Director for Trade Policy & Food Regulatory Affairs - Viby

Are you passionate about shaping the future of food regulation and trade policy? At Arla, we’re looking for a visionary leader to head our Trade Policy & Regulatory Affairs team. In this pivotal role, you’ll ensure regulatory compliance, enable market access, and influence authorities—empowering a highly skilled team to deliver results that matter.

How you will make an impact

As Director for Trade Policy & Food Regulatory at Arla, you will step into a pivotal leadership role, entrusted with the development, mentorship, and inspiration of a highly skilled team of nine senior specialists. Here, leadership means more than direction—it is about fostering autonomy, encouraging professional growth, and empowering our people to achieve their full potential.

Your influence will extend across regulatory affairs, where you will champion compliance with global and national food legislation, overseeing everything from ingredients and labeling to safety and production standards. Drawing on your deep expertise, you will navigate complex regulatory contexts and support our sites through inspections and other challenges, ensuring that Arla consistently sets the benchmark for industry excellence.

At the same time, you will play a critical role in shaping Arla’s future by spearheading our trade policy agenda. This entails identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within international trade agreements, as well as building and maintaining robust relationships with authorities and embassies at both the national,  EU and International levels. Your strategic oversight will also encompass customs, providing expert guidance to our customs specialist to ensure precise classification and optimal tariff outcomes for Arla.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role. You will engage with senior leaders across the Supply Chain, Commercial, and New Product Development teams, representing Arla’s interests both internally and externally with regulatory authorities and industry bodies. Through your vision and leadership, you will enable Arla to thrive in an ever-evolving global marketplace—ensuring that our regulatory and trade policy strategies not only protect our business but also drive innovation and open new avenues for growth.

In this capacity, you will help shape the future of the food industry, leaving a lasting impact not just on our company, but on the partners and consumers we serve worldwide.

What will make you successful

Success in this role requires over 10 years of food regulation experience, including legislation, compliance, labeling, and inspections. Strong leadership skills are needed to guide a team of senior specialists. You should have expertise in trade policy, work with authorities and embassies on agreements, and understand customs classification to supervise relevant staff. Effective stakeholder management is essential for influencing regulators and working with commercial and NPD leaders. A commercial mindset ensures you can connect regulatory requirements to business opportunities, while your pragmatic, strategic, and resilient approach helps you thrive in a collaborative environment. Ideally, you’re fluent in Danish or deeply familiar with Danish food authorities, allowing you to navigate the local landscape with confidence.

What do we offer?

At Arla, you’ll join a purpose-driven, international team where your expertise directly shapes the future of the food industry. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to influence food policy and regulatory standards on a global scale, working alongside passionate professionals who value collaboration and innovation. We believe in empowering our people and fostering a culture where your contributions matter—making a real impact for our company, our partners, and the consumers we serve.

Would you like to join us?

If you are ready to take on this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible. We review applications on an ongoing basis and will close the recruitment once we have found the right candidate. For additional information, please contact Vice President of Global SC QEHS, Karin Bjarlin Udby at kaudb@arlafoods.com.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to producing high-quality products while championing sustainability and innovation. We're passionate about people and our planet, striving to unleash the full potential in each of us. Our goal is to make healthy dairy nutrition and good food habits accessible to all. Join us at Arla Foods and become part of a worldwide cooperative dedicated to making a significant impact on the planet and steering the dairy industry towards a sustainable future.

We are devoted to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Diversity and collaboration are key to our success, propelling us to new heights in the dairy industry.

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