Regulatory affairs officer: Employers and vacancy sources

Typical employers include companies that develop and manufacture:

• pharmaceuticals;
• agrochemicals;
• veterinary products;
• herbal and homeopathic products;
• medical devices;
• biotechnology;
• cosmetics;
• food/nutritional products.

Contract research organisations that undertake research trials for companies also employ regulatory affairs professionals.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)  is the trade association for around 150 companies in the UK producing prescription medicines. Its member companies research, develop, manufacture and supply approximately 90% of the medicines prescribed through the National Health Service (NHS). See their website for a list of member companies.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) , an executive agency of the Department of Health (DH) with responsibility for the protection of public health through the regulation of human medicines, also employs staff in regulatory affairs, as does the European Medicines Agency .

Sources of vacancies

• The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA)  
• PJ Online  
• InPharm  
• emedcareers  
• PharmiWeb  
• New Scientist Jobs  
• Clinical Discovery  
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)  
• European Medicines Agency  - offers about 40 traineeships per year.
• Company websites. For a list of UK research-based pharmaceutical companies, see the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)  

Specialist recruitment agencies with an interest in regulatory affairs advertise vacancies. See the TOPRA website for a list.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and cover letters and interviews.