Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Homepage/Career/Careers guidance/Diversity of Career Profiles in Chemist.../Career interviews/Regulatory Affairs Specialist

I AM: Regulatory Affairs Specialist

"The safety and sustainability of raw materials are becoming increasingly important for all industries. I am pleased every day to make a meaningful contribution to people, nature and the environment."

Dr. rer. nat. Christos Panagiotidis | Univar Solutions GmbH

Dr Christos Panagiotidis ...

After completing his doctorate, he decided to move into industry. He began his career by setting up a laboratory at a medium-sized company. Thanks to his extensive experience in various fields, he later moved into the chemical wholesale trade. Since then, he has worked as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Univar Solutions GmbH.

The Career Interview

In chemical education, an educational film ended with a sentence along the lines of: “So you too shall become ruler of the elements!” Creating new substances through synthetic methods with hand and mind, and uncovering the secrets of nature, seemed like fascinating magic to me. Specialising in Organic Chemistry came closest to this vision, and I made the decision to do so while still at school, during the “Year of Chemistry” in 2003, when experiments with fragrant fruit esters at the university allowed me to get a literal whiff of the subject area and working group. Through my studies and doctorate, I consequently became a bioorganic synthetic chemist. Although this comes very close to being a wizard, the usefulness of chemistry in the real world is even more exciting.

The noticeable increase in white hairs while writing my dissertation made it clear that remaining in academia was not something I aspired to. Moving into industry seemed like the only genuine alternative and, with patience, a continuous willingness to learn and perseverance, I was presented with the unique opportunity to set up a laboratory for a medium-sized company in the beauty sector. It began with an empty room and ended with successful permanent make-up pigments and cosmetics for a professional customer segment. In between were diverse and memorable experiences spanning purchasing, laboratory management, formulation and product development, packaging design and production, logistics, staff management, Marketing and international trade fair visits.

Absolutely not. We are all on a journey with rivers, valleys and mountains that largely obstruct the view on the horizon. The questions are rather: Where are you now? And where can you go from here?

Ultimately, my practical experience with the Tattooing Agents Regulation, the Cosmetics Regulation (EU) 1223/2009, the official notification and labelling requirements, and the preparation of safety data sheets enabled me to take the next path towards Regulatory Affairs for the chemical wholesale trade. A specialised area with particular requirements, in which I am very happy to contribute, but whose existence I was simply unaware of at an earlier point in my career.

Customers purchase chemical raw materials wholesale and require additional information and manufacturers’ certificates to meet statutory requirements and obtain further product certifications. For example, if a washing-up liquid bottle in a supermarket is to state “Free from animal testing and palm oil”, I maintain an ongoing dialogue with our raw material suppliers and clarify matters throughout the supply chain. This also includes completing comprehensive chemical regulatory customer questionnaires and online platforms. I also coordinate private-label products and assess their chemical composition with regard to legal standards and approved applications, including official statements. In addition, I conduct internal Europe-wide training on compliance topics relevant to the industry.

Excellent intercultural communication skills and a very good command of English are essential requirements in international corporations. You are a highly motivated team player with a customer-, process- and goal-oriented approach.

The Regulatory Affairs profession in particular requires a detail-oriented and meticulous approach, together with strong analytical thinking skills, and its requirements are similar to those of legal departments and quality management. Experience in conducting scientific literature searches is very helpful for understanding constantly revised legislation and technical standards, which must be appropriately summarised and presented to different groups. Knowledge of project management and self-organisation is highly recommended.

It is computer-based work that can be carried out from the office or from home. Business trips and in-person events only take place occasionally. Every day always begins by processing new emails and responding to regulatory customer enquiries, which can vary considerably in scope and complexity. I communicate with suppliers and product managers every day. Once a week, I discuss personal and professional matters with my team leader. My colleagues are spread throughout Europe, and we have regular meetings to allocate work or discuss projects. I plan to spend up to 20% of my working time on project-related activities each day. Projects may be halted for various reasons, or tasks may need to be rescheduled. As you become an increasingly recognised expert in certain topics, you become the go-to person within the company at any time.

Practical activities are almost completely eliminated, and you are not necessarily tied to a specific location. Unlike most university research groups, large corporations are much more hierarchical, which can make implementing new ideas take longer. In the compliance sector, even greater emphasis is placed on the traceability of communication, as well as on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and approval processes. Exams are no longer part of the picture, but the “assessments” remain in the form of KPIs and regular employee reviews. Useful knowledge from my studies includes, among other things, chemical nomenclature, physical properties, common large-scale industrial production processes for basic chemicals, and how to use safety data sheets and CAS numbers. My PhD was the starting point for working independently and collaborating on international projects. I learned project management intuitively without explicitly calling it that.

I am equally inspired by working in the fields of chemical distribution and Regulatory Affairs. As the logistical backbone of the chemical industry and a global marketplace, customers from all sectors are served with an ever-expanding product portfolio. That alone makes the work highly varied. However, as a distributor of basic and speciality chemicals, I often depend on the information provided by our manufacturers, which can prevent the release of raw materials for specific applications and in accordance with particular regulations. In the field of Chemical Compliance, you are a professional naysayer—and for good reason, because safety and sustainability for people, nature and the environment are non-negotiable. Every certificate shared and every statement issued makes a meaningful contribution.

As I gained more experience, further responsibilities were added. These include, for example, conducting training sessions on topics such as internal policies, the Ecolabel and revised EU legislation. I was entrusted with coordinating our technical private-label products. Here, I assess and determine the product and its composition for approval, depending on the specific question. In addition, there are numerous interdisciplinary projects with other departments.

There is always the opportunity to independently expand and deepen your knowledge of chemicals legislation and demonstrate your expertise through special projects. Participation in industry associations also plays a role here. In the long term, moving into other compliance areas within EHSQ is also conceivable. Another option is moving into employee management. Depending on your personality and skills, moving into sales or technical support is also an option.

You should take a close look at the ECHA website, including EU regulations and pollutant databases. My general application advice always comes down to three aspects:

Organisation: The dynamics vary depending on the number of employees, from start-ups to large corporations. For getting started, I recommend small to medium-sized enterprises in particular, in order to gain broader experience and remain open to unfamiliar tasks.
Identification: Do I consider the societal benefit of the end products or service meaningful and compatible with my own values? If not, move on.
Function: Would I rather take on many different functions within one industry, or one function across many different industries?

Gender notice

^{For reasons of readability, the simultaneous use of gender-specific forms of language is omitted. All terms referring to persons apply to all genders.}

I AM: Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Dr Christos Panagiotidis ...

The Career Interview

Why did you choose your field of specialisation? What appealed to you about it?

What was your start in your career like?

Were you aware that you wanted to pursue your current career field? Or were there other stages that led you there?

What are you doing today? What responsibilities do you have as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist?

What knowledge and qualities should one have for your field of work?

Describe a typical working day. Are there any unforeseen events that require your attention? How do you work with colleagues? Do you work as part of a team?

To what extent does your working day today differ from that during your studies/PhD? To what extent did your studies/PhD prepare you for your current job?

What excites you about your work? Are there any particular challenges?

Has your area of responsibility changed over time?

What career opportunities are available in your field?

If someone wanted to follow the same career path, what would you advise them?

Gender notice

Chemistry for a better world

I AM: Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Dr Christos Panagiotidis ...

The Career Interview

Why did you choose your field of specialisation? What appealed to you about it?

What was your start in your career like?

Were you aware that you wanted to pursue your current career field? Or were there other stages that led you there?

What are you doing today? What responsibilities do you have as a Regulatory Affairs Specialist?

What knowledge and qualities should one have for your field of work?

Describe a typical working day. Are there any unforeseen events that require your attention? How do you work with colleagues? Do you work as part of a team?

To what extent does your working day today differ from that during your studies/PhD? To what extent did your studies/PhD prepare you for your current job?

What excites you about your work? Are there any particular challenges?

Has your area of responsibility changed over time?

What career opportunities are available in your field?

If someone wanted to follow the same career path, what would you advise them?

Gender notice