Associate Director, DACH

Johnson & Johnson – Associate Director, DACH (m/f/d)

This is a hybrid role available in Umkirch or Norderstedt, Germany

DePuy Synthes is recruiting for the Associate Director, DACH, who will provide regulatory leadership across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, ensuring compliance with local and regional regulatory requirements while enabling timely and sustainable market access for DePuy Synthes products. This role has a significant impact on business continuity and growth in major European markets and partners closely with commercial, quality, and global regulatory teams to manage regulatory risk, shape strategy, and support execution in a complex regulatory environment.

What makes our team special

DePuy Synthes is characterized by a strong innovative character. Team spirit, the right mindset and an open culture are what make our team successful and satisfied. We value people with team spirit who take responsibility and move forward in an innovative and solution-oriented manner. Would you also like to help shape the future with your commitment and passionately advance big ideas? Then become part of our team!

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee regulatory affairs strategy and execution across DACH local markets in alignment with global regulatory objectives.

• Ensure compliance with country-specific and EU regulatory requirements, internal policies, and quality system standards.

• Provide strategic regulatory guidance to support product registrations, renewals, variations, and lifecycle management.

• Serve as the senior regulatory escalation point for DACH Local Market Support within the International QARA organization.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders including Commercial, Quality, Supply Chain, Legal, and Global Regulatory Affairs.

• Monitor regulatory changes across DACH markets and assess potential impacts to products, portfolios, and operations.

• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and health authority interactions as required.

• Lead, coach, and develop regulatory talent, fostering strong compliance, accountability, and performance.

• Ensuring proactive engagement and shaping of regional policy initiatives that are critical to business strategy, continuity, and growth.

• Required qualification and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Regulatory Affairs, Life Sciences, Engineering, or a related discipline (required).

• Typically 8–10 years of progressive experience in Regulatory Affairs within the medical device, healthcare, or other regulated industries.

• Strong knowledge of EU MDR and regulatory requirements across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

• Demonstrated experience leading multi-country or regional regulatory portfolios.

• Proven ability to develop and execute regulatory strategies aligned to business objectives.

• Ability to operate effectively in a global, matrixed organization.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree or professional certification in Regulatory Affairs (preferred).
• Experience supporting global or regional regulatory operating models.
• Experience working in multinational medical device or healthcare organizations.
• Exposure to regulatory inspections, audits, and authority negotiations.
• Demonstrated success driving regulatory transformation or process improvement initiatives.
• Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) or equivalent.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.

Other:

• Language: English and German fluent

• Travel: Moderate regional travel across DACH markets.

• Certifications: RAC or equivalent preferred but not required.

• For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness, career and life journey, please visit www.careers.jnj.com.

• Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.

• Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If, as part of your application, you would like the involvement or support of the representative body for employees with severe disabilities, please inform us during the initial contact by our Talent Acquisition team.

• LI-Hybrid

• German section omitted for brevity.