Product Development Specialist (Regulatory) in Queens

Job Description

Product Development Specialist

Rapidly growing national company focused on providing great-tasting, nutritious food for K12 school foodservice customers and private brands of select retailers. Emphasizing collaboration, best practices, and continuous improvement, we seek individuals who want to build a long-term career and be part of a successful story. Our most successful people are self-starters, work well with others, see the big picture, and enjoy winning. We have an exceptional team of motivated professionals who work well together in a fun, team-spirited environment. Our mission is guided by our core values – urgency, accountability, proactivity, teamwork, and integrity. We are looking for the next “great fit” to join our expanding team!

Position Summary:

The Product Development Specialist will support the innovation, reformulation, and commercialization of food products with a focus on regulatory compliance, labeling, and nutritional analysis. This individual will work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality Assurance, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure all products meet internal standards, customer requirements, and applicable FDA/USDA regulations. The role requires strong technical knowledge, attention to detail, and the ability to balance creativity with compliance in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain product formulas, specifications, and supporting documentation.
• Review and approve ingredient statements, nutrition facts panels, allergen declarations, and product labels to ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and other applicable regulations.
• Conduct nutritional analysis using formulation software and verify the accuracy of data on finished goods.
• Support new product development projects, including bench-top formulation, plant trials, and product launches.
• Collaborate with suppliers to evaluate new ingredients, review technical data, and assess regulatory compliance.
• Maintain and update regulatory databases, product documentation, and labeling archives.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and the development team to address compliance issues, audits, and customer inquiries.
• Stay current with regulatory changes, labeling trends, and industry best practices.
• Provide training and guidance to internal teams on regulatory and nutritional requirements.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Nutrition, or related field required.
• 2+ years of experience in food product development, regulatory, or labeling roles (manufacturing or CPG preferred).
• Strong knowledge of FDA/USDA food labeling regulations, nutrition labeling, and ingredient statements.
• Experience with nutritional analysis software and ERP/PLM systems.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work on-site in Long Island, NY, and collaborate effectively in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with school nutrition programs, K-12 bid specifications, or special dietary labeling (e.g., allergen-free, gluten-free).
• Experience in bakery, prepared foods, or frozen food categories.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.