Director of Regulatory Compliance

Career Guide

A Director of Regulatory Compliance leads an organization’s compliance program to ensure products, services, and internal operations meet applicable laws and regulatory expectations. The role sets strategy, builds strong controls, advises leadership on risk, and prepares the organization for audits and regulatory exams.

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Key Responsibilities

Set the compliance strategy and annual plan based on regulatory risk
Maintain policies, standards, and procedures that support compliant operations
Lead regulatory monitoring to track new rules and assess business impact
Oversee compliance risk assessments and document key risks and controls
Partner with Legal, Security, Finance, and Operations to design compliant processes
Lead internal testing, control reviews, and remediation plans
Manage audit readiness and coordinate responses to regulators and auditors
Deliver compliance training and promote a strong culture of accountability
Report compliance metrics, incidents, and risk trends to senior leadership and the board
Select and manage compliance tools and vendor oversight processes
Investigate potential violations and manage corrective actions

Top Skills for Success

Regulatory Knowledge

Compliance Program Leadership

Risk Assessment

Policy Development

Control Design

Audit Management

Investigation Management

Regulatory Change Management

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Data Fluency

Vendor Risk Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Compliance Manager

Senior Compliance Manager

Compliance Program Lead

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Risk Manager

Internal Audit Manager

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Compliance

Chief Compliance Officer

Head of Risk Management

Head of Governance Risk and Compliance

Chief Risk Officer

General Counsel

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Board ReportingRegulatory Exam ManagementControl TestingCompliance MetricsThird Party OversightIncident Response CoordinationData Privacy ComplianceCybersecurity Compliance

Development SuggestionsBuild a portfolio of measurable compliance outcomes such as reduced audit findings, faster remediation, and improved training completion. Practice writing concise executive updates that explain risk, impact, and decisions needed. Partner closely with Security, Privacy, and Internal Audit to strengthen testing and evidence collection.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelTypically not an entry-level role. Most hires have 8 to 12 years of compliance or risk experience.

Mid LevelUSD 150,000 to 220,000 base pay in many US markets, with bonus often included

Senior LevelUSD 220,000 to 320,000 plus bonus or equity, highest in large regulated enterprises

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring increases with regulatory scrutiny, cybersecurity risk, privacy requirements, and growth in financial services, healthcare, and technology platforms.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

JPMorgan ChaseBank of AmericaWells FargoCitigroupUnitedHealth GroupCVS HealthKaiser PermanentePfizerJohnson and JohnsonMerckAmazonGoogleMicrosoft

Industry Sectors

BankingInsuranceHealthcare ProvidersPharmaceuticalsMedical DevicesFinancial TechnologyPaymentsTechnology PlatformsEnergyTelecommunicationsTransportationManufacturing

Recommended Next Steps

Map the top regulators and key obligations relevant to your industry and role scope

Create a one page compliance program overview covering risks, controls, testing, and reporting

Strengthen audit readiness by building a clean evidence library and a consistent issue tracking process

Develop a compliance metrics dashboard that leadership can review monthly

Refresh training content to focus on real scenarios and measurable understanding

Document two to three major compliance wins with clear before and after results for interviews

Network with peers in compliance, legal, risk, and internal audit to learn current exam focus areas