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.

Find OPT Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs75+
Work Type71% On-site
Top LocationAlameda, CA
Most JobsAbbott

Showing 5 of 75+ Regulatory Affairs Director jobs

Oscar Health
Analyst, Regulatory Affairs
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Oscar Health
New 11h ago
Analyst, Regulatory Affairs
Oscar Health
New York, New York
Compliance & Legal
Project & Program Management
Compliance & Risk
$31.45 - $41.28/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
Regulatory Affairs Associate
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Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
New 17h ago
Regulatory Affairs Associate
Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences
Chicago, Illinois
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
On-Site
Bachelor's
51-200

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GSK
Strategy Lead, CMC Mature, Regulatory Affairs
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GSK
Added 1d ago
Strategy Lead, CMC Mature, Regulatory Affairs
GSK
Rockville, Maryland
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$114k - $190k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Alcon
Manager I, Regulatory Affairs Strategy
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Alcon
Added 5d ago
Manager I, Regulatory Affairs Strategy
Alcon
Fort Worth, Texas
Compliance & Legal
Project & Program Management
Compliance & Risk
$119k - $154k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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AbbVie
Associate, Regulatory Affairs Submission Management
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AbbVie
Added 5d ago
Associate, Regulatory Affairs Submission Management
AbbVie
North Chicago, Illinois
Project & Program Management
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$66k - $126k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Tips 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.