Regulatory Affairs & Trademark Specialist

Company: Mars, IncorporatedLocation: FRANKLIN, TN 37067Job Category: Biotech/R&D/ScienceCareer Level: Experienced (Non-Manager)Reference Code: BRE00266 Contact : Mars, Incorporated Job Details Quality. Responsibility. Mutuality. Efficiency. Freedom. Unusual values for a $5 billion company? Not at Mars North America! The Five Principles of Mars have inspired us for over 90 years. More than a statement of values, they are the explanation for our success and the formula for our future.Mars North America creates the foods you love, like M&M's®, SNICKERS®, DOVE® and UNCLE BEN'S® . . . and the foods your pets love, too, like PEDIGREE®, CESAR®, WHISKAS® and SHEBA®.We stand apart because we are a global leader in the food, snack and petcare industries and one of the most successful family-owned businesses in the world. Currently, we are looking for qualified, diverse individuals to apply for the following position: Job Summary:Provides regulatory and trademark support to Research & Development and the Marketing Teams.  Coordinates and executes the agreed upon regulatory and trademark activities for the pet food division.  Good working knowledge of Federal regulations and AAFCO guidelines. Key Responsibilities: · Develop a good working knowledge of AAFCO guidelines to assist with the label approval process.  · Develop the ability to review labels, sales documentation and external promotional materials for regulatory compliance and trademark.· Develop and maintain relationships with each state regulatory agency, coordinating the resolution of any issues that may arise. · Ability to access and search CFR regulations in order to provide research for labeling claims and compliance issues. ..· Primary liaison with brand managers, agencies and trademark law firm collecting specimens and date of first use for trademark Statements of Use/Declarations of Use/Renewal.· Learn to perform trademark knock-out searches and liaison with brand managers and trademark law firm in connection with preliminary/full trademark search requests and results· Collect evidence and data to support trademark conflict matters· Coordinate with engineers and design patent law firm in connection with Inventive Design Disclosures/Freedom to Operate requests.· Assist with Trademark/Design Patent training courses and information distribution · Maintain and distribute U.S. Petcare - Approved Best Practices Handbook.· Provide customer service to internal and external stakeholders for regulatory and trademark concerns for artwork, claims development and trademark support, attending brand and project meetings as required. · Back up Trademark and Regulatory Supervisor in the event of travel, meetings, leave, etc..·   Develop and maintain systems to manage data handling and storage vital to the position’s responsibilities.· Demonstrate a basic understanding of current business processes (Activity Management) and their application to this position.· Ability to document, organize and summarize project results through verbal and written  Key Skills Required: Good understanding of food law principals, CFR’s, MFUSA manufacturing sites, products, brands and basic processes. Solid understanding of trademark law, including clearance, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement and usage guidelines.  Knowledge of issues related to a global trademark portfolio.  Knowledge of design patent prosecution.  Experience and ability to work with outside trade/design patent counsel and internal business partners in Marketing and R&D. Understanding of business software packages (Windows, Word, Excel, Visio, Access, etc.).  Database and programming skills highly beneficial. Flexibility to changing priorities and timelines.. Strong multi-task project management skills.  Ability to prioritize and co-ordinate, with a great deal of flexibility. Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines. Excellent verbal and written communication, with emphasis on external communication skills with regulatory agencies.   Minimum Qualifications: Minimum of 2 year(s) of experience in regulatory affairs or trademark support Ability to travel 10 to 15% of the timeHigh school diploma or GEDSuccessful completion of a drug and background screen Preferred Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in regulatory affairs or trademark support Bachelors of Science degree in food science/animal science Legal Assistant/Paralegal Certificate a plus Company-paid relocation is not available for this position. As a privately-held, family-owned company, Mars Pet Care US offers benefits which reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining great people. This includes excellent pay, competitive health and dental care coverage, a retirement plan, a very competitive vacation plan and unrivalled career advancement opportunities, to name just a few of our unique and generous benefits. If you're looking for a place where you can take ownership for your work, where the pace is fast, the environment is built around the importance of open communication, and where employees are called "associates" and treated as such, then we want to hear from you.  We value a diverse work environment and encourage qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, religion, disability, national origin, veteran status, gender and age. Mars Pet Care US is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Visit www.mars.com to learn more about our company and for information about all of our current openings. Please, no agencies.