Regulatory Affairs Manager - New York City

The Vita Coco Company, created in 2004 by Co-CEO Michael Kirban and Ira Liran, produces the leading brand of coconut water in the United States with a growing presence around the world.

In 2021, The Vita Coco Company became a publicly traded, Public Benefit Corporation. With a growing portfolio of natural products, The Vita Coco Company has identified its public benefit purpose as creating ethical, sustainable products that uplift communities and do right by our planet by harnessing and protecting nature's resources.

In 2022, The Vita Coco Company was certified as a B Corporation™, furthering the Company's commitment toward operating its business as a force for good, while delivering better-for-you products.

Vita Coco is headquartered in New York City with international offices in London and Singapore. The Company is Nasdaq-listed under ticker symbol COCO.

Vita Coco's Regulatory Affairs Manager will be a key member of the Legal Team and will partner with the Quality, ESG, and Marketing teams to oversee the Company's regulatory affairs. This position will provide counsel to ensure Vita Coco complies with applicable regulations through auditing, monitoring, and implementing regulatory approval processes. The role will proactively plan to identify and address regulatory threats, compliance needs, and build long-term plans to minimize regulatory risk.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement regulatory strategies to ensure compliance with US, EU, and Asia regulations for our packaging and products.
• Provide regulatory guidance and support to cross-functional teams throughout the product lifecycle and to resolve regulatory incidents and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
• Continuously monitor and interpret regulatory changes and assess their impact on the Company's operations and product development; Anticipate, prepare and plan for emerging changes in the regulatory landscape to minimize risks.
• Advise cross-functional teams on regulatory implications to the Company and solutions to navigate key material issues.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with external vendors, including regulatory consultants and testing laboratories.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory inquiries and coordinate communication between internal teams and external stakeholders. Build and maintain relationships with regulatory authorities, industry groups, and other relevant organizations.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of regulatory activities and maintain records in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Stay abreast of current trends, emerging regulations, and best practices in regulatory affairs.
• Conduct competitive analysis and benchmark industry standards to inform regulatory strategies.

• Create and review departmental SOPs that may impact regulatory affairs.

• Develop and maintain appropriate recall procedures.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, public health, chemistry, biology, engineering, or other related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in regulatory affairs, with a strong focus on US and EU regulatory environments (Asia is a plus).
• Knowledge and experience in FDA labeling compliance, nutrition facts panels, ingredient statements, and claim substantiation
• Knowledgeable of ESG disclosure mandates, labor and environmental- related market access restrictions, especially in EMEA and Brazil regions.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong analytical skills to assess regulatory information and data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to guide internal teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Entrepreneurial with a self-starter mentality; creates their own urgency.
• Available for international and domestic travel.
• Proficiency in regulatory software and tools is a plus.

At The Vita Coco Company, compensation decisions are dependent upon a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to: skill set, experience, education, training, licensure and certifications, knowledge and abilities of the applicant, alignment with market data, and other business and organizational needs. A reasonable estimate of the current pay range for this position is $140,000-$150,000. This range may vary for positions that will be performed outside of California, Colorado, Nevada, New York City, Westchester County, NY, Rhode Island, or Washington.

The Vita Coco Company is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, AIDS/HIV status, military service, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.