Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs for OPT Students

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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Overview

Open Jobs5+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type80% On-site
Salary Range$159K – $206K
Top LocationBasking Ridge, NJ
Most JobsAstraZeneca

Showing 5 of 5+ Regulatory Affairs Director jobs

AstraZeneca
Regulatory Affairs Director
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AstraZeneca
Added 1mo ago
Regulatory Affairs Director
AstraZeneca
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$186,232/yr - $279,349/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Bristol Myers Squibb
Associate Director, Commercial Regulatory Affairs
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Bristol Myers Squibb
Added 1w ago
Associate Director, Commercial Regulatory Affairs
Bristol Myers Squibb
Princeton, New Jersey
$173,350/yr - $210,058/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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RiconPharma LLC
Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs
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RiconPharma LLC
Added 1mo ago
Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs
RiconPharma LLC
Denville, New Jersey
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$179,296/yr - $182,296/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Master's

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KBRA
Regulatory and Government Affairs - Associate Director
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KBRA
Added 1mo ago
Regulatory and Government Affairs - Associate Director
KBRA
New York, New York
Compliance & Legal
Content & Communications
Research & Academia
Public Relations (PR)
$120,000/yr - $150,000/yr
Hybrid
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Daiichi Sankyo US
Associate Director, CDx Regulatory Affairs
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Daiichi Sankyo US
Added 1mo ago
Associate Director, CDx Regulatory Affairs
Daiichi Sankyo US
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Healthcare Administration
Project & Program Management
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$137,840/yr - $206,760/yr
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Regulatory Affairs Director

Target regulated industries with high sponsorship volume

Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies file H-1B 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 jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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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.

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