Regional Head of Regulatory Affairs📣 Job Ad

About the Role

Alexander Steele Recruitment is partnering with a global food manufacturing business to fill a senior regulatory leadership position. This role is designed for an experienced regulatory affairs leader who can shape regional strategy, enhance compliance governance, exert external influence, and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership across multiple markets. The position is responsible for leading regulatory strategy, establishing structured compliance reporting frameworks, improving risk visibility, and translating regulatory requirements into practical, business-ready recommendations. The role will also involve close collaboration with internal teams such as R&D, commercial, quality, legal, and packaging, while representing the business externally with authorities, trade associations, and regulatory forums. This is a significant opportunity within a global food manufacturing business where regulatory affairs is integral to business decision-making, offering strong visibility and the chance to shape compliance and regulatory strategy across key markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the regional regulatory affairs strategy across multiple markets.
• Build and embed robust compliance governance, reporting frameworks, KPIs, and risk metrics.
• Act as a senior regulatory advisor to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Provide regulatory guidance across innovation, product claims, market entry, and commercial decision-making.
• Represent the business externally with authorities, trade associations, and regulatory bodies.
• Support the standardization of regulatory tools, processes, and compliance reviews.
• Strengthen risk visibility and ensure regulatory considerations are embedded in business decisions.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Saudi National.
• Degree qualified in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or a related scientific discipline.
• Strong regulatory affairs experience within food, ambient food, confectionery, or wider FMCG manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of GCC food regulations, with Egypt regulatory exposure also highly desirable.
• Proven experience in compliance systems, governance, and reporting.
• Strong external influencing experience with authorities, trade bodies, or industry forums.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and analytical capability.
• Ability to work closely with senior leadership and influence across R&D, commercial, quality, legal, and packaging teams.

Required Skills

• Regulatory Affairs
• Compliance Governance
• Risk Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Analytical Capability
• External Influencing
• GCC Food Regulations

Work Environment and Details

This is a confidential search and is open to Saudi Nationals only. The role is based in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The position requires over 10 years of experience and is a full-time, permanent role.

Due to the nature of this search, only candidates who are directly relevant and suitable for the role will be contacted.