Our Client engages in the formulation, manufacture, and distribution of natural vitamins and nutritional supplements, body care, herbal teas, and sports and fitness nutrition products. Its product line includes amino acids; digestive enzymes; herbal products, such as organic black teas, white and green teas, and herbal extracts; personal care and beauty products, such as facial, oral, hair, and body care products; sports and fitness nutrition products; performance nutrition products; and various nutritional supplements. The company offers its products through health food stores in the United States and distributes worldwide. The company was founded in 1970 and is based in Long Island, New York.

Position Summary:

Lead the company's innovation efforts by developing and delivering a differentiated product portfolio, investing in new business opportunities, and translating the science of health & wellness to the end consumer. This position leads the development of new products, ingredients and claims. This position also leads the Quality and Regulatory departments to ensure compliance, quality and safety.

Position Scope:

The VP Scientific Affairs will manage a team of 4-5 people including 2-3 Directors. Product Development/R&D, Quality and Regulatory.

Position Responsibility:

The VP Scientific Affairs is responsible for assuring that all products made and sold are safe, meet regulatory safety requirements, and that all claims are scientifically supported. The VPSA drives strategic product development activities to support the company’s product portfolio strategy including the planning and directing of research and seeking partnerships within the Industry. Responsibilities include but are not limited to

• Review study reports, clinical, regulatory documents, and the pertinent scientific literature
• Evaluate external business development opportunities from a clinical/scientific perspective and provide feedback as a member of the leadership team
• Direct professional and personal development of staff members at all levels.
• Leading the R&D team in providing guidance in developing new products and claims and leveraging new ingredients in the areas of Consumer Health, Nutrition and Wellness.
• Engage with the scientific community and external resources on current and new research in the fields of Nutrition and Dietary Supplementation.
• Oversee Quality and Regulatory to ensure we are meeting all GMP, FDA and other regulatory requirements.

Product Development:

• Lead package and product development in nutritional supplements and sports nutrition. Ensure timely, successful and profitable product launches. Work with team to find new vendors, ingredients and partners. Potentially look for licensing deals or any other exciting product development ideas. Ensure all formulas are clean and meet defined standards. 2 of 3
• Lead R&D to develop products based on marketplace, consumers and consumer research.

Quality:

• Design, execution and reporting of all company-sponsored product quality and safety programs
• Oversee pre and post market product safety review to assure all safety regulations are met for Country Life’s product portfolio and ingredients.
• Meet all Health and Quality Standards.
• Maintain operations that comply with all Federal and State regulatory agencies and internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Regulatory:

• Responsible for regulatory compliance department including label compliance, supplier qualification, claim substantiation and legal matters.
• Partner with vendors and operations in the initiation and conduction of dietary ingredient and product safety and efficacy reviews
• Monitor post market adverse event records for reportable serious adverse events and use appropriate procedures to detect adverse event signals
• Ensure claims made on products are supported by science and backed with scientific studies.

Key Qualifications:

• Experience with internal manufacturing as well as outside vendors.
• Strong understanding of nutritional supplements across multiple forms: liquids, gummies, chewables, powders, tablets, capsules, etc. principles and familiarity with ingredient functionality.

Functional Leadership and Development:

• Attract, manage and retain high caliber talent to ensure bench strength
• Contributes to overall achievement by accomplishing related tasks and demonstrating characteristics that exemplify team building and support.
• Establishing a cohesive team through leading, teaching and mentoring to provide career growth and opportunities.
• Leading, developing and cascading clearly defined goals and objectives for team members and assuring that the marketing plan is well communicated and understood by all
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational events, reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional groups, etc.
• Satisfactory completion of appropriate corporate training as related to the position and/or department.
• Assures all compliance issues are being followed in the department’s activities, e.g. cGMPs, SOX, 3 of 3 ISO and Corporate Ethics policy.
• The above is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities. Other activities may be assigned as required by management.

Experience and Skills:

• Strong love and knowledge of the natural channel and Nutritional Supplements
• Entrepreneurial style with "rolled-up-sleeves" work ethic without an ego that needs to be continually reinforced.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and staff to create results driven team oriented environment. Cannot be someone who prefers hierarchical dictatorial environments
• Collaborative – developer of effective working relationships inside and outside the organization.
• Team player and strategic partner with senior team.
• High integrity, strong work ethic and ability to work hands-on.
• Comfortable driving change
• Must provide constant motivation plus help forge greater cross functional partnerships to ensure better collaboration and alignment on company objectives.
• Measurable track Record of Success in the Supplement Space
• Strong Team Builder with Track Record recruiting, developing and retaining, inspiring and motivating a cohesive team.
• An action oriented self starter who stays calm under pressure and proactively takes on big ideas and projects. Someone who strongly believes in accountability and is willing to engage in hands on execution.
• Creative yet highly analytical mind with problem solving orientation.

Education and certifications:

• Significant experience (15+ years) leading Nutritional Science teams in similar consumer products organizations.
• At least 10 years experience developing supplement/nutraceutical products.
• A degree in Nutrition or Science
• Led Quality and Regulatory functions
• Masters Science required. PhD preferred.