Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Regulatory Affairs Lead roles regularly qualify for H-1B visa and O-1 visa sponsorship, as the position meets USCIS specialty occupation standards. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a life sciences, chemistry, or engineering field, and many sponsor green cards through the EB-2 or EB-3 pathway. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Date: Apr 24, 2026
Location: Rochester, NY, US, 14652
Company: Kodak
We are hiring a Regulatory Affairs Lead within our Kodak Pharmaceuticals group in Rochester, NY. This individual is responsible for establishing, managing, and executing regulatory strategies to support a growing medical device organization as it evolves toward pharmaceutical and combination product development. This role provides hands-on regulatory leadership for FDA submissions, clinical studies, and product lifecycle management, while helping build scalable regulatory processes aligned with FDA medical device, drug, and combination product requirements.
Responsibilities:
Regulatory Strategy & FDA Submissions:
- Develop and execute U.S. regulatory strategies for medical devices with alignment to future pharmaceutical and combination product pathways.
- Prepare, submit, and manage FDA 510(k) submissions, including traditional, special, and abbreviated submissions.
- Lead regulatory impact assessments for design changes, labeling updates, and manufacturing process changes.
- Manage FDA interactions including Q-Submissions, deficiency responses, meetings, and ongoing correspondence.
- Support regulatory submissions in global markets as required.
Clinical Studies & Development Support:
- Provide regulatory oversight and support for clinical investigations, including IDE preparation, regulatory assessments, and FDA communications.
- Review and support clinical protocols, informed consent forms, and clinical study reports for regulatory compliance.
- Partner with Clinical, R&D, and Quality teams to ensure regulatory requirements are incorporated into study design and execution.
Combination Product & Early Pharmaceutical Readiness:
- Support regulatory planning for combination products and future pharmaceutical development in alignment with FDA drug, device, and combination product regulations.
- Provide regulatory input on product classification, primary mode of action, and applicable regulatory pathways.
- Assist in establishing regulatory infrastructure and documentation practices suitable for drug and combination product development.
Quality System & Compliance:
- Ensure regulatory compliance with applicable FDA requirements including 21 CFR Parts 820, 807, 803, 812, and applicable drug regulations as they emerge.
- Maintain regulatory documentation in alignment with the Quality Management System (QMS) and ISO 13485.
- Support internal audits, external audits, and FDA inspections as needed.
Cross-Functional Leadership:
- Collaborate with Engineering, R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Clinical, and Marketing teams to ensure regulatory requirements are understood and implemented.
- Review product labeling, promotional materials, and technical documentation for regulatory compliance.
- Provide clear regulatory guidance and risk-based recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders and leadership.
Process Development & Continuous Improvement:
- Develop, implement, and improve regulatory processes, templates, and procedures to support organizational growth.
- Monitor changes in FDA regulations, guidance documents, and industry standards and assess impact on existing and future products.
- Mentor and support junior regulatory staff or project team members as the organization scales.
Qualifications (Education, Experiences and Skills):
- Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, or a related field required.
- 6–8 years of Regulatory Affairs experience within the medical device industry.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience preparing and submitting FDA 510(k) applications.
- Experience supporting clinical studies and IDE-related activities.
- Strong working knowledge of FDA medical device regulations and Quality System requirements.
- Exposure to pharmaceutical, drug device combination products, or early drug development strongly preferred.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, growing environment.
- Ability to think strategically while executing detailed regulatory activities.
EOE Policy Statement:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.
Estimated Salary: $125,000 - $130,000
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Requisition ID: 2001
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs
Lead with your regulatory submissions experience
Employers sponsoring Regulatory Affairs Leads want concrete evidence of FDA, EMA, or equivalent agency submissions. Quantify submissions you've led, INDs, NDAs, 510(k)s, so hiring managers can immediately assess your fit and sponsorship value.
Understand your degree's role in the specialty occupation argument
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree field and regulatory affairs work. Degrees in pharmacy, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, or chemistry are the strongest fit. Unrelated degrees create risk at the I-129 stage, even with strong experience.
Target employers with an established H-1B filing history
Pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and contract research organizations file H-1B petitions regularly for this role. Prioritizing employers with a documented sponsorship track record significantly reduces the risk of a first-time denial.
Document your role-specific expertise for the RFE scenario
USCIS issues Requests for Evidence for regulatory roles when the job duties seem broad. Keep a file of past regulatory submissions, internal SOPs you've authored, and agency correspondence you've managed, these records are invaluable if your employer needs to respond.
Clarify your authorization status before the offer stage
Disclosing your visa needs early avoids wasted time with employers unwilling to sponsor. Most regulated-industry employers expect sponsorship requests from Regulatory Affairs candidates and factor processing timelines into their hiring plans from the start.
Regulatory Affairs Lead jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Regulatory Affairs Lead JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Regulatory Affairs Lead role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, Regulatory Affairs Lead consistently qualifies as a specialty occupation because it requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific technical field, typically pharmacy, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a related life science. USCIS scrutinizes job descriptions that appear generalist, so the petition should emphasize submission-specific duties and the technical degree requirement rather than broad management responsibilities.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for Regulatory Affairs Leads?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers, biologics companies, medical device firms, and contract research organizations are the most active sponsors for this role. Large companies like those in the Fortune 500 pharma sector file regularly, but mid-size device and biotech companies also sponsor frequently given the specialized talent shortage. Browse Migrate Mate to filter for Regulatory Affairs Lead roles at visa-sponsoring employers directly.
Can I qualify for an O-1A visa as a Regulatory Affairs Lead?
It's possible but requires a strong record beyond standard job performance. O-1A requires demonstrated extraordinary ability, peer-reviewed publications on regulatory science, invited presentations at industry conferences, membership on FDA advisory panels, or published guidance contributions would strengthen a petition. A regulatory career that has stayed internal to one company, without external recognition, is unlikely to meet the O-1A bar.
How long does H-1B to green card sponsorship typically take for this role?
For most Regulatory Affairs Leads, the PERM labor certification process takes 12 to 18 months, followed by I-140 approval (6 to 8 months without premium processing). Priority date waiting times then depend heavily on your country of birth. Indian-born applicants face multi-year waits in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, while applicants born outside India and China often see significantly shorter timelines.
Does my three-year bachelor's degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship in this field?
A three-year bachelor's degree can qualify if USCIS accepts it as equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree, which often requires a credentials evaluation from a recognized assessment organization. For Regulatory Affairs roles, the field of study matters as much as the degree length. A three-year degree in pharmacy or chemistry from an accredited institution generally evaluates favorably; a general science or unrelated degree in any format creates greater petition risk.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Regulatory Affairs Lead 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.
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