Director, LATAM Government & Regulatory Affairs

Who is USP?

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world’s leading health and science experts to develop rigorous quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. At USP, we believe that scientific excellence is driven by a commitment to fairness, integrity, and global collaboration. This belief is embedded in our core value of Passion for Quality and is demonstrated through the contributions of more than 1,300 professionals across twenty global locations, working to strengthen the supply of safe, high-quality medicines worldwide.

At USP, we value inclusive scientific collaboration and recognize that attracting diverse expertise strengthens our ability to develop trusted public health standards. We foster an organizational culture that supports equitable access to mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Our partnerships, standards, and research reflect our belief that ensuring broad participation in scientific leadership results in stronger, more impactful outcomes for global health.

USP is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer (EEOE) and is committed to ensuring fair, merit-based selection processes that enable the best scientific minds—regardless of background—to contribute to advancing public health solutions worldwide. We provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and uphold policies that create an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Brief Job Overview

The LATAM Government and Regulatory Affairs Director, will share our vision of better-quality health for everyone and is driven by the opportunity to make a public health impact as well as contribute to USP sustainability within the Region. The incumbent will be responsible for working collaboratively across the USP LATAM Region and USP Global External Affairs Division to build and execute a public policy and regulatory affairs plan to advance USP’s public health mission across LATAM Region, but prioritizing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Central America. This role has responsibility over several external affairs’ functional areas, with a primary focus on government and regulatory affairs. In addition, this role will have responsibility for building and fortifying key relationships with other priority stakeholders, seeking to develop and execute scientific, regulatory policy and other collaborative initiatives with them that advance medicines quality as well as the quality of dietary supplements. In addition, this role will be responsible for leading and coordinating any major initiatives aimed at positioning USP as a key relevant actor in the healthcare sector and/or seeking to improve the sustainable operation of USP within priority Countries

Location: This position is based in Brazil

How will YOU create impact here at USP?

As part of our mission to advance scientific rigor and public health standards, you will play a vital role in increasing global access to high-quality medicines through public standards and related programs. USP prioritizes scientific integrity, regulatory excellence, and evidence-based decision-making to ensure health systems worldwide can rely on strong, tested, and globally relevant quality standards.

Additionally, USP’s People and Culture division, in partnership with the Equity Office, invests in leadership and workforce development to equip all employees with the skills to create high-performing, inclusive teams. This includes training in equitable management practices and tools to promote engaged, collaborative, and results-driven work environments.

The LATAM Government and Regulatory Affairs Director has the following responsibilities:

Regulatory Affairs – This leader will serve as the key USP relationship lead with regulatory and government stakeholders in the region, partnering with and leveraging USP internal resources globally to advance science and policy-based collaboration opportunities. They will be an advocate for regulatory policy initiatives to advance quality. In addition, they will provide the USP organization with insights into, and analysis of, regulatory developments related to medicines and other applied programs, such as dietary supplements from key government agencies within the LATAM Region. Identify, monitor, and communicate key regulatory initiatives and policy trends. Engage USP leadership and staff on those trends and work with them to analyze their impact on USP programs and strategies and craft and execute constructive responses. Stablish, build, and execute MoU’s with Regulatory Agencies and other Stakeholders properly and in accordance with USP internal policy and guidance. Engage USP leadership and staff on those trends and work with them to analyze their impact on USP programs and strategies and craft and execute constructive responses.

Public Policy/Government Affairs – This leader will identify and understand public policy developments that impact medicine quality and leverage opportunities to shape policy through engagement with decision makers and through participation in relevant national and regional forums to advocate for quality and patient safety. This work will be enabled by leveraging USP’s global network of science and health policy experts. They will also provide the organization with insights into government policy priorities related to medicines access and quality and other applied programs, build collaborative relationships with key public-sector stakeholders, and seek partnership opportunities. Map and prioritize stakeholders and influencers and build and execute engagement plan. Collaborate with other USP experts in support of plan execution.

Other Stakeholder Engagement – Be the lead engagement manager with other key stakeholders in the region, such as professional, trade and patient associations. Map and prioritize, building, executing, and maintaining long-lasting relationships. Be the lead of Regional Chapter initiatives and USP Convention Members and Volunteers relationship within the Region.

USP International Government and Regulatory Affairs Team – Serve as a member of the USP International Government and Regulatory Affairs Team providing input related to LATAM Region, contribute insight into global strategy development and sharing best practice with USP colleagues in other geographies.

Who is USP Looking For?

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of our mission, commitment to excellence through inclusive and equitable behaviors and practices, ability to quickly build credibility with stakeholders, along with the following competencies and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, politics, law, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, or another relevant field related to health.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible and significant experience working in regulatory and/or public policy in Brazil and/or LATAM Region.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible and significant experience working with regulatory agency in Brazil.
• Professional experience working in Brazil and/or LATAM Region building and fortifying relationships with key stakeholders, in an external affairs function either in the pharmaceutical or medical technology industries, a large healthcare-focused non-governmental or multi-lateral organization, a healthcare trade association, or in a public-sector health science institution.
• Demonstrated experience working within or interacting with government policy and/or regulatory bodies on scientific and regulatory policy topics.
• Demonstrated success working in a global, matrixed organization.
• At least 4 years experience in leading and or supervising direct reports.

Additional Desired Preferences

• Advanced degree in public health, science, politics, law or another relevant field.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory environment and other government bodies.
• Knowledge of the life sciences industry especially in areas of regulatory affairs, public policy, and product quality.
• Strong policy analysis skills.
• Strategic thinking, strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Self-motivated and proactive with a sense of urgency, with proven ability to prioritize and focus on key objectives.
• Proven aptitude for building relationships, credibility, and trust with stakeholders, and creating a collaborative work environment.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Solution-oriented and innovative; can identify creative options for resolving issues that respond to multiple stakeholder interests and needs.
• Proficiency in Portuguese and English, Advanced in Spanish.
• Availability to travel across the LATAM Region (40%).

Supervisory Responsibilities

Yes, 1 direct report: Government & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Mexico.

Benefits

USP provides the benefits to protect yourself and your family today and tomorrow. From company-paid time off and comprehensive healthcare options to retirement savings, you can have peace of mind that your personal and financial well-being is protected.

Note: USP does not accept unsolicited resumes from 3rd party recruitment agencies and is not responsible for fees from recruiters or other agencies except under specific written agreement with USP.