Assistant Manager - Regulatory Strategy
Scope of Position
Responsible for regulatory research, impact assessment, and project planning to enable product entry into new markets. This role combines hands-on regulatory investigation with structured strategic analysis, translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable market-entry plans, business impact assessments, risk roadmaps, and strategic compliance proposals.
The position owns regulatory readiness workstreams for assigned markets, coordinates external consultants and cross-functional stakeholders, and develops executive-ready recommendations with minimal supervision. It also supports the standardization of regulatory frameworks and the handover of established market requirements to operational compliance teams.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
• Regulatory Research & Impact Assessment
o Conduct rigorous, line-by-line regulatory research across product categories, uncovering all entry requirements, restricted products, labeling conditions, customs barriers, and market practices.
o Perform deep-dive gap and impact analyses: Translate raw regulations into structured operational frameworks—explicitly identifying impacted SKUs, required business actions, and operational changes needed.
o Support HS code mapping, packaging reviews, and technical document validation (e.g., SDS, COA, DoC) for pre-import readiness.
• Project Planning, Execution & Team Support
o Establish and manage market entry project roadmaps, defining clear scopes, dependencies, lead times, and critical regulatory milestones for cross-functional teams
o Provide guidance to junior team members on daily deliverables, helping troubleshoot problem areas, vetting output quality, and ensuring project deadlines are consistently met.
o Actively track deliverables, anticipate potential launch delays, and proactively flag risks alongside proposed solution options to the Strategy Lead.
o Serve as operational coverage/backup for the Strategy Lead during meetings or absences.
• Stakeholder & Consultant Management
o Manage external consultants and regulatory partners: Draft precise inquiry briefs, lead meetings, ask open probing questions, and critically vet external advice to ensure 100% accuracy and completeness.
o Eliminate redundant back-and-forth by having objective based session and maintaining a structured question-and-answer log and driving external parties toward clear, actionable answers.
• Executive Reporting & Presentation Deliverables
o Synthesize complex ground research into clean, executive-ready presentation decks, dossiers, and compliance checklists.
o Assist the Strategy Lead in compiling strategic risk roadmaps and reporting updates for management.
o Formulate subject-matter strategic proposals to assist the Strategy Lead in driving overall compliance plans.
o Ensure complete reporting integrity: clearly lay out all requirements, call out assumptions, and highlight critical parameters without omitting essential data.
• Operational Handover & Compliance Architecture
o Build and maintain a centralized country regulatory database, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and compliance checklists to standardize future expansion workflows.
o Oversee the complete handover of stabilized market dossiers to operational compliance teams once market entry is established.
Requirements
• Degree in Science, International Business or related fields
• Minimum 5 years of experience in regulatory affairs, market research, or FMCG-related compliance work.
• Strong willingness to perform detailed, ground-level compliance research and impact analysis without cutting corners or missing critical scope items
• Strong capability to map out project timelines, evaluate business impacts, and structure clear execution roadmaps.
• Ability to take strong ownership of project plans, solve problems independently, and mentor/guide junior team members on daily tasks.
• Structured communicator who can lead meetings with external consultants and internal cross-functional leads efficiently.
• Familiar with customs procedures, HS codes, and government regulatory portals.
• Excellent presentation skills—ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into structured, clean, and complete visual slides (MS PowerPoint).
• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Mandarin is required, as the role involves regular communication with internal stakeholders and Mandarin-speaking exporters.
- Department
- MDI_Global Trade & Product Compliance (GTPC)
- Location
- Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
- Employment type
- Full-time
About MR DIY International
At MR DIY International, we're more than a global home improvement brand, we're a catalyst for ambitious talent ready to grow beyond borders.
With over 5,000+ stores across 15 countries globally, we offer unmatched international exposure to those looking to build a meaningful, global career.
From retail operations and merchandising to strategy, tech, and supply chain. Your work here shapes how millions of customers shop every day.
Our culture is built on GIVE:
Growth: Rapid development opportunities at every stage of your journey.
International Exposure: Cross-border collaborations and secondments.
Value Creation: Real ownership, real impact.
Empowerment: A culture that trusts you to lead and innovate.
If you're driven, adaptable, and eager to be part of a high-impact team, MR DIY International is where you build, lead, and thrive.