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Associate Director Medical Affairs Jobs in Riverside, CA

The Associate Director Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) works with ... medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ * This job is eligible to ...

The Associate Director Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) works with ... medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees. * This job is eligible to ...

We are the people who give possibilities purpose BD is one of the largest global medical technology ... Plan and direct complex activities with large scale or significant business impact with the ...

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Learn more at JOB SUMMARY This Associate Director, Clinical Research will be leading a team of ... Global Strategic Marketing, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Health Economics and Market Access ...

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Showing results 1-20

Associate Director Medical Affairs information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$79.8K

$184.9K

$317.7K

How much do associate director medical affairs jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate director medical affairs in Riverside, CA is $184,858.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,900.00 and $212,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate director medical affairs do?

An Associate Director of Medical Affairs is responsible for providing scientific and clinical expertise to support a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company's medical strategies. They collaborate with cross-functional teams, develop and execute medical education programs, oversee clinical trial activities, and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines. Additionally, they serve as a bridge between the company and healthcare professionals, facilitating the exchange of medical information and supporting product development and life-cycle management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate director medical affairs?

To thrive as an Associate Director Medical Affairs, you need an advanced degree in life sciences or medicine, deep therapeutic area expertise, and experience in medical strategy and compliance. Familiarity with medical information systems, clinical trial data platforms, and regulatory requirements, alongside certifications such as Board Certification or GCP training, is often required. Outstanding leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills are vital for success in this position. These competencies enable effective scientific exchange, ensure regulatory adherence, and support impactful partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

What are some common challenges faced by an associate director medical affairs, and how can they be addressed?

Associate Directors of Medical Affairs often navigate challenges such as balancing strategic leadership with hands-on project management, ensuring alignment with cross-functional teams, and keeping up with evolving regulatory standards. To address these, it's important to foster clear communication with medical, regulatory, and commercial colleagues, prioritize ongoing professional development, and establish robust processes for evidence generation and dissemination. Building strong relationships both internally and externally also helps in anticipating obstacles and implementing effective solutions.

What is the difference between Associate Director Medical Affairs vs Medical Science Liaison?

AspectAssociate Director Medical AffairsMedical Science Liaison
CredentialsMD, PhD, or PharmD often preferredMD, PhD, or PharmD typically required
Work EnvironmentOffice-based, strategic planning, cross-functional teamsField-based, scientific engagement with healthcare professionals
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firmsPharmaceutical companies, medical device firms
Primary FocusMedical strategy, medical information, regulatory supportScientific education, peer-to-peer engagement, data dissemination

The Associate Director Medical Affairs primarily focuses on strategic medical activities within the company, including medical information and regulatory support, often working in an office setting. In contrast, a Medical Science Liaison is field-based, engaging directly with healthcare professionals to share scientific data. Both roles require advanced degrees and are integral to pharmaceutical and biotech industries, but they differ in daily responsibilities and work environment.

What job categories do people searching Associate Director Medical Affairs jobs in Riverside, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Associate Director Medical Affairs jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Associate Director Medical Affairs jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Associate Director Medical Affairs job openings:

Infographic showing various Associate Director Medical Affairs job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $184,858 per year, or $88.9 per hour.

Associate Director, Medical Strategy & Education

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

Irvine, CA • On-site, Remote

$165K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 26 days ago


Job description

About the Role

The Associate Director, Medical Strategy & Education serves as a key partner within Medical Affairs, supporting the development and delivery of medical education, KOL consulting engagement, and structured insight collection that inform medical strategy. This role reports to the Director, Medical Strategy and Education and is responsible for executing defined components of medical strategy across scientific engagement, medical education, and congress activities.

Working closely with Medical Strategy leadership, the Associate Director translates emerging insights into high-quality educational outputs, supports scientific engagement with ECPs and KOLs through hosting consulting and advisory panels, and ensures consistent, compliant execution of Medical Affairs initiatives.

Let's talk about some of the key responsibilities of the role:

  • Support the development and execution of the annual medical education strategy by translating insights into educational initiatives, partnering with field medical on implementation, and measuring program impact through defined performance metrics and reporting.
  • Lead the collection, synthesis, and analysis of insights from field medical activities, congresses, advisory boards, and educational programs, developing quarterly and annual analyses, heat maps, SWOT assessments, and field inquiry frameworks that inform medical strategy.
  • Support development and execution of the annual congress strategy, including meeting prioritization, objective setting, cross-functional planning, scientific material coordination, operational execution, and pre-/post-congress reporting.
  • Develop and maintain dashboards, heat maps, and tracking tools that measure educational impact, consultant engagement, and overall Medical Affairs effectiveness.
  • Support strategic planning and operational execution of advisory boards and HCP consultant engagements, including annual planning, vendor management, compliance coordination, onboarding, utilization tracking, and insight capture.
  • Support cross-functional planning documents to align medical objectives with broader enterprise goals.
  • Maintain Veeva documentation, routing workflows, and SOP updates to ensure compliant operations of all activities.
  • Strengthen Medical Affairs infrastructure by improving process efficiency, documentation quality, and scientific workflow consistency.

Factors for Success

  • Advanced doctorate degree required (OD, MD, PhD, PharmD).
  • 12 years relevant experience required, including a minimum of 3 years of experience in Medical Affairs or related roles.
  • Demonstrated success supporting advisory boards, congress medical execution, and scientific program operations.
  • Proven ability to aggregate insights, identify scientific themes, and support data-driven medical strategy.
  • Strong project management skills and the ability to coordinate multiple programs simultaneously with precision.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and organization, with a commitment to quality and compliance.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including experience working with KOLs and cross-functional teams.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially PowerPoint and Excel. Experience with Veeva is strongly preferred.

Our leaders at Tarsus are also expected to exemplify our core leadership competencies, including:

    • Decision Making - Identifies, analyzes, and resolves issues or challenges effectively and efficiently. Demonstrates creativity, decisiveness, and the capacity to implement solutions in a structured and outcome-oriented manner. Navigates uncertainty when there's not a blueprint for success. Owns their decisions and actions.
    • Collaboration and Team Building - Builds strong relationships and networks. Is curious about and respectful of different points of view. Cultivates a safe space for discussion readily engaging in group dialogue and debate. Puts the team first.
    • Outcome Driven - Clearly defines mutual expectations of self and others in a team setting. Adapts to changing business needs. Is determined and resourceful in finding solutions, even when faced with obstacles. Takes appropriate actions, including calculated risks, to ensure obligations are met. 

A Few Other Details Worth Mentioning

  • The position will be based in our beautiful Irvine office, complete with onsite gym, pool, snacks, drinks, and occasional catered meals. We provide a hybrid work environment. Remote work is an option.
  • We are passionate about our culture! Our Tarsans live our values of commitment to patients, empowerment to champion innovation, and teamwork to amplify impact.
  • This position reports directly to the Director, Medical Strategy, and Education.
  • Travel up to 60% annually, including congresses, advisory boards, and cross-functional meetings. This may include weekends and holidays.

At Tarsus, we understand the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. The expected base pay range for this position is $165,000 - $231,000 plus bonus, stock equity, and comprehensive benefits. The base pay range reflects the target range for this position, but individual pay will be determined by additional factors such as job-related skills, experience and relevant education or training. Our benefits include health, dental and vision insurance benefits to ensure your well-being. We believe in work-life balance and offer generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days. For more details regarding Tarsus benefits, please visit: https://eb.alliant.com/26tarsusbenefitssnapshot.

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