Regulatory Head, AME at UPL

Role Summary

UPL AME (Africa Middle East) is a leading company in the agricultural inputs industry. We have an exciting opportunity for a Regional Regulatory Head, AME in our Region. As the Regional Regulatory Head, AME, the requirement would be to provide leadership and direction to the Regulatory Affairs Team. This includes to represent the company in interactions with the Regulatory authorities, develop and implement regulatory strategies, ensure compliance with applicable legislations lead, organise, and maintain the regulatory function across all countries within AME, on all regulatory matters related to these activities.  The incumbent of this role will also be responsible to ensure alignment of department goals to that of the Region working closely together with regional development, marketing, and supply chain teams, as well as Global Regulatory Affairs. To manage and oversee all activities conducted by the regulatory team and regulatory consultants and guarantee that budgets are maintained.

Role Responsibilities

Regulatory Strategy Development

• Develop and implement regulatory strategies aligned with business objectives and regulatory frameworks within the region. Analyze regional and country regulations, guidelines, and policies related to the products and identify potential opportunities and challenges.
• Compliance Management: Engage with the business, regional regulatory teams to ensure that all regulatory requirements are met for our products, including data generation, submission of dossiers, and adherence to labeling and packaging regulations.
• Regulatory Submissions and Approvals: In alignment with the business strategic priorities, work with local and global Regulatory Dossier PowerHouse team to manage the preparation, submission, and maintenance of regulatory dossiers in the region/countries. Interact with regulatory authorities, respond to queries, provide additional data when required, and facilitate the review and approval process.
• Regulatory Intelligence: Staying up to date with regulatory changes, guidelines, and emerging trends is a vital responsibility of the leader. Monitor regulatory developments within the region/ countries and assess their potential impact on product portfolio and innovation index registrations, labeling, and other regulatory aspects.
• Risk Management: Conduct risk assessments for our product portfolio to ensure their safety and effectiveness in compliance with regional regulations, along with the functional experts at global level to assess potential risks.
• Internal Stakeholder Connect and Engagement: Work in close collaboration with internal business and functional stakeholders, such as marketing, R&D, commercial and supply chain teams, to align regulatory strategies and facilitate the required registrations. Engage with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, industry associations, and trade organizations, to fast-track regulations and represent the company's interests.
• Team Development: Provide guidance to internal teams regarding regional regulatory requirements, processes, and updates. Ensure that the teams are commercially focused and have a clear understanding of regulatory compliance and its implications. Develop internal talent and provide them opportunities for skill enhancement.
• Data, Documents, and systems: Lead the implementation of RegulatoryOne system in the region, unifying systems, guaranteeing its always up to date, ensuring the protection of regulatory data and efficiency gains, using it for data consultation, project tracking, registration index single point of truth.

Internal Stakeholders

• Liaises with Commercial, Development, Marketing and Supply Chain on new product registrations requirements and preliminary commercial activities to ensure required resources, timely submission, approval, and launch. 
• Liaises with R&D Chemistry (formulations and manufacturing) regarding proper planning of new registrations and anticipating and planning of potential changes.

External Stakeholders

• Regulatory authorities, growers’ associations, food chain value partners, third party suppliers / service providers, and trade associations as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• An advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Life sciences (Agronomy, biology, chemistry or similar) is required. At least 10 years of experience in the agrochemical industry with direct, hands-on management of regulatory issues in the region AME. Knowledge, or experience with BioSolutions is advantageous.
• Proven track record of successful leadership, minimum 5 years managing a team.
• Project Management experience and leadership by influence to get others to adopt an action by using data, facts, logic, and credible executive presence.
• Results Orientation - Holds self and others accountable for accomplishing work commitments and deliverables and understands the targeted results he/she is accountable for and actively strives to achieve them
• Communication - Speaks, writes, listens, and presents information in a logical and articulate manner, appropriate for the audience; ensures that information is shared.
• Creativity – Approaches job responsibilities with an open mind, helps to identify novel solutions that improve processes, systems, products, or services    Decision Making - Makes thoughtful decisions and sound judgments based upon a clear understanding of problem or issue, relevant information, data, experience, business objectives and potential impact to UPL.
• Adaptability - Open to change; responds positively to new situations, obstacles, and opportunities
• Personal Development - Is self-motivated, has energy and drive, is self-aware, deals with challenges and ambiguity and takes ownership of personal development and growth