(Senior) Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Manager – Full time position
Detergents Europe, the voice of the European cleaning and hygiene products industry, is recruiting a (Senior) Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Manager to join our dynamic and multicultural team here in Brussels. Reporting directly to the Head of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, you will support the association in developing and managing its work programme on chemicals legislation and product stewardship. You will also collaborate closely with colleagues from other departments from Sustainability, Public Affairs and Communications.
Your responsibilities
You will have the opportunity to represent the views of a leading European industry subject to chemicals legislation. You will be driving, coordinating and managing the daily activities related to some key EU Regulations on chemicals safety, with a focus on classification, labelling and packaging but also others depending on priorities. With the support of industry experts, you will also provide technical input and advice to Detergents Europe’s product stewardship initiatives, as well as identifying and managing scientific research projects and tools to support the industry’s objectives.
These activities will involve collecting, evaluating and summarising scientific and regulatory information and data, leading projects and project teams, developing guidance and industry positions and seeking consensus. In addition to communicating and collaborating with our members and staff colleagues within the association, you will also advocate to and interact frequently with external stakeholders, such as the European institutions, European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), other industry associations and our network of National Associations.
Typical tasks
- Assist Detergents Europe members with implementation of chemicals legislation, including preparation of guidance materials.
- Monitor ongoing developments and contribute actively to studies and technical advocacy related to future legislation.
- Lead Detergents Europe working groups and participate in external expert groups.
- Develop and advocate the position of the detergents industry on regulatory topics in close cooperation with the Public Affairs team.
- Represent Detergents Europe in meetings with external stakeholders, such as Competent Authorities, and at conferences.
- Monitor relevant scientific developments and identify, commission and manage research programmes supporting the sector’s objectives.
- Manage and develop sector tools and databases.
- Supervise external consultants engaged for specific projects.
Your profile
- Scientific background, including a university degree in chemistry, life/environmental sciences, toxicology or other relevant discipline
- Experience of at least five years in a similar field
- Based in or able to relocate to the Brussels area
- Experience of coordinating projects or teamwork
- Familiarity with chemicals legislation and chemical safety topics, in particular CLP but preferably also others e.g. REACH, Detergents Regulation, Biocidal Products Regulation
- Understanding of the chemical industry sector and of the functioning/decision-making processes of the European Institutions
- Good writing, advocacy and communication skills with an excellent command of English, including ability to explain complex scientific issues in layman language
- Good organisational skills and ability to handle several dossiers in parallel
- Team player with an open and international mindset
- Independent worker with initiative, flexible on work content and open to feedback
- Working methods based on conceptual thinking and scientific rigour
- Experience of work in trade associations or EU institutions is a plus.
What we offer
- Opportunity to work in a dynamic industry sector with a broad network and a multicultural team of colleagues
- Permanent contract
- Flexibility to work from home 2 days per week
Applications
Please provide your CV, with a short letter outlining your motivation for the job, by 24 July 2026 to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the high expected number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
About Detergents Europe
Detergents Europe is the voice of the European cleaning and hygiene products industry. Our products and solutions support health, wellbeing and resilience across Europe by ensuring hygiene and cleanliness, enabling effective disinfection, protecting people and materials, and helping create clean, comfortable and welcoming spaces where people can live, work and feel confident every day.
Representing a sector worth almost €50 billion, supporting around 360,000 jobs and spanning over 700 manufacturing sites across Europe, the association brings together industry expertise to advance innovative and sustainable solutions for a cleaner, healthier and more resilient Europe.
For more information, visit www.detergentseurope.eu
All applications will be handled confidentially.
By sending your CV for the purpose of applying to this position, you understand and agree that said CV and the personal information contained herein or that you shall provide during the selection process, (interviews, emails, etc), including an external consultant, shall be processed by the association with a view to assess your candidacy for the open positions as well as building up a recruitment reserve for future positions. Such processing is justified by the legitimate interest of the association. The data shall not be held longer than necessary and in any case not more than 1 year. [Unless if you are hired in which case your CV shall be held in the data base relating to your employment.] You have the right to obtain without any costs and at any time access to your personal data, to correct it, erase it, limit their use, oppose to the processing or request the portability of the data. You have the right to file a complaint to the data privacy commission. You hereby certify that the data are accurate and consent to the extent allowed by law to a pre-employment background check by the association and seeking references to confirm the data provided.
