Director of Regulatory Compliance
Location – High Hybrid
This is a hybrid role, which means that you will have the flexibility to work both onsite and at a distance. You will collaborate onsite at our La Farge, WI office for 4-8 days per month, and the rest of the time you can choose to work remotely or onsite.
Employee Type – Salaried
Bonus – This position is eligible for a 10% annual incentive bonus based on cooperative and individual performance.
Safety Sensitive – No
If a company is going to make a difference in today’s world, it’s going to have to think differently. At Organic Valley, our philosophy and decisions are based on the health and welfare of people, animals and the earth. We’re a mission-driven cooperative, owned by family farmers, and we’ve been leaders in organic agriculture from the very beginning. Once pioneers of organic agriculture, we’re now an established leader. Organic is all we do. We are driven by our mission to promote regional farm diversity and economic stability by the means of organic agricultural methods and the sale of certified organic products.
Summary of Role
The Director of Regulatory Compliance provides strategic leadership and oversite for the regulatory, compliance, and scientific functions/initiatives across CROPP/Organic Valley. This position will be an essential member of the FSQA leadership team. and will oversee all aspects of the implementation, management, and development of processes that ensure products, claims, research, and operations meet all applicable regulatory requirements while advancing the organization’s technical foundations and streamlining the innovation pipeline.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Regulatory Compliance Leadership
o Act as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, industry groups, and internal stakeholders, guiding the company through an evolving regulatory landscape.
o Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert in regulatory compliance concerning local, state, federal, and international requirements.
o Monitor changes in regulatory requirements and communicate implications to senior management and relevant departments/stakeholders
o Develop, maintain, and implement documentation, SOPs, decision trees, and processes that ensure compliance across all business units.
o Ensure regulatory preparedness throughout CROPP Cooperative including both corporate teams and plant operations.
o Develop and own regulatory inspection guidance, protocols, and readiness programs.
o Support and represent the organization during regulatory inspections, audits, and inquiries.
o Monitor regulatory body priorities/initiatives and industry emerging issues.
o Provide written feedback and position papers on proposed government rules and trending regulatory events.
o Maintain and enhance Organic’s Valley’s presence within critical trade organizations to advocate for cooperative interests and influence sound, sensible rulemaking.
o Oversee compliance with food defense standards, including training, auditing, and continuous improvement.
o Critical contributor in the establishment of processes compliant with FDA’s FSMA 204
o Act as subject matter expert and internal resource for PMO compliance.
o Support NCIMS policy development, comments, and industry alignment.
o Establish and maintain systems that uphold egg code dating compliance and California Prop 12 compliance for egg packing facilities.
o Manage Prop 65 compliance, communication, and risk mitigation.
o Monitor and address unique state initiatives, including PFAS-related requirements and California LGMAs
- Organic Program Integrity & Certification Management
o Ensure consistency with NOP-accredited certifier expectations and maintain alignment with OTCO and other certifying bodies.
o Responsible for leading and ensuring certification continuity across the supply chain, including Halal, Kosher, Organic, OPT, Validus, and Non-GMO Project Verification.
o Ensure tools and companywide preparedness for organic inspection preparation, assessment, and post-inspection corrective actions.
o In partnership with supply quality oversee the organic fraud prevention plan, including supply chain assessments, vulnerability assessments, mitigation measures, and documentation review.
o Stay current and provided direction concerning organic trade arrangements and equivalency agreements.
o Manage Organic System Plan standards that support enterprise-wide compliance.
o Ensure CROPP/Organic Valley’s leadership related to Organic standards and integrity.
- Labeling, Claims & Packaging Compliance
o Provide expertise on labeling compliance across FDA, State, USDA, and NOP requirements.
o Establish and maintain systems that ensure formulas, ingredients, and processing aids comply with NOP rules.
o Maintain a regular cadence for regulatory compliance reviews supporting product development and commercial priorities.
o Oversee packaging rules, state-specific requirements, and retail label compliance.
- Foreign Supplier Verification & International Compliance
o Oversee the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), including hazard analyses, documentation review, supplier assessments, and reassessments every three years or upon changes.
o Support international supplier approval and onboarding, including compliance reviews and hazard analyses.
o Maintain and optimize processes for international shipments under the USDA Export Verification Program
o Ensure compliance with organic equivalency and trade arrangement requirements.
- Industry Advocacy & Policy Influence
o Develop and submit NOSB public comments; influence rulemaking and sunset list decisions to protect organic integrity.
o Engage with OTA, ACA, OTCO, NOP, NOSB, IDFA, and other key industry groups to foster alignment and advocate for cooperative interests.
o Provide leadership on complex industry issues and emerging regulatory challenges.
o Conduct quarterly internal stakeholder meetings on potential fraud and industry affairs.
- Training, Culture & Cross-Functional Leadership
o Build and sustain a culture of knowledgeable compliance through training, communication, and guidance.
o Develop and manage workflows for regulatory and compliance communications.
o Partner with internal teams (e.g., feed program, supply chain, quality, legal, marketing) to ensure regulatory alignment across operations.
o Provide scientific and regulatory expertise to support product development, claims, and innovation.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Expert Knowledge of the PMO
- Expert Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 117
- Strong Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 1 (Subparts L-O)
- Expert Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 101
- Knowledge of FSMA 204
- Expert Knowledge of 21 CFR 121
- Knowledge of 9 CFR 590
- Knowledge of 21 CFR 112
- Expert Knowledge of Unique State Dairy Requirements
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs
- Knowledge of HACCP/HARPC and GMP
- Knowledge of SAP
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong research skills
- Dairy/plant experience preferred
- Self-directed and willing to work under minimum supervision
- 10+ Years of Quality Assurance/Food Safety experience with a focus on Regulatory Compliance.
- Bachelor’s Degree, ideally STEM, or equivalent work experience required.
Base salary range: $150,696 - $200,928 per year
This salary range is exclusive of fringe benefits. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary bonuses. If you are hired at CROPP, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, education, and/or experience. Additionally, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that entry-level candidates to this role should expect to be at the lower end of the salary range and hiring at the maximum of the salary range is not typical.
Benefits
We believe when our people are strong, our mission is strong. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive and holistic Total Rewards package meant to strengthen employees’ and their family's total wellbeing. Here are some of the great benefits offered:
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Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)
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Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
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Time Off – 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will.
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6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave – For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.
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Vision & Dental Insurance – Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.
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401k – We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee’s contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.
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Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.
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Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.
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Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.
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Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.
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Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.
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Free onsite fitness centers available 24/7
- Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.
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Financial advisors and seminars
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Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account
- Flexible Scheduling
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On-site all-organic cafeterias
