The role works with Royal Canin Regulatory Affairs Team based in Seoul and it is responsible for maximizing opportunities & minimizing risk by guiding business decisions, by thebest in class in deploying innovations compliant by design, in ensuring market access continuity by product & regulatory trade compliance, by advocating for science-based regulations and by protecting the reputation of Royal Canin and its customers.
What are we looking for?
North East Asia Regulatory Affairs Manager role is responsible for driving the regulatory strategy across the two North East Asia markets; Korea (app 80%) and Taiwan (app 20%), by ensuring the ability to enable and defend the product compliance (i.e. ingredients, on- and off-pack claims, processes, and market access) against applicable Technical Regulations and Standards; ensure appropriate level of engagement of critical external stakeholders of public domain that includes Trade Association, local and central authorities (Min of Agri, Veterinary authority) responsible for market regulations and build/execute regulatory advocacy strategy from short to long-term to secure the market; enabling to continue safely operating & deploying new product; must always put the safety of pets and the health of the planet first.
What will be your key responsibilities?
The job holder works in close collaboration with Local, Regional, and Global Regulatory Affairs Teams, as well as Value Chain Operations, Demand, Legal, and Corporate Affairs stakeholders to unlock the innovation pipeline and enable compliant product deployment across the responsible markets:
Drive the Regulatory Affairs function for the two North East Asia markets in the following duties:
- Ensure compliance & provide regulatory expertise in the jurisdictional markets for the product-related regulation, including but not limited to: Ingredients, labelling, claims, product/site registration, packaging, cross border sanitary conditions– for market continuity & innovation
- Maximize opportunity & minimize regulatory risk by guiding business decisions at cluster level based on stream-lined regulatory risk approach and provide appropriate governance structure
- Manage horizon scan for the markets, capturing risk & opportunity to inform business stakeholders and influence local regulators, execute Regulatory Change managements, and manage Regulatory challenges
- Represent Royal Canin, develop the stakeholder mapping & network, build long-term relationship, and influence within the trade associations and regulators for each market to drive & execute regulatory advocacy agenda, as part of technical working group
- Provide technical/product/nutritional presentations to key internal and external stakeholders to disseminate information regarding Royal Canin products and pet nutrition to shape favourable regulatory landscape
- Other regulatory tasks, enabling Royal Canin products to cross-borders and be commercialized in the markets, may be included in the scope of responsibility for this role, provided their complexity is in line with the job level of the role
Context and Scope
This role report to the North East Asia RA Sr Team Manager and part of the Royal Canin APAC Regulatory Affairs Team. As part of the NEA RA Manager, this role plays a key role in the collaboration and coordination of regulatory activities. The job requires a solid understanding of regulatory frameworks in the two markets, as well as strong communication skills to manage jurisdictional regulatory operations and to negotiate effectively both internally and externally at different levels. Main scope of responsibilities (but not limited) is as below;
Regulatory Innovation & Portfolio Compliance
- Follow global and local regulatory trends to anticipate risks and opportunities for our products.
- Monitor new and upcoming regulations and assess their impact on our ingredients, product formulations, and innovation plans.
- Lead regulatory change management where needed to ensure product compliance.
- Evaluate and validate product claims (on-pack/off-pack), ensuring they are compliant, scientifically supported, and aligned with company policies.
Regulatory Advocacy & Issue Management
- Identify opportunities for regulatory alignment and simplification across countries to support business growth.
- Support regulatory advocacy efforts by coordinating local actions, providing data, and engaging with authorities or trade associations.
- Help prepare technical documents and responses to regulatory or competitive challenges (e.g., claims, labelling).
- Contribute to regulatory strategies for new ingredients, packaging, or products by collecting data and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.
- Act as a point of contact for regulatory or quality related PRIMPS, ensuring proper documentation and expert support.
Regulatory Approval (Korea only)
- Escalate local compliance, supply, or DIB regulatory approval needs to the global regulatory approval team (in accordance with APAC regulatory approval representative)
- Partner with the regulatory approval team in advocacy efforts related to dossier technical requirements and approval process
Regulatory Trade Compliance & Product Registration
- Monitor sanitary regulations (e.g., disease outbreaks, health certificate changes) that may impact import/export and inform teams to manage risks.
- Prepare and submit product registration files, as well as any other need to ensure it (e.g. samples etc), including new products, changes, or variations, and manage follow-up with authorities.
- Ensure valid and up-to-date licenses and permits for product imports and site approvals where required.
Job Specifications/Qualifications
M.S. or equivalent in a technical area, such as veterinary medicine, food science, food safety, chemistry, toxicology, nutrition, other biological science,
- Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in Regulatory Affairs, Public Policy, or Trade Association related field for multiple markets
- Solid knowledge of the small animal health industry &/ nutrition and science
- Experience of communicating with, and influencing trade, and professional organizations
- Excellent understanding and working knowledge of nutrition and, ideally, pet food/feed law and/or pharmaceuticals and regulatory frameworks.
- Excellent communication skills, fluent in both spoken and written English and Korean is mandatory.
- Veterinary/Scientific knowledge important
- Experience of communicating with consultants / contractors
- Microsoft Office proficiency required
- Ability to connect with diverse culture and adopt to changes
What can you expect from Mars?
- Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
- Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
- Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
- An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
