Manager Product Compliance

Brunswick; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunswick’s Navico Group seeks a seasoned leader to head global product and material compliance, overseeing a distributed team and defining governance across AMER and EMEA. You will drive certifications, supplier collaboration, and regulatory strategies from concept to conformity across markets.

The role partners with engineering, sourcing, operations, and commercial teams to ensure compliance is integrated into product roadmaps, with strong emphasis on data architecture, audits, and continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, or related engineering field (or equivalent experience).
• Advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years in product compliance, including 3+ years leading teams (ideally distributed/global).
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills in English; able to present to executives, customers, and authorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a global team of product compliance engineers and specialists across AMER and EMEA; set priorities, standards of work, and development plans.
• Define and continuously improve the compliance operating model: processes, tools, documentation standards, and stage-gate integration with product development.
• Communicate compliance status, risks, and non-conformities to executives, program managers, and engineering leadership with clear, practical, decision-ready recommendations.
• Define and maintain the regulatory data architecture supporting requirements governance, PLM, certification repositories, supplier disclosures, and compliance evidence.
• Ensure compliance requirements, certifications, declarations, test evidence, supplier disclosures, and regulatory obligations are digitally linked and traceable through the product lifecycle.
• Monitor, interpret evolving regulations across markets (AMER, EMEA, rest-of-world), evaluating impact on products.
• Translate regulation into actionable, product- and market-specific requirements integrated into roadmaps.
• Own end-to-end certification pipeline: planning, lab coordination, and Declarations of Conformity (CE, UKCA, FCC/ISED, UL/CSA, DNV, MED).

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, or related engineering field

Advanced degree

Job description

Are you ready for what’s next? Come explore opportunities within Brunswick, a global marine leader committed to challenging conventions and innovating next-generation technologies that transform experiences on the water and beyond. Brunswick believes “Next Never Rests™,” and we offer a variety of exciting careers and growth opportunities within united teams defining the future of marine recreation.

Location: Mettawa, IL Workplace Category: Hybrid Travel Required: 10-20% Direct Reports: 4-5 Pay Range: $103,200 - $144,000 annual Visa Sponsorship: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. Relocation: Not offered

Position Overview

Navico Group is seeking an experienced and highly effective leader to head our global Product and Material Compliance function. Leading a globally distributed team of compliance engineers, you will own the regulatory compliance lifecycle for the Navico Group product portfolio from regulatory intelligence and requirements definition through execution oversight, culminating in certifications and Declarations of Conformity that secure market access worldwide. The role defines what compliance means for each product and market; your team then partners with engineering, sourcing, operations, and commercial functions to ensure every compliance activity is planned, executed, and evidenced including regulatory certifications and ensuring compliance requirements are effectively integrated into supplier selection, qualification, sourcing, and ongoing supplier management processes. You will act as Navico Group's primary interface to Brunswick's corporate compliance functions, representing the division in the enterprise Compliance Office and leveraging shared tools and expertise across divisions. At Brunswick, we have passion for our work and a distinct ability to deliver.

Essential Functions

• Lead, develop, and scale a global team of product compliance engineers and specialists across AMER and EMEA; set priorities, standards of work, and development plans.
• Define and continuously improve the compliance operating model: processes, tools, documentation standards, and stage-gate integration with product development.
• Communicate compliance status, risks, and non-conformities to executives, program managers, and engineering leadership with clear, practical, decision-ready recommendations.
• Define and maintain the regulatory data architecture supporting requirements governance, PLM, certification repositories, supplier disclosures, and compliance evidence.
• Ensure compliance requirements, certifications, declarations, test evidence, supplier disclosures, and regulatory obligations are digitally linked and traceable through the product lifecycle.
• Partner with Systems Engineering and enterprise digital engineering teams to establish reusable compliance requirement libraries and verification frameworks
• Monitor, interpret, and anticipate evolving regulations across target markets (AMER, EMEA, and rest-of-world), evaluating impact on current and future products.
• Translate regulation into actionable, product- and market-specific compliance requirements, integrated into roadmaps and design requirements from concept onward and architected for re-use across various product platforms.
• Identify top regulatory compliance risks for the division and drive mitigation plans in conjunction with the enterprise compliance team.
• Support implementation of EU Battery Regulation obligations, including digital product passport / battery passport readiness in partnership with Systems Engineering, PLM, and Enterprise Compliance teams.
• Own the end-to-end certification pipeline: planning, third-party lab and notified-body coordination, test witnessing, and issue resolution through to certificates and Declarations of Conformity (CE, UKCA, FCC/ISED, UL/CSA, DNV, MED, and market-specific approvals).
• Ensure preparation and maintenance of complete technical documentation: Technical Construction Files, declarations, labeling specifications, and certification dossiers.
• Govern substance/material compliance data collection through the supply chain and manage responses to compliance requests as the single point of contact.
• Represent Navico Group in Brunswick's enterprise-wide Compliance Office; align divisional practices with corporate policy and leverage shared tooling, expertise, and approaches across divisions.
• Build relationships with certification bodies, test labs, industry associations (ABYC, NMEA, NMMA, RVIA), and standards committees; influence emerging standards where strategic.
• Provide regulatory guidance and internal training across engineering, sourcing, supply chain, supplier quality and commercial organizations.
• Provide regular update to PD&E and product teams on emerging and evolving regulatory matters, aggregating updates and activities across enterprise, industry associations, and various individuals participating within standards committees.
• Lead participation in regulatory, customer, and internal audits; drive corrective and preventive actions for compliance issues, including support of market-surveillance matters.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronics, or related engineering field (or equivalent experience); advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years in product compliance, certification, regulatory, including 3+ years leading teams (ideally distributed/global).
• Deep working knowledge of CE frameworks (EMC, RED, LVD, Machinery), FCC/ISED, UL/CSA/IEC safety standards, and substance regulations (RoHS, REACH, PFAS, Prop 65, EPR, EU Battery Regulation).
• Familiarity with marine and/or RV regulatory environments (ABYC, ISO marine standards, USCG, IEC 60945) and their use cases.
• Demonstrated success coordinating third-party labs, notified bodies, and certification agencies across regions.
• Proven ability to identify issues, analyze impact, and drive corrective actions with suppliers, manufacturing operations, and customers on complex compliance matters.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills in English; able to present to executives, customers, and authorities and to drive cross-functional alignment in a global organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with marine-specific certification (DNV, MED) and/or commercial-marine type approval.
• Experience with wireless, software-driven, and networked products, including RED Art. 3.3 and cybersecurity regulation readiness (UK PSTI, CRA, UNECE).
• Experience with lithium battery compliance and dangerous-goods transport (UN 38.3, IEC 62619/62133).
• Understanding of supply-chain compliance impacts, including critical raw materials, EPR, and end-of-life recycling.
• Experience with market-surveillance authority interactions.
• Additional European languages.

Working Conditions

Hybrid role with regular onsite presence at a Navico Group engineering site (office plus engineering test lab environment). Periodic domestic and international travel (test labs, certification bodies, sites, and industry bodies), typically 10-20%.

The hiring range for this position is $103,200 - $144,00 annually.

The actual base pay offered will vary based on multiple factors including job-related knowledge/skills, relevant experience, business needs, and geographic location. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the specifics of the candidate’s qualifications and the business context.

In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

This position is eligible to participate in Brunswick's comprehensive and high-quality benefits offerings, including medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, 401k (up to 4% match), Health Savings Account (with company contribution), well-being program, product purchase discounts and much more. Details about our benefits can be found here.

Why Brunswick

Whatever tomorrow brings, we’ll be at the leading edge. As the clear leader in the marine industry, we’re committed to our values and supporting our exceptional people. We offer and encourage growth opportunities within and across our many brands. In addition, we’re proud of being recognized for making a splash with numerous awards!

About Navico Group

Navico Group is a stand-alone division of Brunswick, the world's largest recreational marine business, and a global leader in technology, systems, and solutions for marine, RV, and specialty-vehicle industries. Our portfolio includes industry-leading brands across Digital Systems, Power Systems, Fishing Systems, and Performance Components — including Simrad, Lowrance, B&G, C-MAP, Mastervolt, CZone, Blue Sea Systems, Lenco, Whale, and Attwood — sold worldwide to OEMs and leading retail partners.

#LI-Hybrid #navico #LI-PR1 Next is Now! We value growth and development, recognizing that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Brunswick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is key to innovation and inspiration and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

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