Q: What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

You will be the primary architect of a centralized regulatory function , responsible for establishing a structured approach to monitoring global environmental, material, and product-related regulations. This includes translating complex legal obligations into practical company requirements and leading cross-functional remediation programs to close compliance gaps. Beyond monitoring, you will design the end-to-end regulatory lifecycle , from early identification of risks to the final verification of product compliance. You will also provide senior leadership with transparent metrics on regulatory exposure, ensuring that the company maintains its market access through robust material data governance.

Q: How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings over 10 years of experience in product stewardship or environmental compliance , specifically within regulated industries such as medical devices, chemicals, or electronics. You should hold a degree in environmental science, engineering, or law, with a strong preference for a Master’s in a sustainability-related field. Success in this role requires a deep technical understanding of REACH, RoHS, and PFAS restrictions, combined with the soft skills needed to influence senior leadership. You must be comfortable navigating PLM and ERP systems to manage material data effectively.

Q: What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses intensely on product environmental footprint and material circularity. You will ensure that the products Sonova brings to market are free from hazardous substances and are designed with longevity and repairability in mind, aligning with global sustainability benchmarks. By managing requirements like the Right to Repair and Ecodesign , you enable the company to move toward a circular business model. This reduces total environmental impact and ensures the long-term viability of materials used in life-improving medical technologies.

Q: What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges will be leading through influence across diverse business units that may have competing priorities, such as R&D speed versus regulatory thoroughness. You must harmonize processes across very different product types, from medical implants to consumer headphones. Keeping pace with the rapidly changing regulatory landscape globally is another hurdle. You will need to anticipate shifts in policy before they become law to ensure that supply chains and product development cycles (which can be long in medical tech) have enough time to adapt.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will collaborate closely with R&D and Product Management to integrate compliance into the design phase, and with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to ensure material transparency from vendors. Internally, you will also partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs , IT (for data systems), and the Corporate Sustainability team. Externally, you may represent the company in industry associations to stay ahead of regulatory trends and influence emerging standards.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

You will be the primary architect of a centralized regulatory function, responsible for establishing a structured approach to monitoring global environmental, material, and product-related regulations. This includes translating complex legal obligations into practical company requirements and leading cross-functional remediation programs to close compliance gaps. Beyond monitoring, you will design the end-to-end regulatory lifecycle, from early identification of risks to the final verification of product compliance. You will also provide senior leadership with transparent metrics on regulatory exposure, ensuring that the company maintains its market access through robust material data governance.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

This role offers significant exposure to the evolving EU Green Deal initiatives, specifically gaining technical expertise in Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and new circular economy frameworks like the Right to Repair. You will lead at the intersection of law, science, and business strategy. Additionally, you will develop high-level organizational governance skills by building a function from the ground up within a major global group. This provides a unique opportunity to learn how to operationalize sustainability across diverse business units, including medical devices and consumer electronics.

Question 3

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

Accepted Answer

The ideal candidate brings over 10 years of experience in product stewardship or environmental compliance, specifically within regulated industries such as medical devices, chemicals, or electronics. You should hold a degree in environmental science, engineering, or law, with a strong preference for a Master’s in a sustainability-related field. Success in this role requires a deep technical understanding of REACH, RoHS, and PFAS restrictions, combined with the soft skills needed to influence senior leadership. You must be comfortable navigating PLM and ERP systems to manage material data effectively.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between legal theory and manufacturing reality. Provide specific examples of where you successfully led a cross-functional remediation program or influenced product design changes to meet emerging regulations. Reflect on Sonova's specific product range—from cochlear implants to consumer audio—and show how you would balance the high medical safety standards with increasingly stringent environmental transparency requirements. Tailor your cover letter to showcase your experience in building functions or governance frameworks.

Question 5

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

Accepted Answer

The role focuses intensely on product environmental footprint and material circularity. You will ensure that the products Sonova brings to market are free from hazardous substances and are designed with longevity and repairability in mind, aligning with global sustainability benchmarks. By managing requirements like the Right to Repair and Ecodesign, you enable the company to move toward a circular business model. This reduces total environmental impact and ensures the long-term viability of materials used in life-improving medical technologies.

Question 6

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

Accepted Answer

One of the primary challenges will be leading through influence across diverse business units that may have competing priorities, such as R&D speed versus regulatory thoroughness. You must harmonize processes across very different product types, from medical implants to consumer headphones. Keeping pace with the rapidly changing regulatory landscape globally is another hurdle. You will need to anticipate shifts in policy before they become law to ensure that supply chains and product development cycles (which can be long in medical tech) have enough time to adapt.

Question 7

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

Accepted Answer

A typical day might begin with reviewing new regulatory alerts from different regions and assessing their impact on the current product portfolio. You will likely spend significant time in cross-functional meetings with R&D, Procurement, and Quality teams to discuss remediation plans for material changes. In the afternoon, you might switch to a strategic focus, drafting governance policies or presenting regulatory risk assessments to senior management. You will also interact frequently with data teams to improve how material information is captured and reported across the global infrastructure.

Question 8

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Accepted Answer

As the founder of this new centralized function, there is a clear path toward executive leadership within ESG or Regulatory Affairs. The visibility of this role across all business units provides a strong platform for career advancement into global director roles. You will also have access to individual development plans and a wide range of training opportunities within the Sonova Group. This role places you at the heart of the company’s strategic transformation, making it a springboard for high-impact sustainability leadership.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

You will collaborate closely with R&D and Product Management to integrate compliance into the design phase, and with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to ensure material transparency from vendors. Internally, you will also partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs, IT (for data systems), and the Corporate Sustainability team. Externally, you may represent the company in industry associations to stay ahead of regulatory trends and influence emerging standards.

Senior Sustainability Regulatory Manager

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