Position Title: Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Department: Product + Brand Services
Reports to: Director, Product Development
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt, In-Office
Location: Zumiez Home Office -- Lynnwood, WA
Effective Date: August 2026
Zumiez is seeking a Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist to manage the day-to-day execution, accuracy, workload, and team support of existing Product Testing & Compliance processes for all products created in our Product + Brand Services Department. This role provides senior-level subject matter expertise, direct team management, and oversight of compliance workflows while partnering with department leadership on prioritization, escalation, new regulation execution, and broader compliance direction.
The position is responsible for maintaining the success and accuracy of existing compliance processes, identifying risks or process gaps, and recommending appropriate mitigation measures. This role works to understand stakeholder needs and communicate business opportunities, procedures, and compliance requirements in a way that is practical, scalable, and right-sized for the Zumiez business.
This leadership role requires strong people management, process management, and program coordination skills to support day-to-day execution and future process growth. Working in partnership with the Product teams, Director of Product Development, and Corporate Counsel- this position helps execute new regulatory processes, supports new category opportunities or concerns, and empowers the team to contribute to scalable compliance solutions. This role serves as the primary day-to-day point of contact for Product & Compliance Management of apparel, soft goods, hardlines, licensing categories, and printable items for applicable countries where Zumiez produces or ships product.
The ideal candidate will have proven management experience with direct reports, including training, mentorship, reviews, workload management, and day-to-day team development. They will partner with leadership to set and achieve team goals, challenge team members appropriately, and support continued growth while maintaining strong execution of compliance responsibilities. You'll also need a high level of flexibility, commitment, and a passion for great customer service.
Principal Accountabilities: - Manage day-to-day regulatory product compliance execution, support, and guidance for merchandise and production teams, including process accuracy, workload flow, and team follow-through.
- Work in alliance with applicable outside counsel and third-party vendors assisting with the above legal product compliance issues
- Document compliance by completing agency approval applications, recording test results, preparing investigative reports, and maintaining product compliance databases
- REACH product compliance audits
- Interprets federal and state and/or international regulations as they apply to products, financial processes, and other processes, practices and procedures.
- Investigates and resolves product compliance problems, questions, or complaints received from other units of the company, customers, government regulatory agencies, etc.
- Coordinate product compliance testing and inspections
- Audit, evaluate and update current policies, procedures, and documentation for product compliance with government laws and regulations.
- Analyze the results of compliance testing and inspections and advise on how to streamline the process
- Support and maintain product risk assessment processes by identifying risk trends, documenting concerns, and recommending process improvements or mitigation measures for leadership review.
- Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for suppliers regarding product safety, quality testing, documentation, and compliance requirements, escalating material concerns as needed.
- Assist in Social Compliance Audits, New Vendor setup and other production compliance related needs.
- Manage direct reports by supporting onboarding, training, mentorship, workload planning, goal progress, performance feedback, and day-to-day development
Required Skills & Qualifications - Minimum 7 years' experience in the Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance field, related to apparel & hardgoods product import/export obligations.
- Minimum 2 years supervisory experience with direct reports.
- Must have apparel or textile experience. Knowledge of fabrication, characteristics, performance, and textile compatibility.
- Highly organized, detail oriented, data driven, self-starting, and comfortable with business software, such as Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
- Advanced demonstrated knowledge of product labeling/safety requirements under multiple regulatory laws including but not limited to: Consumer Product Safety Act, the Wool Products Labeling Act, Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, Flammable Fabrics Act, Federal Trade Commission Act, including the care labeling regulations, FTC Guidelines, Trade Practice Rules and Regulations, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, in addition to any applicable State/provincial or international regulations (e.g., California Proposition 65/REACH). Must understand and have experience on how all of these relate to apparel, textiles and hard goods.
- Advanced knowledge and experience with Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical Substances Law (REACH), European Directive for Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
- Senior level experience managing people, product compliance workflows, risk-based decision support, and day-to-day program execution