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Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands - Juicy Fruit®, Wrigley's Spearmint®, and Altoids® - have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Orbit®, Extra®, Starburst®, Doublemint®, Skittles®, Freedent®, Airwaves®, Life Savers®, Eclipse®, and Winterfresh®. Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, Ill., and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, a private, family-owned company founded in 1911. Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's largest food companies, generating global revenues of $30 billion annually and producing some of the world's leading brands in six segments that include Chocolate, Drinks, Food, Petcare, Symbioscience and Wrigley.

Function

Supports the achievement of Wrigley's overall business goals by assessing and assuring the safety and regulatory compliance of ingredients, flavors, packaging, promotional items and new technologies currently used or being considered by the Company.

Background

The Global Innovation Team develops new and improved products and technologies and provides systems and processes that further the attainment of Wrigley's strategic business plan worldwide. The Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA) function creates and sustains competitive advantage for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company by ensuring that all Wrigley products and their ingredients are safe and suitable, and are labeled, packaged and registered in accordance with the requirements of the country in which they are sold.  The SRA function also works proactively to create a favorable and globally harmonized regulatory environment for Wrigley products. 

This position reports to the Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs 

Dimensions

The activities of this position are primarily directed at ensuring the safe use of ingredients, flavors, packaging and other innovative product technologies of interest to Wrigley.  This position recommends and implements strategies for the safety evaluation and regulatory approval of new ingredients and/or technologies, works with external partners to ensure testing is adequate, and conducts assessments to determine safe use levels of both new and existing flavors and ingredients. In addition, the position proactively identifies any potential safety and regulatory issues that may impact the business and takes appropriate actions to forestall or minimize such problems.

Principal Activities Performed by the Incumbent:

1. Manages scientific and safety issues related to key ingredients (e.g., sweeteners, flavors, GMO, allergens), packaging, novel foods, functional ingredients, and other new technologies by working cross-functionally within Wrigley, as well with consultants and external inter-industry groups, to assure that Wrigley business interests are addressed and protected.

2. Determines safe use levels for flavors and ingredients and works with external suppliers, consultants, and trade associations (e.g., FEMA, ICGA) to ensure that flavors and ingredients are safe for intended use levels in products.

3. Assures the proper conduct of safety studies and risk assessments which will permit the approval and use of new ingredients and continued use of existing ingredients needed for Wrigley products.

4. Coordinates the preparation and submission of petitions and dossiers that establish the safety, suitability and efficacy of Wrigley products and ingredients within a country; working together with existing regional SRA teams, internal science and technology teams, and outside legal counsel, safety consultants, and independent laboratories as necessary.

5. Communicates information and provide scientific guidance to Wrigley (R&D, Global Science and Technology, Corporate Affairs, Legal, Senior Management) on existing and new ingredients and emerging safety and regulatory issues of interest to the Company.

6. Keeps abreast of key developments in toxicology, ingredient/food safety, global flavor regulations, and risk assessment, via literature reviews, meeting attendance, and participation in trade association activities so that potential impact to Wrigley business can be examined and addressed.

7. Performs other SRA related assignments as requested by the Senior Director, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Director, Science and Regulatory Affairs or other senior Innovation or R&D personnel.

Professional

1. A Ph.D. degree in food safety, toxicology, or related field is required.
2. Five to ten years of experience with a food, chemical, pharmaceutical, or other consumer products company.
3. Experience working in a global regulatory climate is a plus. 
4. A solid working knowledge of food regulatory and safety issues; a strong chemistry background; demonstrated track record of working successfully across functions to achieve shared goals; and proven ability to interact cross-functionally at all levels within the organization are required.

Personal

1. Excellent technical, organizational and verbal/written communication and presentation skills are needed.

2. Good problem-solving skills.

3. Excellent computer skills, including the use of on-line database search and research capabilities

4. Ability to communicate cross-culturally with business leaders, opinion leaders and peers.

5. Ability to work both independently and as a team member.

6. High results orientation.

7. Ability to focus quickly on priorities and work under pressure with multiple deadlines.

8. Demonstrated passion for the business.

9. Ability to impact and influence business decisions.

10. Flexible and adaptable.

11. High integrity.