Assistant Manager - State Regulatory Liaisoning

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Assistant Manager State Regulatory Liaisoning

Reports To: Regional Manager

Experience: 3+

Function: State Regulatory Liaisoning

Role Overview

The Assistant Manager State Regulatory Liaisoning is responsible for ground-level regulatory liaisoning and compliance support for an assigned city. The role serves as the frontline relationship holder with local government authorities and supports the organisation in managing inspections, licences, regulatory queries, and ground-level escalations.

The primary scope includes engagement with FSSAI, State FDA, Municipal and Civic authorities, with law enforcement engagement as required during escalations or ground-level situations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Government & Stakeholder Relations

• Build and maintain professional and respectful relationships with local government officials, including FSSAI Food Safety Officers, State FDA officials, Municipal Health officials, Trade Licence authorities and other relevant departments.
• Establish and maintain responsive working relationships with local law enforcement authorities.
• Represent the organisation before local authorities when required and within approved escalation protocols.
• Ensure all government interactions are conducted strictly in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.

2. Regulatory Compliance & Inspections

• Coordinate and remain physically present for planned regulatory inspections at warehouses, dark stores, stores and other operating locations.
• Support inspections conducted by FSSAI, State FDA, Municipal Health and other relevant authorities.
• Conduct surprise compliance checks at stores and pods where required.
• Track routine licences, permissions, renewals and compliance requirements for assigned locations.
• Support timely closure of routine regulatory observations and compliance actions.

3. Risk & Escalation Management

• Handle escalated ground-level situations and people-related unrest in coordination with relevant authorities.
• Escalate non-routine notices, legal matters and first-of-a-kind regulatory issues to Legal and the Regional Manager.
• Apply working knowledge of FSSAI, Legal Metrology and municipal licensing requirements to resolve routine regulatory queries.
• Provide timely and factually accurate updates on local incidents, including location, officials involved, actions taken and potential business impact.
• Remain available for urgent escalations outside regular working hours when required.

4. Regulatory Intelligence & Process Improvement

• Monitor local regulatory developments, rule variations and enforcement trends.
• Identify emerging regulatory risks and proactively highlight them to the Regional Manager.
• Capture learnings from inspections and local regulatory interactions.
• Recommend improvements to SOPs and compliance processes based on field experience.
• Contribute local regulatory knowledge to the organisation's shared playbooks.

Success Measures

• Timely and effective handling of inspections and routine regulatory matters.
• Timely escalation and closure of regulatory notices and observations.
• Maintenance of positive and professional government relationships.
• Accuracy and timeliness of regulatory trackers and reporting.
• Effective handling of ground-level escalations.
• Compliance with company policies and applicable laws.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Education

• Graduate or postgraduate in any discipline.
• Law, Public Administration, Food Science, Pharmacy or Commerce backgrounds will be an advantage.

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in government liaisoning, regulatory affairs, licensing, compliance or field roles involving regular interaction with government officials and enforcement agencies.

Preferred Background

• Experience managing inspections, licences or permits for food, retail, FMCG, e-commerce, logistics, hospitality or pharma businesses.
• Experience in a liaisoning or regulatory compliance consultancy.
• Experience dealing with municipal, ward-level and police-station-level authorities.
• Exposure to dark-store, warehouse or quick-commerce operations will be an advantage.

Core Skills

• Working knowledge of FSSAI, Legal Metrology and municipal licensing requirements.
• Proficiency in MS Office, systems and dashboards.
• Ability to maintain trackers and provide accurate status reports.
• Strong understanding of local geography and government departments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good documentation and follow-through skills.

Languages

• Fluency in the principal local language of the city.
• Working proficiency in English.
• Hindi, where relevant to the location.

Personal Attributes

• High integrity and commitment to operating within company policy and the law.
• Calm, composed and decisive during ground-level escalations.
• Self-driven and comfortable working independently in the field.
• Strong ownership and follow-through.
• Willingness to travel as business requirements dictate.
• Willingness to remain reachable during critical escalations.

Good to Have

• Established professional network with local government officials through legitimate, above-board engagement.
• Experience handling workforce or gig-partner grievances on the ground.
• Exposure to quick-commerce, e-commerce or multi-location operations.