what does a regulatory affairs associate do?

Are you a by-the-book kind of person? Does the saying "rules were made to be broken" send a shiver down your spine? Then a role as a regulatory affairs associate may be for you. Charged with ensuring products, processes and operations are aligned with industry regulations, these expert rule-enforcers call balls and strikes across a variety of industries, with employment opportunities to be found in sectors like food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Regulatory affairs associates must possess an encyclopedic knowledge of all the laws and regulations that apply to their industries, making it a great role for those who love staying up to date and diving into the nitty gritty details of governance. It's a tall task to say the least, and that's reflected in the many responsibilities you can expect to assume on a regular basis as a regulatory affairs associate.

Typical duties include:

• assessing processes to ensure adherence to regulatory guidelines
• identifying key areas of deficiency
• designing and implementing policies to address gaps
• preparing and reviewing product approval submissions
• updating and maintaining regulatory databases
• developing regulatory strategies for future endeavors
• instituting process improvements to testing procedures

how do you become a regulatory affairs associate?

Becoming a regulatory affairs associate requires a combination of education and sector-specific experience. In short, you'll need:

• a bachelor's degree in a scientific field
• 1 - 3 years of relevant experience to learn the ins and outs of development standards and procedures

what are the key skills of a regulatory affairs associate?

Your education and experience will ensure you develop the foundational skills you'll need to fulfill the duties of a regulatory affairs associate, but to truly thrive in the role, you'll want to make sure you also possess these core competencies and skills:

• attention to detail
• bachelor's degree in a relevant life sciences field of study
• process improvement
• industry law and regulations
• data analysis and reporting
• written and verbal communication
• time management
• multitasking
• problem solving

how much does a regulatory affairs associate make?

Based on recent compensation data, average hourly wages for regulatory affairs associates can be broken down into three tiers based on factors like your location, market, responsibilities and level of expertise. With these guidelines in mind, regulatory affairs associates can expect to make:

From a salary standpoint, those figure become:

key takeaways

By now, you should have a good grasp on what it takes to become — and succeed — as a regulatory affairs associate, and be clear on the next steps you need to take should you choose to pursue this career.

To quickly recap, we've discussed:

• what regulatory affairs associates do
• training, education and experience needed for the role
• essential skills for success
• salary expectations
• ... and a whole lot more!

With all that in mind, the only thing left to do is apply! Start your search with Randstad today and see all the current opportunities we have available for you right now.