The Product Change Management Leader leads end-to-end governance, evaluation, and execution of product-related changes across Kalsec’s global product portfolio and all manufacturing locations, ensuring that every modification—whether driven by innovation, supply continuity, cost optimization, or regulatory shifts—is thoroughly evaluated, assessed for global risk, and supported by clear, timely decision-making and disciplined implementation. This role blends technical expertise with strong cross-functional leadership to ensure that ingredient and product changes protect consumer and food safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, and brand trust, while delivering key business outcomes including zero disruption to product quality or compliance during ingredient transitions, high cross-functional alignment and confidence in the change management process, and improved speed-to-implementation without compromising safety, quality, or regulatory standards.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
Process
Lead the global ingredient and product change management process, ensuring all changes follow established governance, risk assessment, and documentation protocols
Ensure compliance with global food regulations, including labeling, claims, and allergen disclosure requirements
Oversee supplier-driven ingredient changes, ensuring proper validation, testing, and communication across internal teams
Develop and maintain change control workflows that ensure transparency, traceability, and timely decision-making
Serve as global process owner for product and raw-material-related changes, including:
New Product Introductions
Product transfers between manufacturing locations in Europe, Pacific, and North America
Raw material approvals, replacements, and alternates
Changes to finished-good formulas, tests, and attributes of existing codes
Strategy
Develop strategies, plans, and cross-functional coordination to continuously improve Change Management processes and the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) database
Lead improvement initiatives and report on process outcomes and performance metrics
Align prioritization of business-critical and urgent changes to drive agility, speed-to-market, and customer responsiveness
Evaluate technologies and system capabilities to enhance business processes and PLM functionality
Oversee PLM software enhancements to ensure product changes are fully documented and visible across systems
Structure and Implementation
Schedule and lead Change Management meetings, including agenda preparation, material development, action tracking, and follow-up on delays
Lead specific high-priority and high-visibility projects emerging from Change Management governance forums
Lead cross-functional impact assessments to evaluate technical, operational, financial, regulatory, and customer-facing implications of product changes
Manage communication and documentation for all formulation changes, including approvals, timelines, and downstream impacts
Coordinate with Sales, Business Unit leaders, and Regulatory teams on customer notification strategies
Qualifications:
Required
Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years related experience as an individual contributor and 3+ years of people/process managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience in manufacturing, R&D, quality, regulatory, or supply chain roles
Education in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related field
Working understanding of global food regulations
Experience with change control processes and systems (PLM, ERP, or similar)
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence through matrixed organizations
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a structured approach to risk assessment and management
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to translate technical details into business impacts
Desired
Advanced degree
Strong food industry experience
Experience working with regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA, EU, Codex, etc.)
Working Conditions:
Up to 10% travel, including some international travel
Kalsec is a trusted natural ingredient supplier providing innovative solutions to the food and beverage industry for over 100 years. Specializing in liquid extracts derived from herbs, spices, vegetables, and hops, Kalsec’s full product line caters to the unique challenges faced by manufacturers worldwide. With a strong commitment to quality and sustainability, the company continues to deliver advanced, natural solutions that inspire confidence and meet the evolving needs of the industry.
