Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, E-3 visa, and TN visa, making visa sponsorship common among pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. Most employers file through H-1B or sponsor permanent residence via PERM, with the role's degree requirement in life sciences, pharmacy, or a related field supporting both pathways.
Find Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 20+ Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs jobs










See all Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
About This Role:
As the Associate Director of Device Regulatory Affairs, you will be at the forefront of leading regulatory strategies and execution for Class III medical device submissions across the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom. You will manage a team of 2 global regulatory affairs staff, ensuring that all regulatory plans, submission content, and approval strategies are meticulously developed and aligned with high-risk device programs. Your role is pivotal in serving as a senior regulatory representative in interactions with key health authorities, including FDA, EU notified bodies, and UK approved bodies, to ensure timely and compliant responses. Collaborating cross-functionally with teams such as Quality, Clinical, Medical Safety, Engineering, and Manufacturing, you will integrate regulatory requirements into product lifecycle planning and global commercialization strategies. Your contributions will be vital in maintaining compliance and facilitating market access for innovative medical devices.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead global regulatory strategy for Class III medical device programs, including developing integrated regulatory pathways and submission plans.
- Direct preparation, review, and execution of major regulatory submissions for Class III devices.
- Serve as a senior regulatory lead for interactions with FDA, EU notified bodies, UK approved bodies, and other global health authorities.
- Provide regulatory leadership for product development, design changes, manufacturing changes, labeling, clinical evidence, and risk management.
- Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to translate regulatory requirements into actionable program plans and submission-ready deliverables.
- Monitor evolving US and international device regulations, guidance, and standards, assessing business impact and driving implementation of regulatory intelligence.
- Lead and mentor global regulatory staff and cross-functional teams, providing governance, issue escalation, and inspection/readiness support.
Who You Are:
You are a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of regulatory affairs for Class III medical devices. Your attention to detail and ability to navigate complex regulations allows you to effectively lead and mentor teams. You thrive in a collaborative environment, valuing cross-functional partnerships to achieve business goals. Your proactive approach and dedication to compliance ensure that you stay ahead of evolving regulatory landscapes, driving successful submissions and approvals.
Required Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of experience in Regulatory Affairs for Class III implantable medical devices.
- At least 5 years of experience with combination product implantable medical devices.
- Experience with FDA submissions and EU MDR technical documentation.
- Familiarity with global commercialization strategies for medical devices.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
Preferred Skills:
- Advanced degree
Job Level: Management
Additional Information
The base compensation range for this role is: $160,000.00-$220,000.00
Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.
Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.
In addition to compensation, Biogen offers a full and highly competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being; including, but not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
- Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
- Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
- A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
- Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
- 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
Why Biogen?
We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life-changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives.
At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.
See all Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs Jobs
Align your degree to the role
Regulatory Affairs positions require a directly related degree for specialty occupation approval. A pharmacy, biology, or chemistry degree strengthens your petition far more than a general science credential. Document any graduate coursework or certifications like RAC that reinforce the degree-to-job connection.
Target companies with active PERM history
Pharma and medical device employers who regularly sponsor Regulatory Affairs directors show up in OFLC public disclosure data. Use Migrate Mate to identify companies with verified LCA filing history for this role, so you're applying where sponsorship is already established practice.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your geographic area and experience level. Run your target city and job title through the OFLC Wage Search before entering salary discussions, so you know the floor the employer is legally required to meet.
Flag international regulatory experience early
Experience with EMA, Health Canada, or TGA submissions signals cross-border competency that many U.S. sponsors actively seek. Highlight this in your resume and cover letter before the offer stage, since it can accelerate internal sign-off on sponsorship from HR and hiring managers simultaneously.
Understand TN eligibility if you hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship
Regulatory Affairs roles can qualify under the TN Scientist or Pharmacist category depending on your degree and job duties. TN status has no annual cap and no lottery, but your employer still needs to document the specialty occupation connection to your specific responsibilities at application.
Request employer confirmation of PERM intent
Many Regulatory Affairs directors pursue a green card through EB-2 PERM. During offer negotiation, confirm whether your employer has sponsored PERM for similar roles before. A company new to PERM labor certification faces longer timelines and DOL audit exposure that affects your permanent residence timeline directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B?
Yes. USCIS recognizes Regulatory Affairs as a specialty occupation because the role normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field such as pharmacy, biology, chemistry, or biomedical engineering. The connection between the degree and the specific job duties must be documented in the LCA and I-129 petition, so employers typically work with immigration counsel to build that record for director-level roles.
Which visa types do pharma and biotech companies most commonly use to sponsor this role?
H-1B is the most common initial visa for Associate Directors of Regulatory Affairs, followed by E-3 for Australian nationals and TN for Canadian or Mexican citizens whose degrees fall under a qualifying USMCA category. Many employers also sponsor permanent residence through EB-2 PERM, which requires a full DOL labor certification process, typically following two to three years in the H-1B role.
How do I find employers actively sponsoring Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for Regulatory Affairs roles, so you can target companies already set up to file LCAs and petitions rather than convincing a company to sponsor for the first time. Director-level sponsorship involves more internal approvals than individual contributor roles, so focusing on employers with an established track record shortens the process considerably.
Does the RAC certification help with visa sponsorship for this role?
The Regulatory Affairs Certification is not a substitute for a qualifying bachelor's degree in USCIS specialty occupation analysis, but it does strengthen the degree-to-job nexus argument when your underlying degree is in a less directly related field. For employers writing the LCA job description, RAC demonstrates specialized knowledge that supports the claim that a specific degree is a minimum requirement for the position.
Can an Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs self-petition for an EB-2 National Interest Waiver?
It's possible but difficult without an extraordinary publication or regulatory impact record. NIW petitions require demonstrating that your work has national importance and that waiving the PERM labor certification serves U.S. interests. Most Regulatory Affairs directors at this level pursue employer-sponsored EB-2 PERM instead, since the role's clinical and regulatory contributions alone rarely meet the NIW threshold without additional supporting evidence like published research or FDA advisory involvement.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.