OPT Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs
Regulatory Affairs Director jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in life sciences, pharmacy, or engineering. This role qualifies as a specialty occupation, supporting OPT work authorization. STEM OPT extension eligibility depends on your degree field, so confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying.
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Description
Summary:
The Program Manager Health Plans Regulatory Affairs role is to assist in the implementation and maintenance of the CHRISTUS Health Compliance Program. This job assists the Regulatory Affairs team in the execution of established work priorities and plans, management, and monitoring of operational compliance related tasks. These tasks are to include internal auditing and monitoring activities, external audit coordination, and regulatory training and education.
Responsibilities:
- Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
- Review and research laws and regulations both on a reactive and proactive basis to ensure an effective and accurate response to legal and regulatory compliance for Medicare Advantage and Health Exchange lines of business.
- Monitors Health Plan progress in resolution of issues identified through the Risk Assessment and Monitoring Work Plan and internal and external audit findings.
- Analyze and periodically report on risk-related trends to the Compliance Committee to ensure organizational awareness of potential noncompliance.
- Perform ongoing internal monitoring/audits based on risk level.
- Support implementation of consistent processes to enhance compliance within day-to-day health plan operations.
- Provide specialized education and development of materials as requested.
- Follow up with Action items necessary related to various audit requests and compliance related issues.
- Work with the regulatory affairs team to develop streamlined approaches between lines of business.
- Cross-train the regulatory affairs team on compliance related tasks to ensure operational compliance goals are met.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with regular interaction and communication with the Senior Leadership team and other associates within the organization.
- Ability to facilitate the resolution of issues and concerns that create barriers to a high-performing team and work environment.
- Ability to manage project/monitoring work plans for achieving project goals and objectives.
- Coordinates assigned projects, including monitoring projects to present to leadership and regulatory bodies.
- Serves as Project Manager on external compliance audits conducted by regulatory bodies.
- Serves as a resource in regulatory guidance for Health Exchange and Medicare Lines of Business.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/Skills
- Bachelor's Degree in Related Field of Study and or equivalent years of work experience required
Experience
- 4 - 6 years of related experience preferred
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
- None required
In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.
Work Schedule:
8AM - 5PM Monday-Friday
Work Type:
Full Time
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Regulatory Affairs Director
Target regulated industries with high sponsorship volume
Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies file H-1B visa petitions regularly for regulatory roles. Focusing your search on these sectors gives you the strongest shot at employers already comfortable navigating visa sponsorship for director-level positions.
Confirm your STEM OPT eligibility before your job search
Regulatory Affairs Directors hired under STEM OPT get 24 additional months of work authorization. Your degree must be in an eligible STEM field. Verify your CIP code with your DSO early so you can accurately communicate your authorization timeline to prospective employers.
Demonstrate regulatory expertise that justifies a director-level hire
Employers sponsoring a director role need to justify the investment. Lead with specific submissions you have managed, such as INDs, NDAs, or 510(k)s. Tangible regulatory accomplishments reduce employer hesitation about sponsoring a candidate at this seniority level.
Address your OPT timeline proactively in interviews
Regulatory Affairs Directors often oversee multi-year product approval cycles. Reassure hiring managers by explaining your full OPT authorization window upfront, including any STEM extension, so they understand you can see long-term regulatory projects through to completion.
Prioritize companies with established immigration infrastructure
Large pharmaceutical and device companies have in-house immigration counsel and routine H-1B sponsorship processes. Targeting these employers reduces friction. Smaller startups may be willing but lack experience, which can create delays during your OPT authorization window.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly regulatory roles efficiently
Migrate Mate filters jobs by sponsorship willingness, saving you from applying to companies that won't support OPT students. Browse Regulatory Affairs Director openings directly to focus your effort on employers already open to hiring international candidates.
Regulatory Affairs Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Regulatory Affairs Director role qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization?
Yes. Regulatory Affairs Director is a specialty occupation requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as life sciences, pharmacy, chemistry, or engineering. That degree requirement directly supports F-1 OPT eligibility. Your employment must be directly related to your major, so confirm alignment with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Can I get a STEM OPT extension working as a Regulatory Affairs Director?
You can if your underlying degree is in an eligible STEM field, such as biology, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or biomedical engineering. The extension gives you 24 additional months of work authorization beyond your initial 12-month OPT period. Your employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO to verify eligibility before assuming you qualify.
How likely are employers to sponsor an H-1B for a Regulatory Affairs Director?
Sponsorship rates are relatively high for this role compared to many others. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies are frequent H-1B petitioners, and regulatory expertise is difficult to replace mid-project. Employers with active FDA submissions or CE marking programs are especially motivated to retain qualified regulatory staff, making them more likely to support a visa transition after OPT.
What should I tell employers about my OPT work authorization as a director candidate?
Be direct and specific. Explain that you hold F-1 OPT work authorization, state your current expiration date, and clarify whether you qualify for a STEM extension. Director-level hiring involves long planning cycles, so employers need confidence you can remain legally authorized for at least 12 to 36 months. Framing your timeline clearly early in the process prevents delays later.
Where can I find Regulatory Affairs Director jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and international students, with job listings filtered for sponsorship openness. Rather than sorting through thousands of postings that exclude international candidates, you can browse Regulatory Affairs Director roles on Migrate Mate and focus your effort on employers already willing to hire OPT students at the director level.