Director, Regulatory Affairs

Role Summary

This role serves as the lead regulatory and technical policy coordinator for emissions and electrification topics in the US, working under joint coordination with Vice President, Engineering and Environmental Office (~70%) and Senior Vice President, Industry and Government Relations (~30%). This role is the lead interface with Federal and State regulatory bodies with regards to the development of future emissions and electrification policies in alignment with VW Group. This role assures that VWGoA, VW Group and subsidiaries are informed about state and federal government actions that affect the Company’s business.

Role Responsibilities

• Has directional responsibility for employees with tasks related to regulatory development, ensures adequate supervision and training with respect to such laws and regulations
• Aligns new Group process requirements within EEO
• Works with Technical Program Management team to document and enhance internal processes
• Ensures compliance with processes and supports assessments and audits as needed
• Regulatory management and coordination
• Collaborative strategic assessment
• Technical policy development and advocacy
  
  

Qualifications

Years of Experience:

• 12 years automotive engineering experience
• 8 years regulatory and government affairs experience
  
  

Education - Required

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred in Engineering or related field)
• Master’s Degree (preferred in Engineering or related field)
  
  

Skills

• Policy leadership and advocacy
• People management
• Strategic agility
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
• Problem solving and analytic skills
• Influencing and negotiations skills
• Conceptual thinking
• Computer skills
  
  

Specialized Skills - Required

• Experienced in leading monitoring and steering of complex emissions and environmental regulations
• Experienced with leading policy analysis
• Expertise in Federal and State rulemaking processes
• Experience in legislative and other governmental processes
• Expertise in working with US Federal and State regulatory databases and online services
• Established relationships with US Federal and State regulators
• Policy analysis, Legal/legislative interpretation and drafting ability for state and federal legislation
• Experience with drafting and presenting testimony before legislators
• Knowledge of State Ethics and Lobbying Compliance laws
• Communication skills – able to concisely communicate as a subject matter expert to general audiences, able to efficiently communicate ideas through interpersonal, presentation and written correspondence and across varied audiences
• Presentation skills – providing concise information to both internal and external audiences Technical background in vehicles emissions and environmental topics including air quality, greenhouse gases, fuel economy technologies, etc.
  
  

Specialized Skills - Desired

• Experience in automotive development, technical engineering
• Knowledge of advanced powertrain technologies including electrification
• Experience with standards development organizations
• Management of small teams including collaborative tools and processes
• German language skills
• Experience with fuels and alternative powertrains
  
  

TAR Mandatory Text

Category 2: Responsibility to be familiar with U.S. environmental laws and know the Group’s obligations related to compliance and responsibility to ensure compliance.

Tasks

• Ensures the compliant execution of all Importer Agreements and Service Level Agreements with regards to monitoring and steering of US, Canadian and State mobile source emission regulations
• Aligns with mobile source emissions Assistant General Counsel and other relevant Office of General Counsel with respect to any implied legal advice based on regulatory interpretation
• Lead the activities within EEO (Engineering and Environmental Office) to organize and execute the responsibilities of EEO for the monitoring and steering of emissions and electrification regulations and others as needed.
• Manages staff within EEO teams who will support regulatory topics to ensure active participation in rulemakings and to advocate for VWGoA company positions. These staff will support US Federal and State emissions and vehicle related environmental laws topics including:
• Fleet average fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations
• Zero-emission electric vehicle mandates
• OBD, Certification and testing requirements
• Vehicle pollution requirements
• Advanced technology vehicle deployments
• Noise
• Others as assigned
• Provide timely input and analysis into Group and Brand level Regulatory Interpretation process
• Analyze and explain impacts of state and federal legislative and regulatory developments, including effective interaction with technical staff at U.S. headquarters, Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt
• Draft and disseminate internal analyses & reports regarding policy developments
• Develop and formulate innovative regulatory and technical corporate policy positions in coordination with global technical policy advocacy teams and with US Engineering and Government Affairs leadership on regulatory issues including memoranda, fact sheets, comments for regulatory hearings and administrative proceedings. Provide ongoing counsel and guidance on state and federal regulatory matters.
• Provide analysis and recommendations to US leadership for future regulatory and compliance strategy to help ensure compliance with legally binding obligations and to maximize value from electrification investments and business plans.
• Communicate ongoing developments with regional strategy and brand teams to ensure awareness of future risks and opportunities with the developing regulatory and policy environment.
• Provide timely support to internal engineering organizations regarding current and future regulatory requirements.
• Participate in the Alliance for Automobile Innovation and its various committees, professional organizations, e.g., SAE, well as other trade organization meetings related to the above matters.
  
  

Authorities

• Reach decisions within the specified area of responsibility as well as delegate tasks/decisions to qualified employees, while retaining responsibility
• Under leadership of EEO and in coordination with Industry and Government Affairs, manage the development of policy and regulatory positions for VWGoA for the US market and ensure alignment with Global Group policy positions and strategy.
• Under leadership of EEO and in coordination with Industry and Government Affairs, independently represent VWGoA with external partners, such as government agencies and professional organizations, regarding regulatory development and future compliance strategies with environmental laws and regulations, required actions and related reporting
• Escalation to VWGoA and VW Group leadership of any potential issues related to compliance with environmental laws and regulations, as appropriate and in coordination with Vice President, EEO and Senior Vice President, Industry and Government Affairs
  
  

Work Flexibility

• Travel is estimated to be 25 % of the time
• Must travel frequently to attend government hearings, agency meetings, workshop, conferences and trade group meetings
• Must travel to Germany when requirement
  
  

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

Hybrid

Primary Location

United States-Michigan-Auburn Hills