Packaging Innovation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are

John Paul Mitchell Systems (“JPMS”) is recognized worldwide for developing and marketing innovative hair and skin care products since 1980. We’ve been serving the professional beauty industry with salon-quality hair care products, styling tools and professional hair color through our family of brands including Paul Mitchell, MITCH, Awapuhi Wild Ginger, Tea Tree, Paul Mitchell Tools, Neuro, The Demi, Paul Mitchell the Color, Blonde, and Color XG.

We were the first professional hair care company to take a stand against animal testing and continue our strong commitment to giving back, supporting a wide range of philanthropic causes both domestically and internationally. Sustainability has always been a priority, and we are committed to making our company operations climate neutral to preserve the beauty of the world around us.

Who You Are:

You are a skilled and enthusiastic, high-performing professional who is passionate about hair care and wants to positively contribute to the growth of our iconic brand as well as to our people first culture.

About the Role

Reporting to the EVP, Legal & Business Affairs, the Regulatory Manager – Packaging owns the regulatory and sustainability strategy for JPMS packaging across all markets. The role emphasizes packaging sustainability and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), recyclability and future-materials strategy, multi-market regulatory compliance, and packaging-related labeling and claims, working closely with the Packaging Engineer, who owns packaging innovation and provides the technical testing and validation that underpins these requirements.

This position owns the strategic, non-engineering side of packaging including: packaging sustainability strategy and execution (plastic reduction, PCR / biobased transitions, recyclability); EPR registration, reporting, and fee management across markets; multi-market packaging regulatory compliance and horizon-scanning for changing requirements; packaging-related labeling, claims substantiation, and artwork compliance; and regulatory data and documentation ownership for packaging, including PLM for packaging specifications, testing data, approvals, and lifecycle documentation. This role works closely with the Packaging Engineer, who is responsible for technical packaging testing, validation, tooling qualification, and commercialization; this role sets the requirements and the Packaging Engineer executes the technical validation.

This is a hybrid role that works 3 days in office in Santa Clarita.

What You will Do:

Packaging Sustainability & EPR (Core Accountability)

• Own JPMS’s packaging sustainability strategy—plastic reduction, transitions to PCR / biobased materials, recyclability, and design-for-recycling targets
• Manage EPR obligations across markets, including producer registrations, reporting, eco-modulation, and fee management
• Set the regulatory and sustainability requirements that the Packaging Engineer validates technically, and confirm proposed changes meet applicable obligations before commercialization

Multi-Market Packaging Compliance

• Maintain packaging regulatory compliance across all JPMS markets (e.g., US state packaging and toxics-in-packaging laws, EU PPWR and CPR, and other applicable frameworks)
• Monitor and assess upcoming or changing packaging regulations, perform impact analysis, and advise the business on required actions and timelines
• Conduct regulatory assessments of packaging materials and components against local and international requirements

Labeling, Claims & Artwork Compliance

• Review packaging labeling, on-pack claims, and artwork for regulatory compliance and claims substantiation, partnering with Marketing, R&D, and Legal
• Ensure recyclability, sustainability, and environmental marketing claims are accurate, substantiated, and defensible across markets

Future-Materials & Innovation Enablement

• Provide the regulatory and sustainability guardrails for packaging innovation, advising the Packaging Engineer on the compliance and EPR implications of new materials, formats, and dispensing solutions
• Track emerging materials and regulatory trends to keep JPMS’s packaging roadmap compliant and forward-looking

Regulatory Data & Documentation Ownership

• Own packaging regulatory and sustainability documentation, including EPR filings, compliance records, substantiation files, and approvals
• Ensure data accuracy and audit readiness across markets and maintain records
• Own packaging data in PLM—specifications, drawings, protocols, results, approvals, and change history—ensuring accuracy and audit readiness across the lifecycle

Required Qualifications:

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of packaging sustainability and EPR frameworks across multiple markets
• Working knowledge of packaging regulations (e.g., toxics-in-packaging and recycled-content laws, EU PPWR/CPR)
• Experience with recyclability assessment and design-for-recycling principles
• Packaging labeling, claims substantiation, and environmental-claims review
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear specifications for technical and engineering partners
• Sound regulatory judgment and risk-based decision making
• Strong analytical and impact-assessment skills
• Cost- and value-aware approach to compliance
• Project and documentation discipline
• Clear cross-functional communication, with the ability to operate independently while partnering effectively
• Effective team leadership

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Packaging Science, Chemistry, Regulatory Affairs, or a related discipline

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in regulatory affairs, packaging sustainability, or EPR/compliance within CPG, beauty, personal care, or similar regulated environments
• 2+ years supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience:

• Experience with EPR scheme management, packaging eco-modulation, and beauty/personal-care or CPG packaging regulation strongly preferred
• We are eager to meet people who believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all the boxes. If you think you would be a good fit for the position and our company, we invite you to apply.

Working Conditions

• Office and warehouse environments

Competitive Compensation:

• The expected base salary range for this position is $125,000 to $135,000. The exact base salary is determined by various factors including geographic location, experience, skills, and education.
• Discretionary Bonus Plan: This position is also eligible for participation in the company discretionary bonus plan, based on personal performance and company results.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: In addition to base salary, JPMS offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance, retirement savings plans and company match, paid family leave, education-related programs, paid holidays, discretionary vacation time, and more.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment.