Sr Manager R&D

Sr Manager R&D - Regulatory Affairs CE & GB Position Title: Sr Manager R&D - Regulatory Affairs CE & GB Position Type: Regular – Full Time Requisition ID: 37501 Location: France – Villeneuve-d'Ascq, Nord; candidate ideally located in Lille, France or Amsterdam, Netherlands. Overview The Senior R&D Regulatory Affairs Manager is responsible for product composition, claims, and labeling regulatory compliance for finished goods manufactured and sold in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and the United Kingdom. The role supports commercial goals and includes day‑to‑day business continuity activities such as formula reviews, marketing and nutrition claim exploration, and global product commercialization. It also supports long‑term strategies to advance McCain’s regional and global business plans, streamlining compliance across multiple countries, horizon scanning for emerging regulatory changes, ensuring specification systems are fit for purpose, and participation in trade associations. Responsibilities Product compliance Acts as subject matter expert on food legislation and guidelines issued by regulatory authorities (national and regional); interprets legislation requirements, shares best practices and recommends regulatory positions. Develops and maintains regional procedures to approve product formulas, ingredients, labels and other marketing material aligned with business requirements and ensures specification systems capture compliance. Holds ownership of regional labeling standards. Supports business partners (Procurement, R&D, Marketing, etc.) on new product development, reformulations, claims exploration and label redesigns to ensure regulatory compliance. Manages regulatory approval procedures with external consultants in the Middle East and North Africa. Conducts regulatory risk assessments in collaboration with cross‑functional teams. Advocates and sponsors change management or training initiatives to support cross‑functional team members. Legislation watch & response Keeps abreast of emerging legislation on product composition, ingredient and food labeling requirements. Communicates and works with cross‑functional team members to estimate impact and evaluate readiness. Identifies strategies to influence regulatory outcomes, mitigates potential impact through early interventions, and coordinates implementation of regulatory directives. Commercial projects and global regulatory initiatives Liaises with global and regional regulatory contacts to review product compliance on global initiatives. Supports regulatory evaluations for new global ingredients or technology solutions. Supports McCain’s Global Regulatory Agenda and monitors international emerging legislation. Other regulatory activities Provides support on technical aspects of crisis management related to food labeling and ingredient use. Generates, coordinates or supports responses to customers or government requests in collaboration with cross‑functional teams. Coordinates government approvals/registrations as needed. Leads and executes non‑routine regulatory activities or business projects requiring investigation, interpretation, and recommendation for decision making. External liaison Participates in relevant technical committees of trade associations (France, United Kingdom, Netherlands) by keeping abreast of government actions, providing technical perspective to influence legislation, requesting support on regulatory issues, sharing knowledge on labeling practices, and benchmarking with industry best practices. Establishes working relationships with regulatory authorities at local and national levels to consult and bring potential issues to resolution. People management Manages 3 direct reports (Regulatory Experts) based in Lille, Scarborough, and Dubai. Key Qualifications & Experiences Bachelor’s degree in food science, microbiology or related technical discipline; MSc preferred. Minimum ten (10) years experience in regulatory affairs within a large global food manufacturing organization. Demonstrated experience in European and preferably Middle Eastern regulatory affairs. Credible voice and leader in regulatory compliance, including review and approval of food composition, ingredients, and labeling. Advanced knowledge of product marketing claims substantiation and other labeling information; general knowledge of food safety requirements. Proven experience conducting risk assessments to manage regulatory issues. Advanced knowledge of government agencies, regulatory approval pathways and interaction with regulatory authorities. Proven participation in trade associations and working committees to review regulatory and industry initiatives. General knowledge of third‑party certification requirements and procedures. Record of leading transformative initiatives that influence the business to achieve positive results. Hands‑on approach, strong intellect, proficient communication skills, and drive to deliver results. Ability to influence key stakeholders, stand alone, set clear standards, and hold others accountable. Strong team player, highly motivated, and able to interface with all levels of management. People management experience. More Information About McCain McCain is a leading Canadian company in the frozen potato products market with 22,000 employees worldwide, more than 1,000 employees in France, and a presence for over 40 years. McCain France has created a partnership with 800 farmers. Today, McCain has 49 production plants worldwide and promotes values of integrity, authenticity, commitment, and solidarity. McCain focuses on environmental protection through sustainable agriculture, efficient resource use, quality food, and prosperous communities. Equal Opportunity Employer 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. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success. 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. Accessibility McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions. Privacy Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy. You can understand how your personal information is being handled here. Job Details Job Family: Research & Development Division: Global Research and Development Department: Regulatory Affairs Location: FR - France: Nord: Villeneuve-d'Ascq Company: McCain Alimentaire SAS #J-18808-Ljbffr