The Role of Regulatory Affairs in Consumer Goods

Consumer goods touch millions of people every day, and with that comes a high level of scrutiny. Regulatory Affairs ensures that products meet local and international safety standards, are labelled appropriately, and can withstand the expectations of increasingly informed consumers.

Unlike highly standardised sectors like pharmaceuticals, Consumer Goods often span multiple categories and geographies, each with their own regulations. From EU Cosmetics Regulation to REACH, CLP, or FDA oversight in the U.S., the landscape is complex — and constantly shifting.

Regulatory leaders in this space must navigate that complexity, mitigate risk, and partner with functions like product development, marketing, quality, and supply chain to ensure regulatory compliance doesn’t become a bottleneck, but a business enabler.

What a Senior Regulatory Affairs Career Looks Like

At Director level and above, Regulatory Affairs professionals move from operational compliance into strategic advisory and business leadership roles. Rather than reacting to rule changes, they’re often involved in shaping company policy and influencing go-to-market strategy.

Key responsibilities often include:

• Developing and overseeing global regulatory strategies for product launches and portfolio management

• Leading internal regulatory teams and managing external consultants or regulatory partners

• Ensuring compliance with region-specific regulations (e.g., EU, UK, North America, APAC)

• Overseeing product labelling, claims substantiation, and advertising compliance

• Liaising with regulatory bodies, trade associations, and government agencies

• Advising cross-functional stakeholders on regulatory risk and opportunities

• Contributing to sustainability, packaging, and ethical sourcing compliance initiatives

• Managing regulatory inputs into new product development and innovation pipelines

In a global business environment, these roles often require leadership across multiple markets, balancing regulatory requirements with commercial goals and supply chain realities.

Typical Regulatory Affairs Job Titles in Consumer Goods

Senior Regulatory Affairs roles in the Consumer Goods industry can vary depending on the company’s structure, size, and product categories. Common job titles include:

• Director of Regulatory Affairs

• Global Head of Regulatory Compliance

• VP of Regulatory Affairs

• Head of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs

• Regional Regulatory Director (e.g., EMEA, APAC)

• Regulatory Affairs Lead – Consumer Health / Personal Care / Nutrition

• Senior Regulatory Strategy Manager

• Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO)

In large multinational companies, these roles often involve direct interaction with marketing and innovation teams, as well as responsibility for overseeing global compliance systems.

What Sets Senior RA Professionals Apart in Consumer Goods

To progress into or excel at senior levels in Regulatory Affairs, professionals typically demonstrate a unique blend of scientific understanding, business insight, and regulatory foresight.

Here are some of the attributes and experiences that help define top talent:

1. Broad Regulatory Knowledge Across Categories

Consumer Goods companies may produce everything from skin creams to nutritional supplements. Versatility and familiarity with multiple regulatory frameworks — such as EU Cosmetics Regulation, FDA OTC Monograph rules, or FSMA — is highly valuable.

2. Experience with Global Market Compliance

As businesses expand globally, understanding country-specific requirements and managing multiple registrations, notifications, and certifications becomes essential.

3. Labeling & Claims Expertise

Products must be positioned attractively — but truthfully. Leaders with experience overseeing marketing claims, legal review processes, and alignment with regional standards are in high demand.

4. Product Lifecycle Involvement

Senior RA professionals are expected to engage early in product development to guide formulation, packaging, and claims strategy — helping avoid costly rework or delays later.

5. Cross-Functional Communication

Success in this role often hinges on the ability to translate regulatory language for non-technical teams, influence decision-making, and resolve conflicts between compliance and commercial priorities.

6. Digital Tools & Regulatory Intelligence

Proficiency with regulatory databases, compliance platforms, and monitoring tools helps leaders stay ahead of changes. Some organisations are also integrating AI and automation into regulatory workflows.

Regulatory Affairs Career Outlook in Consumer Goods

With increasing globalisation, tighter scrutiny of sustainability and ethical claims, and growing pressure to innovate faster — demand for senior Regulatory Affairs professionals continues to grow.

Products that once took months to reach market now launch in weeks. In this environment, Regulatory Affairs must be agile, strategic, and well-connected. Businesses are seeking RA leaders who can reduce time-to-market while maintaining compliance and protecting brand reputation.

There’s also growing focus on sustainability, transparency, and digitalisation, all of which require proactive regulatory input. As these priorities evolve, the role of RA leaders will continue to expand.

How LDI Search Supports Regulatory Affairs Talent

At LDI Search, we work with a broad range of clients across the Consumer Goods sector — from global brands to innovative scale-ups — to place Regulatory Affairs professionals in high-impact roles across the UK and Europe.

Whether you’re seeking a Director-level opportunity or hiring a regulatory leader to futureproof your compliance strategy, we bring deep sector expertise and a tailored, consultative approach.

View our current Regulatory Affairs vacancies or contact us to speak to a specialist about your next step.