About Kellen

Kellen stands as a global leader in providing management and services to professional and trade organizations. We empower Board leaders by offering operational frameworks and strategic guidance to better serve their organization's mission and vision.  

As a dedicated professional services company, we offer solutions to organizations, such as association management, public affairs, marketing, meeting management, education, and strategic communication. Leveraging our expertise across diverse industries including healthcare, food and beverage, buildings and materials, and technology, as well as our global perspective with a presence in North America and Europe, we collaborate with over 100 organizations to help achieve their goals.  

Understanding the importance of a strong and effective Board of Directors, we offer customized management solutions that address the unique needs of each organization we partner with. 

Kellen is an association management firm seeking an experienced professional to serve as a Director of Technical and Regulatory Affairs to support clients in the food industry. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food science, nutrition, and regulatory affairs, with demonstrated experience navigating the regulatory landscape. In this role, you will lead an Executive Technical Board as well as multiple client committees and working groups. This position will also be responsible for analyzing and managing a range of scientific, technical, and regulatory initiatives. Interested candidates should have a solid understanding of the food industry regarding technical and regulatory processes, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to represent client interests effectively in scientific and regulatory discussions. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Monitoring, evaluating, interpreting, and summarizing complex scientific and regulatory information related to food products. 

• Developing strategic recommendations, building consensus across stakeholders, and guiding industry positions. 

• Communicating directly with clients and engaging third parties and regulators on critical issues affecting the food sector. 

Essential Functions

• Lead science-focused and regulatory committees and working groups for multiple food association clients representing industry food categories and/or ingredients. This role includes the development of strategic action plans, addressing specific industry issues, and collaborating with internal teams and client members to achieve objectives.  

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Monitor and develop comments to relevant scientific, nutrition, and regulatory policy proposals, and recommend actions, as needed, engaging with appropriate client groups on final industry positions in response to government agencies (e.g., Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture). 

• Represent clients in scientific/technical/regulatory/coalition meetings, provide oral and/or written comments, and provide summaries to clients with calls to action, if needed. 

• Research and respond to inquiries from member companies and others regarding scientific, technical, and regulatory issues. 

• Review materials of potential interest (e.g., scientific journals, reports, articles, federal/state legislation, and government agency/media reports) and summarize, when necessary, for distribution to clients, making recommendations for action, as appropriate. 

• Communicate frequently with clients and internal teams to ensure strategic objectives are met within established deadlines. 

• Schedule and lead regular client committee meetings/calls, including preparing agendas and meeting materials, drafting minutes, and conducting follow-up with consistent processes.  

• Responsible for collaborating with clients in planning multi-day client technical meetings/conferences, assisting in the development of the agenda, recruiting speakers, and coordinating overall meeting execution.  

• Attend public policy hearings, briefings, other government meetings, and other events to represent association clients and develop/circulate reports, highlighting industry impact. 

• Stay abreast of industry issues and alert the client along with recommended solutions. 

• Assist with crisis management. Develop and maintain relationships with clients, regulatory officials, and other stakeholders. 

• Liaise with Executive Committees and Board of Directors, as needed. 

• Be conversant in industry trends and be the “voice of the industry”, as needed. 

• Create and maintain partnerships/relationships with related industry organizations to increase awareness and grow client membership. 

• Implement client directives. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a discipline related to science (e.g., food science, nutrition, public health) or a related field, and 5-7 years’ related field experience is desired.  Master’s degree a plus.  

• Food industry experience is required.  

• General awareness and understanding of the U.S. and international food regulatory environments. 

• Strong analytical and organizational skills with consistent attention to detail and deadlines. A self-starter with the ability to direct committees and projects.  

• Excellent communicator (written and verbal) and project manager with the ability to problem solve. 

• Proven ability to lead consensus building and demonstrated leadership skills. 

• Positive team player, including working with a broad range and levels of personnel and clients. 

• High energy, versatile, and multi-task oriented with flexibility to prioritize diverse workload under competing time requirements and changing deadlines. 

• Computer experience including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and TEAMS, with a “Can Do” approach to diverse software packages. 

• Willingness to travel. 

Supervision Requirements

May supervise Associate Account Executive. If so, carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. 

Travel Requirements

This job can be located in Washington, D.C or Chicago, IL. Kellen operates in a hybrid working environment (i.e., working both in the office every Tuesday and Wednesday and remotely other days of the week). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and telephones. The ability to perform computer work for eight or more hours a day in an office setting is required. 

• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some travel is required, and this would require the ability to lift, bend, or stand as necessary. This position requires frequent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills. 

• Must be able to lift, move, and manipulate up to 30 pounds. 

Travel is an essential duty of the position, up to 10-20% of the time. 

Kellen EEO Statement

Kellen does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline. In addition, it is the policy of Kellen to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances where a particular employee works.