What Do Regulatory Affairs Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for regulatory affairs specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what regulatory affairs specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Regulatory Affairs Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about regulatory affairs specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Regulatory Affairs Specialists examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.
Popular Job Titles For Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Compliance Analysts
- Compliance Officers
- Compliance Specialists
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Compliance Coordinators
- Customs and Border Patrol Agents
- Regulatory Specialists
- Environmental Compliance Specialists
- Compliance Professionals
- Regulatory Analysts
- Cargo Agents
- Risk and Compliance Analysts
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for regulatory affairs specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Regulatory Affairs Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 18.3%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 10.6%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 8.6%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 5.1%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.3%
- Depository Credit Intermediation: 3.1%
- Other: 51%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of regulatory affairs specialists can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 18.3% of all jobs for regulatory affairs specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (10.6%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (8.6%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.1%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.3%) and Depository Credit Intermediation (3.1%).
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Degree Options for Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Launch an exciting career as a police officer, corrections officer, or investigator by learning the ins and outs of the U.S. criminal justice system and all its interconnected components, including law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Maintain social order and earn credentials for a leadership role in police, corrections, security, or court administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Learn the real-world management skills needed to be a leader in government and nonprofit organizations.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Identify opportunities to improve the quality of life for people with a customizable major intended to help you achieve your career goals.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Acquire specialized knowledge while developing a holistic view of the criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 6
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Tackle critical issues facing individuals and communities with advanced leadership and management skills ideally suited for a complex criminal justice system.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your master's degree online and earn real-world skills to advance your career within public service.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Human Resources and build the leadership skills to advance a government or public service agency alongside an emphasis on strategic HR best practices.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Regulatory Affairs Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what regulatory affairs specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work regulatory affairs specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that regulatory affairs specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for regulatory affairs specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Based on 78,271 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Regulatory Affairs Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Auditing | 23,732 | 30% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 14,782 | 19% |
| Project Management | 11,870 | 15% |
| Regulatory Affairs | 8,455 | 11% |
| Finance | 7,250 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Regulatory Affairs Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,227 | 45% |
| Management | 31,046 | 40% |
| Operations | 20,460 | 26% |
| Detail Oriented | 19,077 | 24% |
| Research | 17,872 | 23% |
Based on 78,271 job postings related to regulatory affairs specialists, auditing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 30% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for regulatory compliance, project management, regulatory affairs, finance and accounting were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for regulatory affairs specialists, followed by management, operations, detail oriented, research and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Auditing | 23,732 | 30% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 14,782 | 19% |
| Project Management | 11,870 | 15% |
| Regulatory Affairs | 8,455 | 11% |
| Finance | 7,250 | 9% |
| Accounting | 7,206 | 9% |
| Risk Management | 6,620 | 8% |
| Data Analysis | 6,301 | 8% |
| Risk Analysis | 6,152 | 8% |
| Marketing | 5,804 | 7% |
| Process Improvement | 5,591 | 7% |
| Internal Auditing | 4,912 | 6% |
| Financial Services | 4,410 | 6% |
| Compliance Risk | 4,393 | 6% |
| External Auditing | 4,093 | 5% |
| New Product Development | 3,760 | 5% |
| Compliance Management | 3,614 | 5% |
| Internal Controls | 3,471 | 4% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 3,428 | 4% |
| Workflow Management | 3,403 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,227 | 45% |
| Management | 31,046 | 40% |
| Operations | 20,460 | 26% |
| Detail Oriented | 19,077 | 24% |
| Research | 17,872 | 23% |
| Writing | 17,812 | 23% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,474 | 21% |
| Leadership | 15,771 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 14,407 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 14,107 | 18% |
| Coordinating | 11,813 | 15% |
| Investigation | 11,794 | 15% |
| Customer Service | 11,558 | 15% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 11,138 | 14% |
| Planning | 10,859 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 10,560 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,549 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 9,910 | 13% |
| Presentations | 8,687 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 8,046 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Analysts | 9,227 | 14.7% |
| Compliance Officers | 8,387 | 13.3% |
| Compliance Specialists | 7,563 | 12% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 7,211 | 11.5% |
| Compliance Coordinators | 5,427 | 8.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was compliance analysts, with 4,180 unique job postings. Compliance officers were second, with 2,858 postings, followed by compliance specialists, regulatory affairs specialists and compliance coordinators.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to regulatory affairs specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Analysts | 9,227 | 14.7% |
| Compliance Officers | 8,387 | 13.3% |
| Compliance Specialists | 7,563 | 12% |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialists | 7,211 | 11.5% |
| Compliance Coordinators | 5,427 | 8.6% |
| Customs and Border Patrol Agents | 2,115 | 3.4% |
| Regulatory Specialists | 3,581 | 5.7% |
| Environmental Compliance Specialists | 2,437 | 3.9% |
| Compliance Professionals | 1,718 | 2.7% |
| Regulatory Analysts | 1,605 | 2.5% |
| Cargo Agents | 2,088 | 3.3% |
| Risk and Compliance Analysts | 1,410 | 2.2% |
| Compliance Associates | 1,796 | 2.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Associates | 1,452 | 2.3% |
| IT Compliance Analysts | 1,232 | 2% |
| Regulatory Compliance Analysts | 1,542 | 2.4% |
| Compliance Consultants | 1,062 | 1.7% |
| Trade Compliance Specialists | 770 | 1.2% |
| Security Compliance Analysts | 1,067 | 1.7% |
| Regulatory Compliance Specialists | 1,269 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for regulatory affairs specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for regulatory affairs specialists.
How much do regulatory affairs specialists make?
Regulatory Affairs Specialists: How do you become one?
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