The Head of APAC Regulatory Affairs leads the APAC Regulatory Team and work collaboratively with cross functional partners to support the company’s regional and global objectives by enabling continuous market access of the existing portfolio and innovations.

This People Leader role provides regulatory thought leadership, strategy, stewardship and governance for the APAC region enabling achievement of the Royal Canin growth strategy. It ensures an effective, high performing, developing and engaged APAC Regulatory organization.

This role is combined with the Head of China Regulatory, hence is also directly responsible for delivering on the needs of the Royal Canin China Business.

What are we looking for?

• Min. 10 years professional experience, including 5 years' with hands-on experience in Regulatory Affairs in the Life Sciences industry in APAC.
• Previous experience as a people leader is a must.
• Proven track record in defining novel approaches to enabling access the market of compliant products.
• Proven track record of building collaborative, x-functional business relationships Ability to use experience base with intuition to chart the future in an ambiguous environment Visible leadership: Make the tough calls on quality, associates, budget, etc.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Operationalizing the Company’s Regulatory Strategy, ensuring it meets the needs of the APAC Business and in particular of the China Business. Managing timelines and resources to achieve stated objectives, ensuring tracking tools and regulatory databases are maintained up to date.
• Ensuring that the APAC Regulatory team and the China Regulatory team in particular are staffed & organized to deliver on its mission and continuously improve its performance to meet the Business current and future needs.
• Accountable for ensuring effective team development through line management excellence behaviors and create opportunities for development of team and the wider Mars Scientific & Regulatory Affairs community.
• Accountable for recruitment, succession planning and managing performance. Define and develop the capability needs for the regional APAC Regulatory organization to meet the needs of the region today and in the future.
• Contribute to best practices sharing & cross-training within the Global Regulatory Affairs network and create synergies across Mars segments.
• Identify, develop, manage and leverage an appropriate regional external network of experts and opinion leaders in industry, academia, government, and NGOs, represent the company Job Description and provide leadership and influence in external regulatory organizations consistent with the regulatory agendas and in line with the regional business strategy.
• Accountable for the monitoring & evaluation of developing regulatory issues and opportunities that could influence the access to the market of the company’s portfolio and/or business strategy.
• Maintaining a broad knowledge of scientific, regulatory and policy environment in the region.
• Leveraging cross-functional collaboration to ensure that businesses are guided on a sound regulatory basis, to define the appropriate regulatory strategy and resource to support compliance as well as opportunity driven activities.
• Partnering with Legal Counsel and external partners (trade associations, professional associations) to align an appropriate risk framework, aligned with the regional Leadership Team.
• Ensuring effective cross-segment Scientific & Regulatory Affairs community communication to align and create a ‘one-voice’ approach; aligning globally on key topics to ensure alignment and consistency.
• Leading discussion where required to balance business strategy with reputation and freedom to operate.

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.