McKesson

Regulatory Affairs Specialist

McKesson$77K — $128K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Regulatory Affairs, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
  • 3-5 years of experience in regulatory affairs or compliance within a regulated environment, especially in pharmaceuticals or healthcare.
  • Experience with specialty pharmaceuticals, biologics, controlled substances, and REMS products.
  • Strong understanding of DEA regulations and state pharmacy board requirements.
  • Proficient in navigating complex compliance requirements and translating them into operational controls.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a regulatory specialist for complex molecules and distribution programs with overlapping compliance needs.
  • Assess and interpret product-specific regulatory obligations for various agencies and ensure compliance.
  • Translate intricate regulatory and manufacturer requirements into operational practices and procedures.
  • Identify and resolve conflicts or gaps in regulatory requirements that impact operations.
  • Lead risk evaluations for process changes and advise on regulatory impacts in operational contexts.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical and dental coverage.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Paid time off for vacation and personal leave.
  • Opportunities for ongoing professional development and training.
  • Supportive work environment with a focus on career growth.
Full Job Description
Position Summary

The Regulatory Affairs Manager (P3), Complex Molecules & Specialized Distribution Programs, supports regulatory compliance for pharmaceutical products requiring enhanced, product-specific, or overlapping distribution controls within pharmaceutical logistics and third-party logistics operations. This role serves as an advanced professional contributor and operational regulatory subject matter expert for products that may be governed by multiple FDA, DEA, state board of pharmacy, manufacturer, quality, security, licensing, patient-safety, and distribution requirements.

The position supports specialty pharmaceuticals, biologics, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) products, controlled substances, limited-distribution products, cell and gene therapies, and other complex therapies requiring specialized handling or compliance controls. The role translates regulatory and manufacturer requirements into practical operational processes, evaluates compliance risk, supports product onboarding and change implementation, investigates exceptions, and maintains inspection and audit readiness.

The position partners with Quality Assurance, Operations, Security, Customer Service, Licensing, Legal, Commercial, Technology, Supply Chain, and pharmaceutical manufacturers to support compliant execution across the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

Complex Product & Program Oversight

  • Serve as a regulatory resource for complex molecules and specialized distribution programs requiring enhanced or overlapping compliance controls.


  • Assess product-specific obligations involving FDA, DEA, state pharmacy, manufacturer, quality, licensing, security, patient-safety, and distribution requirements.


  • Translate complex regulatory and manufacturer requirements into scalable operational controls, procedures, decision criteria, and monitoring activities.


  • Identify conflicts, gaps, dependencies, and unintended consequences where multiple regulatory or contractual requirements apply.


  • Evaluate proposed process, system, facility, customer, or product changes for regulatory impact and recommend practical risk controls.


  • Provide risk-based escalation and recommendations to leadership when requirements are unclear, conflicting, or operationally difficult to execute.


REMS & Restricted Distribution Compliance

  • Support implementation and ongoing maintenance of manufacturer REMS and restricted-distribution program requirements within distribution and fulfillment operations.


  • Interpret Elements to Assure Safe Use (ETASU), certification, enrollment, customer eligibility, distribution limitation, documentation, reporting, and attestation requirements.


  • Monitor REMS-related exceptions, program metrics, customer eligibility outcomes, and recurring compliance trends.


  • Support manufacturer audits, governance meetings, program reviews, corrective actions, and remediation activities.


  • Assist with development and revision of policies, SOPs, work instructions, job aids, and training materials supporting assigned programs.


Controlled Substance & Dual-Regulated Product Support

  • Support regulatory compliance activities for controlled substances handled by distribution or 3PL operations, particularly where additional REMS, restricted-distribution, or manufacturer controls apply.


  • Assist with review and investigation of controlled substance shipping, inventory, order, documentation, security, theft, loss, discrepancy, or potential diversion events.


  • Support documentation used for DEA, state board of pharmacy, manufacturer, law enforcement, or internal notifications, as applicable.


  • Coordinate with Licensing, Quality, Security, and Operations to evaluate customer eligibility, handling, storage, recordkeeping, and distribution requirements.


  • Identify regulatory risks created by overlapping controlled substance and product-specific obligations and recommend mitigation actions.


Product Onboarding, Commercialization & Change Management

  • Lead or support regulatory assessments for new specialty products, biologics, cell and gene therapies, limited-distribution products, and other complex therapies.


  • Identify applicable licensing, customer qualification, reporting, security, quality, chain-of-custody, storage, transportation, temperature-control, and distribution requirements.


  • Participate in cross-functional launch-readiness reviews and confirm that required controls, documentation, training, systems, and escalation paths are established before implementation.


  • Support implementation of manufacturer-specific programs and translate contractual compliance commitments into sustainable operating practices.


  • Assess regulatory impact of program revisions, labeling or product-status changes, operating-model changes, new service offerings, and system enhancements.


  • Coordinate updates to procedures, training, monitoring, and evidence of implementation when requirements change.


Regulatory Monitoring, Investigations & Audit Readiness

  • Monitor relevant regulatory and manufacturer program developments and perform documented impact assessments for assigned products and processes.


  • Investigate regulatory compliance concerns, customer complaints, operational deviations, and process failures involving complex or restricted products.


  • Lead or support root cause analysis and corrective and preventive action activities, including effectiveness monitoring.


  • Maintain accurate documentation supporting regulatory interpretations, risk decisions, investigation outcomes, escalation rationale, and compliance assessments.


  • Support FDA, DEA, state board, manufacturer, client, and internal audits or inspections involving assigned programs.


  • Analyze recurring exceptions and trends to recommend preventive controls and program improvements.


Cross-Functional Leadership & Regulatory Guidance

  • Provide clear, practical regulatory guidance and training to internal stakeholders supporting assigned products and programs.


  • Facilitate cross-functional issue resolution when multiple regulatory, quality, operational, or contractual requirements intersect.


  • Communicate with manufacturers and external program administrators regarding requirements, implementation questions, compliance status, exceptions, and follow-up actions.


  • Influence stakeholders without direct authority and drive assigned actions to timely completion.


  • Participate in business-development and client-onboarding activities when specialized regulatory expertise is required.


Experience & Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Healthcare Administration, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.


  • 3-5 years of relevant experience in regulatory affairs, quality assurance, pharmaceutical distribution, healthcare compliance, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or a related regulated environment.


  • Experience interpreting regulatory, quality, manufacturer, or customer requirements and translating them into operational controls.


  • Experience supporting pharmaceutical distribution, specialty pharmacy, wholesale distribution, manufacturer, or 3PL operations.


  • Demonstrated ability to investigate complex issues, document risk-based decisions, and coordinate corrective actions across functions.


  • Experience supporting REMS products, restricted-distribution programs, specialty pharmaceuticals, biologics, cell and gene therapies, or other complex therapies.


  • Knowledge of DEA controlled substance regulations and state board of pharmacy requirements.


  • Familiarity with cold-chain, ultra-low-temperature, chain-of-custody, or specialty logistics requirements.


  • Experience with product commercialization, launch readiness, regulatory change implementation, or manufacturer program onboarding.


  • Experience interacting with pharmaceutical manufacturers, auditors, regulatory agencies, program administrators, or external business partners.


  • Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), pharmacy technician certification, or a comparable professional credential.


Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Strong working knowledge of pharmaceutical regulatory compliance and the operational controls used to support specialized distribution programs.


  • Ability to interpret multiple overlapping regulatory, manufacturer, quality, licensing, and operational requirements as an integrated control framework.


  • Ability to distinguish legal requirements, regulatory expectations, contractual commitments, and internal best practices.


  • Strong analytical, investigative, technical-writing, documentation, and problem-solving skills.


  • Ability to perform risk assessments, identify control gaps, and recommend practical and sustainable mitigation actions.


  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex issues for leadership, manufacturers, clients, and cross-functional partners.


  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, lead workstreams, drive follow-up, and influence stakeholders without direct authority.


  • Proficiency with compliance systems, document management tools, investigation records, metrics, and Microsoft Office applications.


We are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson as part of our Total Rewards. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations. In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered. For more information regarding benefits at McKesson, please click here.

Our Base Pay Range for this position

$77,000 - $128,300

McKesson has become aware of online recruiting-related scams in which individuals who are not affiliated with or authorized by McKesson are using McKesson's (or affiliated entities, like CoverMyMeds or RxCrossroads) name in fraudulent emails, job postings or social media messages. In light of these scams, please bear the following in mind:

McKesson Talent Advisors will never solicit money or credit card information in connection with a McKesson job application.

McKesson Talent Advisors do not communicate with candidates via online chatrooms or using email accounts such as Gmail or Hotmail. Note that McKesson does rely on a virtual assistant (Gia) for certain recruiting-related communications with candidates.

McKesson job postings are posted on our career site: careers.mckesson.com.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation provides medicines, pharmaceutical supplies, information and care management products and services across the healthcare industry. The Company operates in two segments. The McKesson Distribution Solutions segment delivers ethical drugs, medical-surgical supplies and equipment and health and beauty care products throughout North America. This segment also provides specialty pharmaceutical solutions for biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturers, sells financial, operational and clinical solutions for pharmacies (retail, hospital, long-term care) and provides consulting, outsourcing and other services. The McKesson Technology Solutions segment delivers enterprise-wide clinical, patient care, financial, supply chain, strategic management and software solutions. In July 2011, the Company acquired Portico Systems from Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. On March 25, 2012, it acquired the independent banner and franchise businesses of Katz Group Canada Inc. McKesson Distribution Solutions delivers pharmaceuticals to retail pharmacies and institutional providers like hospitals and health systems. They operate pharmaceutical distribution centers across the country, serving customers in all 50 states. They also deliver a comprehensive offering of health care products, technology, equipment and related services to the alternate site market, including physician offices, surgery centers, long-term care facilities and home care businesses across the country. McKesson is currently the largest pharmaceutical distributor in North America. McKesson also operates McKesson Canada and has an equity holding in Nadro, a leading distributor in Mexico.

McKesson Careers

Join McKesson, a leading global healthcare company, and be part of a team that is redefining the future of healthcare. With a variety of job opportunities available, McKesson is the perfect place to advance your career, whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out. Work You’ll Do At McKesson, we are committed to improving care in every setting—one product, one partner, one patient at a time. We’re seeking talented professionals to join our team and contribute to a culture of innovation, diversity, and leadership. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire for continuous growth and improvement. Empower Your Future in Healthcare With positions ranging from internships to leadership roles, McKesson offers unparalleled employment opportunities to develop your skills and advance your career. Our commitment to diversity training ensures that all team members have the opportunity to thrive. Join a team where your skills will be honed, your professional growth will be supported, and where you can genuinely see the difference you make in the lives of patients around the world. Innovative Work Environment McKesson is at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Our team is constantly exploring new ways to improve patient outcomes and streamline care processes. This commitment to innovation is what sets us apart and what makes McKesson an exciting place to work. Career Development and Benefits McKesson believes in nurturing the potential of its employees through robust career development programs and comprehensive benefits designed to support your life and well-being. From leadership training to health and wellness benefits, we ensure our team members are equipped to meet their professional and personal goals. Explore Job Opportunities Whether you’re looking for an internship to kickstart your career, or a senior position to utilize your extensive experience, McKesson offers a range of opportunities. Explore our open positions and find where you can make a difference at McKesson. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players who are ready to take the next step in their careers. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Networking and Professional Growth At McKesson, networking and professional growth are part of our everyday environment. We encourage our employees to connect, share, and learn from each other to foster personal and professional development. Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await you at McKesson. Join McKesson today and be part of a team that is dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare.
Learn more about McKesson
Size
58,000 employees
Market Cap
$53.7 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$4.1 billion
Founded
1833
5 Year Trend
+5.9%
Revenue
$237.6 billion
NASDAQ

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