Quality & Compliance Specialist

Welcome to Apothékary™, where Nature is Medicine™. We harness the intelligence of nature by creating clean, effective herbal remedies that target the root cause of health imbalances like helping to ease stress, support the gut, strengthen immunity, boost energy, and sharpen mental focus. Our herbal formulas feature traditional herbs from several medicinal modalities including Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Japanese Kampo, and Western herbalism. We believe in getting to the root cause of health issues and herbs can be a great place to start your journey and promote wellness for the long-term. 

We were founded in early 2019 by Shizu Okusa, a serial entrepreneur in the wellness industry and named E&Y’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2021. After leaving an intense finance career, she became inspired to live a more balanced lifestyle and revisit her Japanese roots and passion for herbal medicine. Shizu set out to help others regain their holistic health using traditions she grew up with and ones she learned along the way.

Why work with us?

1. You will get the chance to be an early team member at a fast-growth health & wellness startup disrupting the intersection of food and medicine – preventative healthcare rooted in herbal medicine
2. We are growing fast (100x growth in two years, over $16M in capital raised, and quadrupled the size of the team in the last 9 months)
3. We’re a tight-knit, passionate team, where you'll learn a ton and have ownership over your responsibilities.
4. Work with a seasoned second-time founder and executive team

The role:

The Quality & Compliance Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining and advancing Apothékary's quality management systems and regulatory compliance programs. This position is responsible for ensuring all products, processes, and operations meet or exceed industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company quality objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in dietary supplement regulations, quality systems, and a meticulous attention to detail. This role will report directly to our Director of R&D and Regulatory Affairs.

Responsibilities:

Quality Assurance:

• Maintain and continuously improve the company's Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with cGMP requirements for dietary supplements (21 CFR Part 111)
• Develop, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all quality-related activities including owning the organization and maintenance of all QA documentation: raw material COAs, formulation spec sheets, process parameters, QC and third-party test results, batch records, supplier verifications, and labeling requirements
• Manage quality issues across all products, leading investigations into out-of-spec concerns (e.g., color, flavor, sedimentation, sourcing discrepancies)
• Conduct root-cause analyses for quality deviations and provide R&D recommendations for rework, reformulation, or remediation
• Lead stability testing programs: design protocols, manage sample retention, track data, and deliver reports to support product shelf life and retailer documentation needs
• Conduct internal audits of manufacturing facilities, suppliers, and quality systems to ensure compliance with established procedures and regulatory requirements
• Proactively communicate with co-manufacturers to secure documentation, resolve quality issues, and ensure production standards are upheld
• Develop and oversee QA, regulatory, and fulfillment SOPs, integrating QC checkpoints into operational workflows to drive efficiency and compliance
• Support onboarding of new co-manufacturers by establishing quality control parameters, documentation requirements, and production standards

Certification Management:

• Manage certification strategy and applications (e.g., Non-GMO, Organic, Gluten-Free, Cruelty-Free, etc.), ensuring timely renewals and expansion into new certifications as aligned with company goals
• Serve as primary liaison with certification bodies and auditors
• Coordinate annual audits, surveillance audits, and recertification activities
• Monitor regulatory changes affecting certifications and implement necessary updates
• Manage certified product lists and ensure accurate certification claims on labeling and marketing materials

Regulatory Compliance:

• Review and approve all product labeling for compliance with FDA/DSHEA standards and retailer requirements
• Monitor and interpret changes in federal, state, and international regulat