Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

Reporting to the President and CEO and serving as a member of the International Dairy Foods Association’s executive team, the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs is responsible for coordinating and executing the association’s regulatory policy initiatives, scientific affairs, member education programs, and ensuring the members are updated with the information needed to comply with the regulations and laws impacting the dairy industry at state, federal and international levels.

The SVP of Regulatory Affairs provides leadership and strategic planning to foster a cross-functional team environment with regulatory staff in the areas of food safety, standards, labeling, nutrition, environment, sustainability and worker safety. He or she will integrate a wide range of activities with the regulatory team that will proactively advocate to minimize the industry’s regulatory burdens and barriers to innovation and new products while maintaining dairy food safety and wholesomeness.  

IDFA is seeking an individual who will maintain and build relationships with regulators at the different government agencies, food and agriculture trade associations, dairy organizations and academic institutions. These relationships will provide opportunities to introduce positions and interpretations in the development of regulations that will positively impact our members and the dairy industry. He or she will enhance the visibility of IDFA and its advocacy and policy efforts with relevant constituents and drive broader support for engagement with the association.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive regulatory policy strategy that supports the membership and regulatory committee’s goals
• Advocate to minimize regulatory burdens on food safety, food labeling, standards (FDA), food defense (DHS), promote dairy products in government nutrition programs (USDA), environmental (EPA) and worker safety (OSHA) at the federal level, including networking with members, dairy industry organizations and food trade associations
• Build relationships with leadership staff of the relevant government regulatory agencies
• Provide guidance to members on compliance with current and proposed regulations and legislation affecting product labeling, standards of identity, nutrition policy, environmental, worker safety laws
• Foster a cross-functional team environment for the four regulatory staff members that work in the areas of: food safety and international standards; standards, labeling, nutrition; sustainability, environmental and worker safety
• Work with regulatory committees and task forces to provide information and analysis on regulatory issues and seek their input to develop IDFA positions for comments on newly issued regulations and policy guidance documents
• Assist members with personal consultation by phone and email on specific issues to interpret and explain the relevant government regulations and policies, also provide members with an understanding of the legal enforcement and risk for non-compliance
• Monitor activities in nutrition policy such as Dietary Guidelines for Americans and National Academy of Sciences studies and reports that could impact the recommendations for consumption on dairy products in USDA’s federal nutrition programs and advocate to maintain amounts and variety of dairy products in these programs
• Represent IDFA in the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and the U.S. chapter of IDF on committees and Boards
• Responsible for IDFA strategy development and execution of actions plans to accomplish member objectives in the Codex Alimentarius Commission meetings and WHO nutrition and health organization to influence positive science based-outcomes for the U.S. dairy industry on international standards and policies
• Represent the Association and its members with the media on scientific regulatory issues by providing subject matter expertise to IDFA’s communications team, reporters and journalists, as requested
• Provide technical analysis, input and support on bills and legislative activities as requested by the Legislative Group
• Provide leadership for members at the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments by participating as Program Chair, IDFA Board representative, committee member and working with regulatory committees
• Manage Regulatory department budgeting and provide input and ideas to manage the association’s expenditures and increase dues and non-dues income to maintain financial goals
   

Job Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in food trade associations, or previous dairy industry involvement in the areas of quality assurance or regulatory affairs or working in federal or state government dairy regulations
• Ph.D. degree preferred or at the minimum a master’s degree in areas of food science, nutrition or public policy
• Experience in dairy and food regulations at both the state and federal levels
• Strong scientific background in the areas of food science and nutrition
• In-depth technical knowledge in the areas of food regulations, food safety standards, food labeling, codex international standards, WHO nutrition policy, government programs in food safety and nutrition and environmental and worker safety.
• Possess a service mentality that focus on exceeding member’s expectations and delivering value
• Excellent written, verbal communication, and presentation skills 
• Prior experience with people management skills including, communication, leadership, delegation, motivation, training and performance feedback.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work with colleagues at all levels of the organization, including advising executive leadership and coaching subject matter experts in regulatory related issues
• Ability to build effective coalitions and lead and manage a high-performance team
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills
• Ability to build and use an extensive network for outside assistance (legal counsel, consultants, colleagues, academics, trade associations, regulators) and resources to call upon when needed

Physical Requirements

• Normal office environment requiring use of typical business equipment (e.g., computer, telephone, fax and copier machines); ability to travel to industry events approximately 20% domestic including some international