Director, Product Stewardship & Regulatory Programs
Baxter International Inc.
Summary
Baxter is seeking an experienced leader to oversee Product Stewardship and the execution of environmental and social product-related regulatory programs across the enterprise. This role is responsible for monitoring emerging regulations, assessing business applicability, establishing implementation roadmaps, and driving cross-functional execution to ensure compliance across Baxter's global portfolio.
Job description
Regulatory Monitoring and Business Impact Assessment
- Lead Baxter's global monitoring and assessment of environmental, product, packaging, chemical, circular economy, and social regulatory developments.
- Establish structured processes for evaluating applicability across business segments, product categories, and geographic markets.
- Develop risk assessments and implementation plans for emerging regulations.
- Maintain an enterprise regulatory roadmap and prioritization framework.
- Provide actionable recommendations to segment leaders regarding potential business impacts and required actions.
Enterprise Compliance Program Leadership
- Lead execution of product stewardship programs addressing chemicals compliance, packaging regulations, extended producer responsibility requirements, product environmental requirements, human rights due diligence, and other emerging obligations.
- Establish governance, timelines, milestones, and accountability mechanisms to ensure on-time implementation.
- Drive enterprise-wide readiness activities and compliance programs.
- Track progress, escalate risks, and ensure effective issue resolution.
- Develop and oversee internal reporting mechanisms for compliance status, milestones, and program performance.
Regulatory Readiness and Market Leadership
- Partner with business segments to identify areas where Baxter can proactively address future regulatory requirements.
- Translate regulatory trends into opportunities for product and portfolio innovation.
- Support the development of sustainable product, packaging, and material solutions that position Baxter ahead of future requirements.
- Enable "first-to-market" approaches where emerging regulatory trends create opportunities for competitive differentiation.
- Ensure product stewardship considerations are incorporated into new product development and lifecycle management processes.
Cross-Functional Execution and Program Management
- Lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives involving R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Legal, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, and Commercial teams.
- Establish clear ownership, decision-making structures, and implementation plans.
- Drive execution through disciplined project management practices.
- Remove barriers, resolve conflicts, and maintain momentum across multiple concurrent programs.
- Build repeatable processes and operating mechanisms to scale regulatory compliance efforts across Baxter.
Commercial and Customer Enablement
- Partner with Commercial Sustainability and segment leadership teams to understand evolving customer requirements and market expectations.
- Provide regulatory and product sustainability expertise to support customer tenders, audits, questionnaires, and product inquiries.
- Help commercial teams understand how regulatory trends may influence future purchasing decisions and customer expectations.
- Support development of product-level sustainability information and compliance documentation needed for customers and health systems.
Leadership and Governance
- Lead the Product Stewardship function and associated governance forums.
- Provide regular updates to the Sustainability Leadership Team and executive leadership.
- Build strong partnerships across business segments and functional organizations.
- Foster a culture of accountability, execution excellence, and proactive problem solving.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Regulatory Affairs, Life Sciences, Business, or related field.
- 10+ years of experience in product stewardship, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, product compliance, quality systems, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex global compliance or regulatory implementation programs.
- Strong understanding of environmental and social regulations impacting products, packaging, chemicals, materials, and supply chains.
- Exceptional project management and execution skills.
- Proven ability to lead large cross-functional initiatives and drive organizational accountability.
- Strong business acumen and ability to translate regulatory developments into practical business actions.
- Preferred: Medical device, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or other highly regulated industry experience.
- Preferred: Experience with REACH, RoHS, PFAS regulations, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), conflict minerals, and human rights due diligence requirements.
- Preferred: Experience working directly with product development, R&D, quality, and regulatory teams.
- Preferred: Program Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management experience.
- Preferred: Experience supporting customer sustainability requests, tenders, or product-level regulatory disclosures.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Life Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Short-term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- 401(k) Matching
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Educational Assistance
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Time Off
- Family and Medical Leave
- Paid Parental Leave
- Commuting Benefits
- Employee Discount Program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Childcare Benefits
Company overview
Baxter International Inc. is an American multinational healthcare company headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, founded in 1931. As a leading global medical device manufacturer, Baxter specializes in developing and producing essential medical products for treating chronic and acute medical conditions. The company operates across three primary business segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, and Pharmaceuticals. Baxter's extensive product portfolio includes intravenous (IV) solutions, infusion pumps, dialysis equipment for kidney disease treatment, surgical technologies, and hospital pharmaceuticals. With approximately 38,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $10 billion, Baxter plays a critical role in global healthcare infrastructure. The company is particularly known for its leadership in IV fluid production, manufacturing approximately 60% of the intravenous fluids used in the United States. Baxter's innovations include pioneering developments in artificial kidney technology and advanced surgical products, serving healthcare providers across more than 100 countries. The company maintains a strong commitment to research and development, investing significantly in medical technology advancements that improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery efficiency.