Regulatory affairs managers and compliance managers
keep organizations and products on the right side
of rules and requirements, so that the public good is protected.
Much of their work involves reviewing data,
writing reports and applications, and communicating with teams
whether it’s to comply with laws concerning labor,
advertising, protecting the environment,
consumer privacy, or public safety and health.
These managers provide guidance to departments
and project teams all the way from the design phase
through development and marketing of the final product.
Staying on track with regulations takes multiple checks and balances,
including managing audits and inspections by regulatory groups
such as the Food and Drug Administration,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, and others.
If a product has a flaw, these compliance professionals
oversee the product recall.
In order to enter the field, a bachelor’s degree
related to the industry is a must,
along with several years of job experience.
Keeping up to date on new regulations and rules is expected.
Typical work settings for these managers are
in industries with substantial regulatory obligations,
including medical equipment manufacturers,
pharmaceutical companies, packaging, utilities,
financial services, and chemical manufacturing.
A typical work week is 40 hours plus.