Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs in California
Regulatory Affairs Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in the life sciences, biotechnology, and medical device sectors that anchor the state's economy at every seniority level from newly promoted manager to global regulatory head. The largest hiring volumes are in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where employers such as Genentech, Edwards Lifesciences, and Hologic maintain deep regulatory functions. Demand is strongest in professionals with expertise in FDA submissions, combination products, and international regulatory strategy, particularly for Class II and Class III medical devices and biologics. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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This position is located in Sacramento, CA.
Can Be Filled at a Higher Level Based on Experience.
Career Level: P3
Primary Purpose:
Develops regulatory positions, drafts complex filings, and leads cross-functional coordination for compliance initiatives. Strengthens strategic outcomes by ensuring submissions meet regulatory standards and advance organizational interests.
This position is part of the State Government Relations – Policy & Issue Management organization. The shared service team leads cross-functional policy development and advocacy on significant state energy and environmental issues before local air districts, state agencies (excluding the CPUC), and the Legislature. The team works with internal and external stakeholders and engages directly with policymakers to advance Company objectives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develops positions and drafts complex filings (new registrations, significant variations, rate cases with customer impact models); structures arguments and evidence for approval.
- Coordinates cross‑functional evidence packages (quality systems, testing, safety, customer impact) and aligns timelines to regulator milestones.
- Advises on compliance for growth initiatives (new product lines, acquisitions, market entries); outlines regulatory pathways, risks, and mitigations.
- Leads root‑cause reviews after audit or inspection findings; designs corrective and preventive actions that address system causes.
- Represents the organization in technical committees or industry forums; explains compliance rationale and proposed policy outcomes.
- Crafts well‑supported responses to deficiency letters or data requests; negotiates realistic timelines and commitments.
- Leads small improvement projects (submission quality improvements, labeling claim libraries, change‑control enhancements) with measurable outcomes.
- Mentors junior staff on drafting techniques, regulator engagement, and evidence building.
- Engages directly with state policymakers, including but not limited to staff at the California Energy Commission and California Air Resources Board, to advance Company energy and environmental policy priorities.
- Builds relationships with agency staff and key stakeholders, identifying opportunities for potential alignment in advocacy approaches.
- Advises leadership on agency priorities, policy risks and opportunities, and recommended engagement strategies.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Typically requires a 4 year degree in a relevant field, or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- Typically requires 5 years of related experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Major in Communications; Political Science; Public Policy; Environmental Policy; Public Administration; Business; Economics; Statistics; Engineering; or other related field.
- Experience representing an organization in agency proceedings, public workshops, stakeholder meetings, coalitions, associations, or other external forums.
- Experience engaging with or working for the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, a California air district, the California Legislature, Governor's Office, or another state agency.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to assess regulatory and compliance risks associated with business or operational changes.
- Ability to balance regulatory expectations with operational objectives.
- Ability to contribute expert regulatory or compliance input to cross-functional initiatives.
- Knowledge of regulator and auditor expectations.
- Knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks across multiple lifecycle stages or processes.
- Skill in drafting, reviewing, and refining complex regulatory or compliance documentation.
- Skill in interpreting regulations, guidance, and internal policies with limited direction.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to exercise sound judgment in politically sensitive or high-visibility situations, and represent the companies effectively with external stakeholders.
- Knowledge of and experience with California energy and utility policy, including issues affecting electric and natural gas utilities, affordability, reliability, wildfire, infrastructure, environmental policy, and the clean energy transition.
- Knowledge of and experience with California government affairs practices, including legislative and regulatory advocacy, coalition engagement, stakeholder outreach, and executive briefings.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.
Pay Transparency In order to support the Fair Compensation Strategy by the US Govt., HR Dept., clients are required to adhere to "Pay Transparency Law"; in the impacted states; that have mandated the employers to list the salary ranges in Job advertisements or postings for job opportunities and Job promotions.See All 164+ Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs in California
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Find JobsRegulatory Affairs Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Regulatory Affairs Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Revolution Medicines17

- Abbott8

- Gilead Sciences7

- Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences6

- AbbVie5

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals32
- Medical Devices4
- Retail2
- Technology & Software2
- Healthcare & Medical Services2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in regulatory affairs director jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in life sciences, engineering, or a related scientific field
- Minimum of seven to ten years of regulatory affairs experience in pharma, biotech, or medical devices
- Demonstrated experience leading FDA submissions including 510(k), PMA, BLA, or NDA filings
- Working knowledge of California Department of Public Health manufacturing and quality regulations
- RAC credential from the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society strongly preferred by California employers
- Experience managing cross-functional teams and external regulatory consultants or contract research organizations
Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a regulatory affairs director in California?
Most regulatory affairs directors in California reach the role through a combination of a life sciences degree and progressively senior positions in regulatory submissions, quality assurance, or clinical affairs at a biotech or medical device company. The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society's RAC credential is widely recognized by California employers and signals formal competency. California does not issue a state-specific license for regulatory affairs, but familiarity with California Department of Public Health manufacturing requirements is a practical asset for senior candidates.
How much do regulatory affairs directors make in California?
Regulatory affairs directors in California earn a median of about $96,980 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $57,530 for the lowest 10% to over $158,280 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire regulatory affairs directors in California?
Employers hiring regulatory affairs directors in California right now include Revolution Medicines, Abbott, and Gilead Sciences, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device headquarters means hiring is consistent year-round, with particularly high volume in the Bay Area and San Diego corridors.
Which California cities have the most regulatory affairs director jobs?
Redwood City, Irvine, and San Diego have the most regulatory affairs director openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its concentration of biopharmaceutical and biotech headquarters, San Diego is driven by its medical device and genomics cluster, and Los Angeles draws demand from pharmaceutical manufacturers and combination product companies with large West Coast operations.
Are there remote regulatory affairs director jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 50% of regulatory affairs director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and document-intensive nature of much regulatory work. Roles centered on strategy, submissions writing, and agency correspondence tend to be the most flexible, while positions requiring hands-on review of manufacturing facilities or laboratory audits typically require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a regulatory affairs director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a regulatory affairs specialist or associate role from an adjacent position such as quality assurance, clinical research coordination, or scientific writing at a California biotech or medical device company. Larger employers such as those in the Bay Area and San Diego biotech clusters regularly hire associate regulatory affairs professionals who want to build toward director-level roles. Earning the RAC Foundation credential and building a portfolio of submission-support experience on even one FDA filing meaningfully strengthens a candidate's profile early in their career.
Where can I find and apply to regulatory affairs director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to regulatory affairs director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across biotech, pharma, and medical device employers. Find roles that fit your experience and apply directly to each listing.
See All 164+ Regulatory Affairs Director Jobs in California
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