Director of Codes, Standards, and Regulatory Affairs in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Duravent Group
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Job Description
We’re currently seeking a Director of Codes, Standards, and Regulatory Affairs to join our extraordinary team.
Who We Are:
The Duravent Group is a recognized global technology leader in the HVAC industry, first-to-market with innovations in venting systems. Founded in 1956, our $500 million + company is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, and has 15 locations across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Duravent leads with best-in-class design and manufacturing capabilities, world-class distribution networks, and customer-first service and support. We ensure quality and drive safety through scientifically proven materials and unequaled engineering.
As a combined company, Duravent is uniquely positioned as the next generation leader in the interior climate technology industry. Our team of passionate professionals needs you! Come join us and help us build for the future!
This Role:
The Director of Codes, Standards, and Regulatory Affairs is accountable for building and leading Duravent’s enterprise codes, standards, certification, and regulatory-intelligence capability as a strategic enabler of growth, innovation, safety, and market access. The role connects business strategy, technology, market needs, product roadmaps, regulatory requirements, and external standards bodies so the company can anticipate change, shape outcomes, accelerate compliant product introductions, and convert regulatory insight into competitive advantage.
As the initial leader of the function, the Director will establish the operating model, priorities, governance, relationships, and internal network needed to support Duravent’s growth. The role will begin as a focused leadership position and expand its reach through selected engineering and product experts, experienced contractors, and other cross-functional resources.
What You Will Do:
Build and lead a business-oriented regulatory affairs capability that uses codes, standards, certification pathways, and regulatory intelligence to enable growth, guide R&D, protect market access, and influence the company’s future product roadmap.
How You Will Do It:
Codes & Standards Strategy
- Enterprise Strategy: Develop and maintain a codes and standards strategy aligned with DuraVent’s growth priorities, technology platforms, target markets, and long-range product plans.
- Regulatory Intelligence: Monitor emerging codes, standards, legislation, certification requirements, and enforcement trends; translate them into clear business implications, risks, and opportunities.
- Standards Influence: Establish priorities and positions for participation in UL, NFPA, ICC, CSA, ASHRAE, AHRI, and other relevant standards-development organizations and industry bodies.
- Standards Interpretation: Develop the technical fluency and external relationships needed to obtain timely, defensible interpretations of applicable codes and standards; document the company’s interpretation and supporting rationale; and guide Engineering, Quality, Product Management, and certification partners toward consistent compliance decisions.
- Market Access: Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Quality, Legal, Sales, and Operations to define certification and approval strategies; engage Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories and other certification bodies; resolve technical findings; maintain compliant product claims and documentation; and enable entry into new applications, channels, and geographies.
- Growth Enablement: Identify opportunities to use regulatory change, code adoption, and standards leadership to differentiate products, accelerate innovation, and create or defend market positions.
External Leadership & Representation
- Build trusted relationships with UL, NFPA, ETL, CSA, ASHRAE, AHRI, regulators, certification bodies, technical committees, and other influential stakeholders.
- Represent DuraVent in priority standards and code forums, or designate and prepare the appropriate technical representative.
- Develop clear company positions supported by technical evidence, market insight, customer impact, and business strategy.
- Coordinate comment development, proposals, ballots, appeals, interpretations, and other formal standards activities.
- Strengthen Duravent’s reputation as a credible, constructive, technically grounded industry leader.
Technical Leadership & Product Roadmap Integration
- Translate complex technical and regulatory issues into practical choices for business and executive leaders.
- Integrate codes and standards considerations into technology strategy, product roadmaps, stage-gate decisions, testing plans, and business cases.
- Anticipate future requirements early enough to influence product architecture and R&D priorities rather than reacting after development is complete.
- Partner with technical teams to assemble data, testing, field evidence, and engineering rationale needed to support company positions.
- Balance compliance, safety, customer value, cost, speed, and commercial opportunity when recommending a path forward.
Team Development & Resource Model
- Define long-term organization, capabilities, and staffing plan for regulatory affairs as business needs grow.
- Select and develop senior engineering or product experts to lead Duravent’s participation in priority standards committees.
- Provide designated representatives with explicit business objectives, preparation, decision authority, and accountability for outcomes—not simply attendance.
- Engage experienced former employees or external practitioners as contractors or advisors to bridge knowledge gaps, support specific standards, and transfer institutional expertise.
- Build succession depth and ensure critical external relationships and technical knowledge are not concentrated in a single individual.
What We’re Looking For:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, fire protection engineering, another relevant technical discipline, or a closely related field is required; an advanced technical degree, MBA, or professional engineering license is preferred.
- Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in codes and standards, product compliance, certification, regulatory affairs, or product engineering within HVAC, building products, fire and life safety, or another regulated durable-goods manufacturing environment, including at least five years leading enterprise programs, cross-functional teams, or external standards initiatives.
- Demonstrated success representing a manufacturer before standards-development organizations, regulators, authorities having jurisdiction, or industry associations; experience developing proposals, comments, ballots, appeals, or formal interpretations is required. Direct experience with UL, NFPA, ICC, CSA, ASHRAE, AHRI, IAPMO, or comparable organizations is strongly preferred.
- Strong business judgment and the ability to connect technical and regulatory developments to growth, margin, market access, innovation, and risk.
- Sufficient technical depth to engage credibly with engineers and standards experts, combined with the ability to communicate clearly with executives and commercial leaders.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing outcomes without relying solely on direct authority.
- Proven ability to build a new capability, establish governance, set priorities, and develop internal and external talent networks.
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to travel as required for committee meetings, industry events, customer engagement, and internal collaboration.
- Authorized for work within the U.S. without requiring visa sponsorship
EEOC Statement:
Duravent is an equal opportunity employer committed to making employment decisions solely on valid job requirements. We provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, genetic information, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability or veteran status.