Senior Manager Controlled Substances

Patterson Companies; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 123,200 - 164,333; Full time

Job summary

Patterson Companies is seeking a Senior Manager of Controlled Substances to lead the development, implementation, and oversight of compliance policies and controls across the organization. You will manage a compliance team, partner with regulators, and drive a data-driven program to mitigate risk and ensure global adherence to laws.

You will oversee investigations, training programs, and regulatory submissions while collaborating with Legal, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain to embed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Regulatory Compliance, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 8 years of regulatory compliance experience.
• 3 years of leadership or people management experience.
• Experience investigating controlled-substance discrepancies and diversion risks.
• Experience managing controlled-substance inventory processes and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develops and oversees compliance policies, procedures, and controls.
• Leads audit and monitoring program, identifying risks and reporting findings.
• Interprets evolving regulatory requirements and develops action plans.
• Oversees investigations of misconduct and regulatory violations.
• Delivers compliance training across the organization.
• Liaises with regulators and coordinates submissions and inspections.
• Leads a high-performing compliance team with staffing and performance management.
• Collaborates with Legal, Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain to embed compliance.
• Oversees DEA reporting, diversion prevention, and ARCOS processes.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Data analytics

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory investigations

DEA ARCOS reporting

Auditing & monitoring

Stakeholder engagement

Confidential information handling

Regulatory policy development

Compliance training

Education

Bachelor's in Business/Regulatory Compliance or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

ARCOS reporting

Regulatory reporting platforms

Auditing systems

Job description

The Senior Manager Controlled Substances leads the development, implementation, and oversight of policies, procedures, and controls that ensure organizational adherence to federal, state, and international regulatory requirements. This role manages a compliance team, sets annual strategic direction, and partners with internal and external stakeholders—including regulators—to mitigate risk and advance an effective, data driven compliance program. The Senior Manager Controlled Substances serves as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex compliance issues requiring expert judgment.

Essential Functions

• Develops, implements, and oversees compliance policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure alignment with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards, including state and federal controlled substance regulations.
• Leads the organization’s compliance audit and monitoring program, ensuring proactive risk identification, timely issue remediation, and accurate reporting of findings to leadership and relevant stakeholders.
• Monitors emerging and evolving regulatory requirements, interprets legislation, and develops strategies and action plans to ensure organizational compliance domestically and internationally.
• Oversees investigations of alleged misconduct, regulatory violations, or unethical behavior, ensuring impartial fact finding, documentation, resolution, and appropriate follow up actions.
• Provides strategic leadership in compliance training, developing and delivering training programs to strengthen regulatory awareness, operational compliance, and accountability across the organization.
• Serves as a primary liaison with regulatory authorities, responding to inquiries, coordinating regulatory submissions, and facilitating inspections or audits.
• Directs and develops a high performing compliance team, including staffing decisions, performance management, coaching, and establishing goals aligned with functional and organizational priorities.
• Collaborates cross functionally with Legal, Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and other business areas to provide compliance guidance, support business initiatives, and embed compliance into operational processes.
• Oversee ARCOS reporting and suspicious order monitoring to ensure full compliance with DEA reporting mandates and diversion control requirements, including accuracy, timeliness, and investigative follow through on detected anomalies.
• Direct and coordinate investigations involving controlled substances, including suspected diversion, loss or theft events, suspicious order patterns, and discrepancies. Coordinate DEA Form 106 filings and collaborate with DEA field offices as needed.
• Ensure full compliance with controlled substance operational requirements governing the receipt, storage, distribution, transportation, inventory, and disposal of controlled substances across all Company locations, including oversight of required records, inventories, and operational safeguards designed to prevent diversion.
• Comply with Company and department policies and standards; performs other duties as assigned

People Management

• Accountable for team staffing and managing direct reports to include development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties
• Ensures direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and Company’s Code of Conduct to maintain a supportive and productive working environment.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Regulatory Compliance, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience or equivalent education and/or experience
• 8 years of experience in regulatory compliance and/or compliance operations
• 3 years of leadership or people management experience
• Experience investigating controlled‑substance discrepancies, diversion risks, theft/loss events, or suspicious order activity, preferably within a distribution, pharmacy, manufacturing, or healthcare environment
• Prior hands‑on experience managing or supporting controlled‑substance inventory processes, chain‑of‑custody controls, vault/secure storage practices, and transportation compliance

Preferred Requirements

• Master's Degree in a regulatory, legal, business, or healthcare-related field
• Experience leading compliance programs within multi‑site or enterprise environments
• Familiarity with regulatory reporting platforms, auditing systems, and compliance
• Experience in compliance programs involving controlled substances

Skills and Abilities

• Deep expertise in federal and state regulations governing controlled substances, including compliance requirements for purchase, sale, and distribution.
• Demonstrated ability to design and manage internal audit and monitoring programs using data and analytics consistent with regulatory expectations for effective compliance programs.
• Strong project management and collaboration skills, with the ability to lead cross functional initiatives and facilitate multidisciplinary meetings.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, sales‑driven organization with competing priorities.
• Solutions oriented mindset with the ability to present options and recommendations that support business goals while maintaining compliance integrity.
• Strong judgment and ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Advanced analytical and problem solving skills, including experience navigating ambiguous or complex regulatory situations.
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong negotiation, consultation, and facilitation skills with the ability to interact effectively with regulators and internal business partners.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally.
• Ability to lead and develop a team, drive performance accountability, and foster a collaborative, high trust environment.
• Effective decision making, time management, and prioritization skills.
• Expert‑level knowledge of DEA and state‑controlled substance regulations, including ARCOS reporting, suspicious order monitoring, required records, inventories, and diversion prevention standards—along with the ability to interpret, apply, and operationalize these requirements across distribution and supply chain environments
• Advanced ability to lead investigations and oversight activities related to controlled substances—including suspected diversion, loss/theft events, inventory discrepancies, and anomalous order patterns—and to collaborate effectively with DEA officials, regulators, and internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate escalation, remediation, and compliance outcomes

Physical and Cognitive Demands

• Communicate/Hearing
• Communicate/Talking
• Learn New Tasks or Concepts
• Make Timely Decisions in the Context of a Workflow
• Complete Tasks Independently
• Maintain Focus
• Remember Processes & Procedures
• Stationary Position (Seated)
• Vision

The potential compensation range for this role is below. The final offer amount could exceed this range, based on various factors such as candidate location (geographical labor market), experience, and skills. $123,200.00 - $164,333.33