Global Director Product Compliance

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control, and energy solutions at our company-owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.

The Global Director of Product Compliance is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for ensuring Hayward’s global product portfolio meets all applicable safety, performance, environmental, and regulatory standards. This role oversees the enterprise-wide compliance function, guiding a team of engineers and specialists across multiple geographies. The leader in this role will define the long-term compliance strategy, strengthen global processes, and partner closely with R&D, Quality, Operations, Legal, and Product Management to enable safe, compliant, and market-ready products.

This position serves as Hayward’s primary liaison to regulatory bodies, certification agencies, and industry organizations and plays a critical role in protecting the company’s brand, enabling global market access, and supporting innovation. This position is located in Clemmons, NC and designated in office 5 days per week.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Develop and implement the global compliance strategy aligned with Hayward’s product roadmap and international expansion goals.
• Establish governance frameworks, policies, and standard work for product compliance across all locations and business units.
• Lead global compliance risk assessments, proactively identifying emerging regulatory requirements and industry trends.
• Advise executive leadership on compliance readiness, risk mitigation, and strategic implications of regulatory changes.
  
  

Regulatory & Certification Oversight

• Ensure all products meet or exceed required standards, including safety, EMC, environmental, energy efficiency, performance, and relevant pool/spa industry regulations.
• Oversee global certification processes (e.g., UL, ETL, CSA, CE, RoHS, REACH, FCC, DOE, California Energy Commission).
• Ensure ongoing compliance throughout the product lifecycle, including sustaining engineering updates or market-specific modifications.
• Develop and implement strategies to facilitate engagements on regulatory matters with external agencies and government regulatory authorities on matters concerning rules and policy as required to support Hayward’s product and technology roadmap.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with engineering teams during product development to incorporate compliance requirements early in the design process.
• Coordinates with Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure compliance of components, materials, and finished goods.
• Support Product Management and Sales by providing accurate compliance documentation for global market access.
• Collaborate with Legal on regulatory interpretations, certifications, investigations, and enforcement matters.
  
  

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing product compliance team across multiple regions.
• Build organizational capability by implementing training programs on regulatory standards, compliance processes, and best practices.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and proactive compliance thinking.
  
  

Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Optimize global compliance workflows, documentation systems, and testing methodologies.
• Champion digital tools, automation, and data-driven approaches to reduce cycle time and improve accuracy in compliance activities.
• Drive standardization across regions to increase efficiency and reduce duplication of effort.
  
  

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10–15 years of experience in product compliance, regulatory engineering, or certification management, ideally in consumer products, electrical/mechanical devices, or similar industries.
• Proven experience leading global teams and building compliance programs across multiple regions.
• Strong familiarity with North American, European, and APAC regulatory frameworks.
  
  

Technical Competencies

• Deep knowledge of relevant standards: UL/ETL, CSA, CE/EN standards, EMC/EMI requirements, RoHS/REACH, FCC, DOE energy regulations, and global environmental directives.
• Experience with product safety testing, reliability engineering, and risk management frameworks.
• Ability to interpret technical standards and guide engineering teams through compliance requirements.
  
  

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term direction with day-to-day execution.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-influencing skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.