Find & Apply For Compliance Manager Jobs in Aitkin, Minnesota

Position Description The Quality, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager is responsible for leading and maintaining American Peat Technology's quality control, product regulatory compliance, environmental permitting, and product registration programs. This position supports APT's manufacturing of granular peat products, granular microbial inoculants, turf products, fertilizers, soil amendments, and other agricultural products sold throughout the United States and Canada. This is a hands-on, technical position that combines laboratory testing, manufacturing quality control, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, product registrations, and new product commercialization. The position performs appropriate laboratory and quality testing while also coordinating testing performed by other employees and third-party laboratories. The Quality, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager has significant responsibility, ownership, and authority for APT's quality, regulatory, and environmental compliance programs and provides direct supervision to the Lab Manager. The Lab Manager supports the day-to-day execution of APT's quality-control program, including laboratory testing and related quality activities. This position works closely with the Lab Manager, production personnel, the Safety Coordinator, management, regulatory agencies, consultants, outside laboratories, and other internal and external partners. The schedule for this position is generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Other days and hours are occasionally required. Work locations include APT's main plant in Spencer Township and APT2 and the Applied Research Center located in the city of Aitkin. APT offers PTO, a medical and dental plan, matching 401(k) and charitable giving plans, and paid volunteer opportunities. This position reports to the VP of Business Development and works closely with other members of the R&D team. Job Duties Quality Control & Product Quality Lead and maintain APT's quality-control program, including testing methods, procedures, product specifications, acceptance standards, and finished-product release criteria. Oversee and support quality-control testing of raw materials, in-process materials, and finished products across APT's product lines, including applicable moisture, particle size, bulk density, pH, ash, nutrient, microbial, heavy metals, and finished-product testing. Provide direction and oversight to the Lab Manager in the execution of laboratory testing, quality-control procedures, documentation, and testing priorities. Evaluate testing data for accuracy and consistency; investigate unexpected results, manage nonconformances, and coordinate appropriate corrective actions. Exercise appropriate authority to hold, investigate, or prevent the release of materials or finished products that do not meet established quality requirements. Ensure laboratory equipment, testing resources, QC documentation, employee training, and third-party laboratory testing are effectively managed and maintained. Product Regulatory Affairs & Registrations Own and maintain APT's product registration program for products sold in Minnesota, other U.S. states, and Canada, coordinating with the company's regulatory consultant as appropriate. Research and interpret applicable requirements for fertilizers, soil amendments, microbial and biological products, turf products, and other agricultural products as APT's portfolio and geographic reach expand. Prepare and manage product registrations, renewals, amendments, fees, reports, and supporting documentation within required regulatory deadlines. Review product labels, claims, guaranteed analyses, and supporting documentation for compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Maintain an organized regulatory tracking system and accurate records for registrations, renewals, reporting requirements, fees, and other compliance obligations. Monitor regulatory changes, communicate potential impacts to appropriate stakeholders, and coordinate responses to regulatory agency questions or requests. Environmental Permitting & Compliance Own environmental compliance for APT's Minnesota manufacturing operations, including applicable state and federal environmental permits and regulatory requirements. Prepare, coordinate, and submit permit applications, renewals, modifications, reports, monitoring information, and other required documentation. Monitor manufacturing operations for compliance with permit conditions and environmental requirements and maintain accurate, audit-ready records. Serve as a primary company contact for environmental regulatory agencies and coordinate with outside environmental consultants, laboratories, and other technical resources. Support regulatory inspections and audits and identify, investigate, and coordinate corrective actions related to environmental compliance concerns. Monitor changes in environmental regulations, assess potential impacts to APT operations, and communicate requirements and recommended actions to management and affected employees. New Product Development & Commercialization Participate in new product development and commercialization by identifying regulatory, registration, labeling, testing, and quality requirements early in the development process. Partner with R&D, Sales, Production, and other departments to establish product specifications, QC requirements, acceptance standards, and finished-product release criteria. Determine applicable product registration requirements and coordinate required registrations and approvals before commercial sale. Review proposed product labels, claims, formulations, raw materials, and product or process changes for potential regulatory and quality impacts. Establish, maintain, and continuously improve APT's regulatory and quality-control commercialization sign-off process. Maintain appropriate documentation demonstrating completion of required regulatory and quality reviews prior to commercialization. Core Competencies Attention to

Detail:

Demonstrates exceptional accuracy and thoroughness when performing testing, reviewing documentation, interpreting requirements, and maintaining regulatory and quality records.

Analytical Thinking & Technical Reasoning:

Evaluates data, test results, regulations, and technical information logically and recognizes when information is inconsistent, incomplete, or requires additional investigation.

Problem Solving:

Identifies root causes, evaluates alternatives, and develops practical solutions to quality, regulatory, environmental, and manufacturing challenges.

Ownership & Accountability:

Takes responsibility for assigned programs, deadlines, decisions, and outcomes and follows issues through to completion without requiring continual direction.

People Leadership:

Provides clear direction, establishes expectations, delegates appropriately, supports employee development, and holds others accountable while building a collaborative and productive working relationship.

Organization & Planning:

Effectively manages multiple permits, registrations, testing schedules, renewals, projects, records, and deadlines while maintaining accurate and accessible documentation.

Judgment & Decision Making:

Uses technical knowledge, available information, risk awareness, and sound judgment to make appropriate decisions and knows when an issue requires additional expertise or escalation.

Communication & Collaboration:

Communicates technical and regulatory information clearly and professionally and works effectively with production employees, management, consultants, laboratories, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders

Emotional Intelligence:

Builds productive working relationships, listens effectively, adapts communication to the audience, handles challenging situations professionally, and approaches compliance issues in a constructive and solutions-focused manner. Position Requirements Associate degree in a scientific, technical, environmental, agricultural, microbiological, chemistry, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant technical experience. Previous experience in quality control, manufacturing, environmental compliance, regulatory affairs, laboratory operations, or a related technical field preferred. Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and technical reasoning skills with exceptional attention to detail. Ability to independently research, interpret, and apply technical procedures and regulatory requirements. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and with regulatory agencies, consultants, laboratories, and other external partners. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and effectively utilize applicable laboratory, quality, regulatory, and business systems. Experience with agricultural product registrations, microbiology, qPCR, product labeling, laboratory method development, or manufacturing process improvement is preferred. Physical Requirements & Work Environment This position operates in a combination of office, laboratory, manufacturing, and production environments. Prolonged periods of sitting or standing while performing laboratory testing, reviewing data, completing documentation, and performing computer-based work. Frequent use of hands and fingers to handle laboratory equipment, samples, containers, testing materials, and other items requiring fine motor skills. Ability to frequently walk, reach, bend, stoop, and move throughout laboratory, manufacturing, and production areas. Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or move laboratory materials, samples, equipment, and supplies weighing up to 25 pounds. Requires the ability to visually inspect samples, test results, measurements, product characteristics, equipment displays, labels, and other materials with accuracy. Regular use of laboratory and testing equipment, which may include balances, pH meters, sieves, moisture-testing equipment, qPCR equipment, and other analytical instruments. Work may involve exposure to laboratory chemicals, biological or microbial materials, agricultural products, fertilizers, peat, dust, odors, and other substances associated with laboratory and manufacturing environments. Requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include laboratory coats, gloves, safety glasses, protective footwear, hearing protection, or other equipment as required. Work in manufacturing and production areas may involve exposure to moving equipment, dust, varying temperatures, and moderate to high noise levels. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Pay:

$85,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person