA, AAFCO, NASC, and applicable state requirements.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Product Development to develop compliant product messaging.
• Review formulas, ingredients, specifications, and supplier documentation for regulatory acceptability.
• Assess ingredient compliance with AAFCO definitions, GRAS determinations, FDA regulations, and state requirements.
• Provide regulatory guidance during formulation changes and product modifications.
• Monitor changes from FDA, AAFCO, NASC, state feed control agencies, USDA, and relevant industry organizations for labeling.
• Evaluate potential business impacts of regulatory changes.
• Develop implementation plans for new regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance, R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Sales, and Marketing teams.
• Provide regulatory training and guidance to employees.
• Support risk assessments and compliance initiatives across the organization.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Technical writing

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office

Label management software

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific field

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Regulatory Affairs, or related scientific discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Regulatory documentation systems

Job description

The Regulatory Labeling Specialist is responsible for ensuring labeling compliance with all applicable federal, state, and international regulations governing the manufacture, labeling, marketing, distribution, and sale of pet food, treats, supplements, and animal feed supplements. This position serves as the regulatory resource for product development, quality assurance, manufacturing, marketing, and commercial teams.

The Regulatory Labeling Specialist supports the organization to ensure product labeling compliance with FDA regulations, including 21 CFR Part 501 (Animal Food Labeling) and 21 CFR Part 507 (Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals), Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) model regulations, National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) quality standards, state feed registration requirements, and applicable international regulations.

The successful candidate will proactively monitor regulatory developments, ensure labeling compliance, manage product registrations, and support product innovation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Product Registration and Licensing

• Prepare, submit, and maintain state feed registrations and product licenses.
• Coordinate product registrations for all U.S. states and applicable international markets.
• Maintain registration databases and renewal schedules.
• Respond to inquiries from state feed control officials and regulatory agencies.
• Reporting and tonnage fee process.

Labeling and Claims Review

• Develop and review product labels, packaging, inserts, websites, advertisements, social media content, and marketing materials for regulatory compliance.
• Verify compliance with AAFCO labeling requirements, ingredient definitions, nutritional adequacy statements, guaranteed analyses, and feeding directions.
• Lead the AAFCO Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) project to modernize and update the all labels to comply with the requirements.
• Evaluate product claims for compliance with FDA, AAFCO, NASC, and applicable state requirements.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Product Development to develop compliant product messaging.

Product Development Support – New Project Portfolio through Commercialization

• Review formulas, ingredients, specifications, and supplier documentation for regulatory acceptability.
• Assess ingredient compliance with AAFCO definitions, GRAS determinations, FDA regulations, and state requirements.
• Provide regulatory guidance during formulation changes and product modifications.
• Monitor changes from FDA, AAFCO, NASC, state feed control agencies, USDA, and relevant industry organizations for labeling.
• Evaluate potential business impacts of regulatory changes.
• Develop implementation plans for new regulatory requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Quality Assurance, R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Sales, and Marketing teams.
• Provide regulatory training and guidance to employees.
• Support risk assessments and compliance initiatives across the organization.

Education Requirements

Required

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific field

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Animal Science, Biology, Chemistry, Regulatory Affairs, or related scientific discipline.

Experience Requirements

Required

• 2+ years of experience in regulatory, labeling, quality assurance, quality control, or food safety.
• Working knowledge of FDA, NASC and AAFCO standards.
• Work in a food, beverage, pet food, or regulated manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with GMPs, HACCP principles, sanitation programs, and quality systems.
• Experience with inspections, audits, and documentation management.

Preferred

• Experience in pet food manufacturing or extrusion processes.
• Experience working in a GFSI-certified facility.
• Familiarity with label management software.
• Experience managing state feed registrations.
• Experience with import/export requirements for pet food and animal feed.
• Experience supporting NASC certification programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of 21 CFR Part 501 requirements
• Knowledge of AAFCO regulations, ingredient definitions, and model bills.
• Understanding of NASC Quality Seal requirements
• Familiarity with state feed registration processes
• Knowledge of labeling regulations and claim substantiation requirements
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and communicate requirements effectively
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and regulatory documentation systems

Preferred Skills and Training

• AAFCO training
• NASC Compliance Training or equivalent industry training

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to review detailed technical and regulatory documentation.
• Occasional travel (up to 15%) for trade events, and regulatory meetings.

Performance Metrics

Success in this role may be measured by:

• Timely completion of state registrations and renewals.
• Audit and inspection outcomes.
• Accuracy of labeling and claims reviews.
• Compliance with AAFCO and NASC requirements.
• Successful implementation of regulatory changes.
• Reduction in compliance-related findings and corrective actions.
• Support of successful product launches without regulatory delays.