Vice President, Global Compliance Lead

Reporting Location: Chicago - 345 North Morgan

$265,000-$290,000

Workplace Type: Remote

TEAM: Global Category Services – Packaging & Ops Supplies

REPORTING TO: Managing Director, Global Category Services – Packaging & Ops Supplies

LOCATION: Preferred location is Chicago with a hybrid schedule, although remote candidates may be considered if they live in an eligible payroll state and can travel to the office regularly (these states include AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MI, MN, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI).

ABOUT US

tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world’s leading brands. With more than 1,400 employees across 28 countries., we offer an impressive range of solutions – from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.

Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald’s, Starbucks, T-Mobile, O2, and adidas.

Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best.

WHAT MATTERS THE MOST

Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving.

tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com.

WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE

The VP, Global Compliance Lead is responsible for centralizing and governing all regulatory, environmental, safety, and client/brand-mandated compliance requirements across the global packaging and supplies portfolio.

This role will lead a team that establishes a single, integrated compliance framework by consolidating external regulations and client-specific standards into one authoritative global source of truth, ensuring consistency, transparency, and scalability across markets.

The role also leads anticipatory issue management, proactively identifying emerging risks and regulatory changes to enable forward-looking, compliant decisions.

While this position is not responsible for direct lobbying activities, the successful candidate will have significant experience partnering with government affairs professionals, external lobbyists, trade associations, and policy organizations to help inform business strategy and advocate for industry priorities.

Responsibilities of the VP, Global Compliance Lead include:

Centralized Compliance Governance

Establish and maintain a global “single source of truth” for:

Regulatory requirements

Environmental and sustainability standards

Product safety requirements

Client and brand-mandated compliance standards (e.g., internal specifications, claims frameworks, brand requirements)

Aggregate, harmonize, and reconcile external regulations with internal client/brand requirements into a unified framework

Define global policies, standards, and governance models to ensure consistent application across markets

Eliminate fragmentation by consolidating compliance ownership into a centralized, globally governed model

Experience supporting policy advocacy initiatives through compliance and regulatory expertise

Serves as a respected thought leader with demonstrated policy influence and recognized industry credentials

Leverages deep regulatory expertise and trusted relationships across trade associations, non-governmental organizations, and government affairs networks to help shape the future regulatory landscape while advancing the organization's strategic interests

Anticipatory Issues Management (Critical Capability)

Lead a global anticipatory issues management framework to proactively identify:

Emerging regulatory changes

Shifts in environmental and sustainability requirements

Evolving client/brand expectations and claims standards

Industry risks across materials, safety, and supply chain

Assess impact and interdependencies across regulatory and client-driven requirements

Develop forward-looking guidance, risk mitigation plans, and positioning statements

Provide early visibility to leadership and clients to enable proactive decision-making

Organize advocacy initiatives across our supplier base in support of the brands we serve

Cross-Functional & Client Alignment

Partner with:

Sustainability (environmental standards and claims)

Quality & Food Safety (product safety requirements)

Sourcing & Supplier Management (supplier compliance and advocacy)

Legal / Regulatory Affairs (interpretation of laws and standards)

Engage directly with clients and brand stakeholders to:

Understand evolving internal standards

Align on compliance expectations

Translate requirements into scalable global frameworks

Report at a regular cadence regional regulatory requirements, client/brand requirements, and anticipatory issues

Ensure compliance requirements are aligned with category strategy, innovation, and cost decisions

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ORGANIZATION

The ideal candidate:

Brings regulatory & technical expertise with an understanding of how policy is developed and approved

Has the ability to interpret complex legislation and translate into practical, scalable requirements

Delivers proactive risk anticipation and the ability to shift the organization from reactive issue management to proactive horizon scanning

Understands the factors that shape regulation and early identifiers of regulatory movements

Experience with structured compliance processes and systems

Thinks strategically and can leverage compliance expertise to create commercial advantage and win new business

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Regulatory Affairs, Public Policy, Environmental Science, Political Science, Packaging Engineering, Chemical Engineering / Materials Science, Sustainability, Food Safety and Compliance, Supply Chain.

Experience

15+ years of relevant experience, with:

Regulatory compliance / quality systems

Legislative affairs, public policy analysis, or advocacy

Global supply chain

Experience leading and developing a team (preferably in a global organization)

Foodservice packaging, consumer packaging, or related industries preferredProven ability to manage complex, cross-functional client projects

Experience engaging with industry associations, trade organizations, and standards bodies.

Skills

Technical depth in foodservice packaging, consumer packaging.

Proactive and forward-thinking balanced with structural rigor.

Enterprise leadership. Especially in an organization requiring matrixed influence and global alignment.

Strategic mindset and commercial acumen.

Any of the following would be a plus

MBA particularly with public policy, regulatory affairs or compliance focus.

Starting salary between $265,000-$290,000

TOTAL REWARDS

Our total rewards philosophy integrates programs for compensation, benefits, recognition, learning and development, corporate culture, corporate citizenship and work-life balance.

While individual program components may differ by country, some things remain constant:

Our commitment to rewarding results

Opportunities to work with talented and driven individuals at every level of our company who respect each other, treat each other fairly and hold one another accountable for our customers’—and our company’s—success

There's more ...

Generous medical, dental, vision and other great benefits

Paid parental and medical leave programs

401(k) with a company match component and profit sharing

15 days of paid time off plus company holidays

Hybrid work model

Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment assistance

Inclusive employee resource groups

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

RECRUITING AGENCIES

tms does not accept agency resumes submitted by third-party vendors unless a valid agreement has been signed and the tms Talent Acquisition Team has granted authorization for submissions for a specified position. Please do not submit or forward resumes to our site, tms employees, or any other company location. tms is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and 15+ years in regulatory compliance, legislative affairs, or global supply chain with leadership experience
• Expertise in regulatory interpretation, compliance frameworks, and proactive risk management in packaging or related industries
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, engage with industry bodies, and influence policy in a global matrixed environment