AstraZeneca Posted November 5, 2026

Regulatory Affairs Director

Barcelona, Spain Full time
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AstraZeneca is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

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

Seniority
Director
Function
Regulatory Affairs
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Barcelona, Spain
Employment type
Full time

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.

107Comparable roles tracked
103Currently active
40Companies hiring similar roles
14Countries represented

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.

This roleSubject Not listed on this posting
Lowest disclosed · Principal Engineer, Digital Regulatory Assurance (Life Sciences) · AbbVie $109,500/yr – $208,500/yr
Peer group range $159,000 – $322,650 (median $264,000)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 107 comparable roles

United States70
United Kingdom9
Ireland7
Spain5
Japan3
China3

+ 8 more countries

Seniority mix

107 of 107 peers have a known seniority level

Director71
Senior Director25
Principal11

Therapeutic area mix

21 of 107 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology6
Rare Disease5
Immunology3
Vaccines & Infectious Disease3
Neuroscience2
Cardiovascular / CVRM2

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.

60%similar
AstraZeneca Barcelona, Spain Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AstraZeneca Barcelona, Spain Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AstraZeneca Barcelona, Spain Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
50%similar
AstraZeneca Barcelona, Spain Senior Director
Same function Adjacent seniority Same country
45%similar
AbbVie Director
Same function Same seniority

Open in 2 locations

North Chicago, United StatesFlorham Park, United States
45%similar
Mylan Inc. Washington, United States Director
Same function Same seniority

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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.

60%
Director, International CMC Regulatory Affairs – Cell and Gene Therapy
AstraZeneca · Barcelona, Spain · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Associate Regulatory Affairs Director, Digital Transformation
AstraZeneca · Barcelona, Spain · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
45%
Director, RA Global Regulatory Strategy
AbbVie · Florham Park, NJ · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
45%
Director Regulatory Affairs Global CMC
McDermott Laboratories Limited · Northern Cross, Ireland · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 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.