Job Title: Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Department: Supply Chain

Position Reports to: Supply Chain Manager

Employment: W2, Full-Time, Salary, Exempt

Location: St. Augustine, FL Distribution Center (Distribution Center will be relocating to Palm Coast, FL). Must be currently living in the local area to be considered.

Are you the best at what you do and want to love where you work? Are you a true flavor enthusiast with a zest for adventure? Want to work with a TEA-m full of sugary sweet, never salty (unless we sell it) band of characters who take their work seriously but never themselves? If this sounds like you and you too love corny puns, you may be the key ingredient we’re missing. See what we did there? Apply now, and let your culinary imagination run wild with us!

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is looking for energetic people who have a passion for life and food. Our mission is creating and sharing the experience of a more flavorful life, and our employees strive to make that happen every day for our customers, our franchisees and each other. The employee experience at The Spice & Tea Exchange® is unique and rewarding, and if you have this same passion for flavor, we have a seat for you at our table.

Position Purpose:

This position requires a high degree of specialized expertise and skill in maintaining established standards of quality and accuracy, and labeling regulations and standards set forth by FDA/USDA. The work requires making decisions that support company guidelines authoritatively and quickly. This position provides and creates nutrition facts panels, ingredient statements, and net weights for new products. Will work with suppliers gathering and maintaining SQF required documents, product specification and nutritional information. Is responsible for auditing, adhering, implementing, monitoring, verifying, validating, and writing procedures and processes that fall under the compliance umbrellas of FSMA, HACCP, GMP, Food Safety & Quality in all areas of USDA/FDA labeling, manufacturing, and warehousing. Reviews, updates and approves corporate labeling designs. Works across functions and communicates with all functional and operating groups on ingredient, labeling and compliance matters.

Essential job functions include but are not limited to:

Lead regulatory intelligence gathering.

Develop global regulatory strategies.

Manage all regulatory submissions and audits.

Collaborates with Government Affairs, Legal, Regulatory Affairs, Nutrition, Marketing, Sales, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Purchasing, Distribution Center and others, to leverage regulations and give The Spice & Tea Exchange® a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Provides regulatory guidance and answers compliance-related questions regarding new and reformulated product concepts.

Collaborates to identify and provide resolution to strategic and tactical regulatory issues pertaining to food labeling.

Communicates cross functionally regarding current and emerging food labeling issues and opportunities and related impact on products and product technology.

Maintains up to date knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations and policies.

Maintains up-to-date knowledge of current regulations and appropriate product technology.

Prepares and submits all required label approval documents.

Creates and routes all label approvals for signatures.

Creates and maintains labeling SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures).

Completes label layout and thermal transfer printing of labels for company and vendors, as needed.

Maintains master data file with regards to item ingredients and attributes.

Collaborates with the marketing department to create, update, and maintain nutritional and calorie information for the field, using margins formats.

Maintains all files with accuracy, along with peripheral equipment and software.

Other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Job Requirements:

BS in Food Science, Nutrition, or related field.

Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience with consumable products.

Proven experience and knowledge of FDA and USDA regulations and requirements, including allergens.

Proven experience and knowledge of Food & Beverage product development, processes, and label compliance.

ServSafe Manager certified.

Experienced in compliance accountability, document control, audits, and certification renewals.

Ability to successfully manage quality training for manufacturing staff, in a manufacturing/distribution center environment.

Must be highly technical, proficient, and organized.

Must possess an extreme degree of attention to detail.

Ability to research regulatory issues and provide recommendations for resolution.

Microsoft Office experience, including Excel proficiency, required.

Ability to be persuasive, assertive, and collaborative.

Proactive and goal oriented, driving business growth.

Excellent analytical skills with follow-through and proactive approach.

Excellent documentation and reporting skills.

Excellent verbal and written communication, strong business acumen.

Detail-oriented; ability to coordinate and manage multiple tasks, meet scheduled deadlines.

Physical Requirements to perform the essential functions of this job:

Consistent ability to utilize hands and fingers to perform tasks as necessary for job duties, which may include operating machinery, handling materials, and typing (8+ hours per day).

Consistent capacity for visual acuity to audit, monitor, detect, and identify issues pertaining to processes and procedures, and ensure quality and regulation compliance standards are met (8+ hours per day).

Consistently communicate in English utilizing both written and oral methods including the use of speech and hearing to communicate effectively with team members, customers, and the ability to engage in verbal discussions and listen attentively (8+ hours per day).

Consistent ability to perform various physical tasks that require continuous standing (8+ hours per day), sitting (8+ hours per day), walking (8+ hours per day), bending (8+ hours per day), reaching (8+ hours per day), squatting, (3-5 hours per day), lifting; up to 30 lbs. (8+ hours per day), carrying (8+ hours per day), pushing/pulling (3-5 hours per day), and maneuvering within an office and warehouse workspace (8+ hours per day).

Ability to perform repetitive tasks (8+ hours per day).

Ability to visually identify material and their characteristics (8+ hours per day).

Operation of, but not limited to computer tools and equipment, printers and equipment (8+ hours per day).

Consistently work around spices; must not be sensitive or allergic to various scents, spices, fruits, extracts, aromas, or personal protective equipment (8+ hours per day).

TSTE is unable to accommodate sensitivity or allergy to various spices, ingredients, scents and aromas contained in our products. This is core to our business and cannot be avoided.

While we will make every attempt to provide reasonable accommodation, such accommodation may not alter the fundamental requirements of the job, cause undue hardship, safety risk, or interfere with the ability to perform essential functions. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to supporting your needs within the scope of our commitment to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Core Values:

Commitment; engaged, flexible, patient, open minded.

Detail Oriented; organized, focused, high quality.

Reliable; integrity, dependable, authentic.

Continuous Improvement; performance and safety awareness, goal-oriented, creative mindset, efficient.

Enthusiastic about food and beverage.

Teamwork; team-oriented and eager to grow within the company.

Spicy Perks:

Medical, dental, vision and other ancillary benefits.

401k plan + company match.

Flexible spending account (FSA) for medical and/or dependent care.

100% Company paid Basic Life and AD&D insurance.

Paid time off (PTO) during first year, following 90 days of employment.

7 Paid Holidays.

Employee product discounts.

Quarterly “Create & Share”, free product gifts.

Annual “Holiday Bucks” with access to select personalized gifts for yourself or loved ones over the Holidays.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Spice & Tea Exchange® provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Drug Free Workplace

The Spice & Tea Exchange® is committed to maintaining a safe and productive work environment. The company policy states, all applicants must complete a drug screening test if accepting an offer of employment. Employment offers are contingent upon a negative drug screening test result.