Regulatory Affairs Director
About this opportunity
Location: Barcelona - Spain (3 days working from the office and 2 days working from home)
Introduction to the role
The RAD provides strategic and operational regulatory leadership to the development, commercialisation and life cycle management of the assigned product(s). The RAD serves as the global regulatory lead (GRL) on early stage projects or specific indications of larger programs, or as regional regulatory lead. Contributes significantly to overall product and clinical strategy. The role plays a key role influencing Regulatory authorities through regular contacts to improve Regulatory outcomes. The RAD leads cross- functional Teams in major Regulatory Submissions (NDA, IND/CTA), Health Authority Interactions, Label discussions, and securing NDA/BLA Approvals. As a GRL the RAD leads the Global Regulatory Strategy Team (GRST) in formulating Global Regulatory strategy and delivering on NDA Filings and Approvals. Alternatively, as a regional regulatory lead, the RAD is a member of the GRST and is accountable for providing the region-specific Regulatory strategy and advice. The RAD serves as the face of the company with Health Authorities.
Typical Accountabilities
Accountable for leading the development and implementation of the regional or global regulatory strategy for a product/group of products. Ensures that the strategy is designed to deliver rapid approval with competitive labeling in keeping with the properties of the product(s) and the needs identified by the business, markets and patients. This includes health authority engagement strategy and considerations of expedited regulatory programs.
Lead cross-functional Teams in major health authority interactions. This includes setting the strategy and planning for the interaction, driving the formulation of the briefing document focused on strategy and scientific content, leading the team through meetings rehearsals, and moderating the meeting itself.
Lead a Global Regulatory Strategy Team (GRST) of key contributing members from the regions, emerging markets, RA CMC, Labeling and members of the submission and execution team. Participate in coaching, and performance feedback to members of your GRST.
May (depending on role and project) represent Regulatory Affairs on Global Product Teams (GPTs) providing strategic Regulatory advice and be accountable for all Regulatory activities
Accountable for the delivery of all regulatory milestones on your team including assessment of the probability of regulatory success based on a thorough assessment of regulatory risks and mitigations. Lead preparation of the regulatory strategy document and target product labeling.
Demonstrate strategic leadership skills contributing to effective product development. Provide team leadership and participate in coaching, and performance feedback to members of the GRST.
Accountable for initiating and delivering key regulatory documents and plans and leading the negotiations with health authorities.
Lead the objective assessment of emerging data against aspirations and update senior management on project risks/mitigation activities.
Ensures appropriate planning and construction of the global dossier and core prescribing information led by the respective teams. Accountable for product maintenance, supply and compliance activities associated with marketed brands.
Partner with marketing companies (countries) and regional regulatory affairs staff to influence developing views/guidance.
Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Essential
An advanced degree in a science related field and/or other appropriate knowledge/experience.
At least 5-year experience of regulatory drug development or equivalent, and experience with major Health Authority interactions. Prior experience with phase 3 design including end of phase 2 health authority interactions is desired. Contribution to a regulatory approval including leading response team and labeling negotiations would be a plus.
A solid knowledge of regulatory affairs within at least one therapeutic area in early and late development.
Demonstrated competencies of strategic thinking, strategic influencing, innovation, initiative, leadership and excellent oral and written communication skills.
The ability to think strategically and critically and evaluate risks to regulatory activities.
Desirable
A good understanding of guiding principles in drug development such as benefit/risk profile, dose selection or statistical design.
Broad background of experience working in pharmaceutical business and prior experience in several areas within regulatory affairs. Experience in relevant therapy area (small molecules & biologics) is preferred.
Ability to work strategically within a complex, business critical and high-profile development program.
Critical thinking on current global regulatory science questions and good understanding of the corresponding scientific and clinical components.
Date Posted
05-nov-2026
Closing Date
AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.
Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Regulatory Affairs role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 107 comparable Director Regulatory Affairs roles across 40 biopharma companies.
Salary context
42 of 107 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 107 comparable roles
+ 8 more countries
Seniority mix
107 of 107 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
21 of 107 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.
Open in 2 locations
Notify me about similar jobs
Get an email when we spot other openings like this one – same job function, comparable seniority, roles you'd actually want to see.
Or follow a whole field: get every new Regulatory Affairs job in Spain, and choose locations and companies.
How we calculate "similar"
No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.
Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.