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Clinical Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Gilead

Director, Clinical Development (MD)

Foster City, CA

$93K - $127K/yr

You will typically lead multiple components of clinical trial programs in Inflammation/Fibrosis clinical development, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and/or metabolic dysfunction ...

New

Gilead

Director, Clinical Development (MD)

Foster City, CA · On-site

$93K - $127K/yr

You will typically lead multiple components of clinical trial programs in Inflammation/Fibrosis clinical development, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and/or metabolic dysfunction ...

New

NewLimit

Head of Clinical Development

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$96K - $131K/yr

Description NewLimit is recruiting a VP of Clinical Development to plan and execute our first clinical trials. Our most advanced assets restore youthful hepatic metabolism and hold the potential to ...

Ardelyx

Vice President, Clinical Development

Newark, CA · On-site

The Vice President, Clinical Development will initially serve as a highly hands-on individual contributor responsible for advancing ongoing and planned clinical programs, with a particular focus on ...

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All JobsClinical Development JobsClinical Development Jobs in California

Clinical Development information

See California salary details

$14

$34

$88

How much do clinical development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for clinical development in California is $34.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $32.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Clinical Development vs Clinical Research Coordinator?

AspectClinical DevelopmentClinical Research Coordinator
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, often advanced degrees in life sciences or related fields; certifications like CCRP or RACBachelor's degree in health sciences or related field; certifications like CCRP beneficial
Work EnvironmentPharmaceutical or biotech companies, clinical trial teams, R&D departmentsClinical trial sites, hospitals, research centers
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries during drug development phasesUsed in hospitals, research institutions, and clinical trial sites for managing patient studies

While both roles are involved in clinical trials, Clinical Development focuses on designing and managing the overall drug development process, whereas Clinical Research Coordinators handle the day-to-day operations at trial sites, ensuring protocol adherence and patient coordination.

What is clinical development?

Clinical development is the process by which new pharmaceutical drugs, biologics, or medical devices are tested and evaluated in humans to assess their safety and effectiveness. It typically involves a series of phases (Phase I-IV) of clinical trials, starting with small groups of volunteers and expanding to larger patient populations. The goal is to gather the data needed for regulatory approval and to ensure that new treatments provide benefits that outweigh their risks. Clinical development is a critical step in bringing new therapies from the laboratory to patients.

What do you do in clinical development?

A professional in clinical development designs, manages, and oversees clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new medical treatments or drugs. They coordinate with cross-functional teams, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and analyze data to support product approval processes. Strong project management skills and knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) are essential in this role.

What does a clinical development specialist do?

A clinical development specialist designs, manages, and oversees clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new medical treatments or devices. They coordinate with research teams, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and analyze data to support product approval processes. Strong knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and clinical trial management systems is essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in clinical development?

To thrive in Clinical Development, you need a strong background in life sciences, clinical trial management, and regulatory compliance, often supported by a relevant degree and experience in clinical research. Familiarity with clinical trial management systems (CTMS), electronic data capture (EDC) tools, and certifications like GCP (Good Clinical Practice) are typically required. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills help professionals coordinate multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving study demands. These skills and qualifications ensure the design, execution, and oversight of safe, effective, and compliant clinical trials essential for successful drug development.

What are some common challenges faced in a clinical development role, and how can I prepare for them?

Professionals in Clinical Development often encounter challenges such as managing complex regulatory requirements, coordinating multi-site clinical trials, and ensuring timely patient recruitment. Staying organized, maintaining clear communication with cross-functional teams, and keeping up-to-date with evolving industry guidelines can help you navigate these hurdles. Developing strong project management and problem-solving skills is also essential for success in this dynamic field.
What are the most commonly searched types of Clinical Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Clinical Development jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Clinical Development jobs in California? For Clinical Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Clinical Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Clinical Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Clinical Development jobs? Cities in California with the most Clinical Development job openings:
Clinical Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Clinical Development job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,059 per year, or $34.2 per hour.

Clinical Development Scientist/Senior Clinical Development Scientist

Tenvie Therapeutics, Inc

Brisbane, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Clinical Development Scientist/Senior Clinical Development Scientist
Tenvie Therapeutics is developing precision-engineered small molecule therapies to address core drivers of neurological and peripheral diseases: neuroinflammation and cellular dysfunction. Leveraging its proprietary product engine, Tenvie has the unique ability to advance both fully CNS-penetrant and peripherally restricted products across a broad portfolio. Tenvie's most advanced programs, TNV262 and TNV108, are in Phase 1 clinical development. TNV262 is a fully CNS-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor targeting cardiometabolic and neuroinflammatory indications, including obesity and cardiovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis. TNV108 is a peripherally restricted SARM1 allosteric inhibitor targeting peripheral neuropathies. Tenvie's clinical pipeline is complemented by discovery-stage programs across a range of related indications.
Tenvie Therapeutics is seeking a scientifically rigorous and highly collaborative Clinical Scientist to support the design and execution of early clinical development programs in cardiometabolic disease and related indications. This role is ideal for candidates with a strong background in human pathophysiology and clinical trial design who are motivated to translate biology into impactful therapies. The Clinical Scientist will work closely with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Translational Science, and Regulatory to ensure high-quality clinical plans, protocols, and data readouts. This role can be remote, hybrid, or on-site, and reports within the Clinical Development group.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Contribute to clinical strategy and study design
    • Support development of clinical development plans, target product profiles, and indication prioritization
    • Lead or co-lead the scientific design of Phase 1-2 studies (e.g., FIH, dose-finding, PoC) including objectives, endpoints, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and biomarker strategy, with emphasis on cardiometabolic risk factors and outcomes
    • Integrate nonclinical, translational, and clinical data to inform dose selection, schedule, and patient population
  • Lead development of core clinical documents
    • Author or co-author clinical sections of protocols, protocol amendments, IBs, ICFs, CSRs, and relevant regulatory documents (e.g., briefing books, responses to health authority questions)
    • Develop and maintain study-level documents including synopsis, statistical analysis-relevant endpoint definitions, and data review plans
    • Partner with Biostatistics and Clinical Pharmacology on endpoint hierarchy, PK/PD modeling plans, and interim analyses
  • Drive study conduct and data quality
    • Serve as Clinical Scientist lead on cross-functional study teams for selected trials
    • Provide clinical and scientific input into site selection, eligibility adjudication, and key study tools (e.g., manuals, training decks, CRFs)
    • Participate in ongoing medical and scientific data review (safety, PK/PD, biomarkers, efficacy signals); help define and track key data review listings and visualizations
    • Support development and execution of safety review / dose escalation committees and data monitoring activities
  • Lead data interpretation and communication
    • Lead or co-lead integrated analyses of clinical, PK/PD, and biomarker data to generate clear conclusions and next-step recommendations
    • Prepare data summaries and presentations for internal governance, external collaborators, and advisory boards
    • Contribute to abstracts, posters, and manuscripts for scientific meetings and peer-reviewed journals
  • Interface with investigators and external partners
    • Provide scientific support to investigators and study sites (e.g., training, protocol clarification, scientific Q&A)
    • Participate in KOL and expert advisory boards, contributing to agenda, content, and follow-up
    • Collaborate with CROs, central labs, imaging/biomarker vendors, and other partners to ensure alignment on scientific and operational expectations
  • Contribute to portfolio and organizational excellence
    • Support cross-program learnings and standardization of endpoints, assessments, and data structures across cardiometabolic and related indications
    • Help refine internal processes and templates for protocols, charters, and data review
    • Mentor junior team members as appropriate; model a high-accountability, low-ego, cross-functional working style

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Education
    • PhD in life sciences, pharmacology, physiology, or related field strongly preferred; MD, PharmD, or equivalent clinical degree also considered
    • Strong foundation in cardiometabolic biology (e.g., obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, NAFLD/NASH, cardiovascular risk) is highly preferred
  • Experience
    • Typically 3-7+ years of relevant experience in clinical development, clinical pharmacology, or translational medicine within biotech/pharma or equivalent academic clinical research environment
    • Demonstrated experience contributing to design and execution of early-phase (Phase 1-2) clinical trials
    • Cardiometabolic and/or obesity clinical trial experience preferred, including familiarity with standard endpoints (e.g., glycemic control, body weight, lipids, blood pressure, imaging or functional assessments)
    • Experience working on cross-functional teams with Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, and Translational/Discovery
    • Prior involvement in regulatory submissions (e.g., IND/CTA, briefing packages, responses to queries) is a plus
  • Technical skills
    • Strong understanding of clinical trial methodology, GCP, and the overall drug development pathway from FIH through proof-of-concept
    • Comfort interpreting PK/PD, biomarker, and clinical efficacy/safety data, and working with statisticians and pharmacometricians
    • Experience with cardiometabolic risk scoring, metabolic biomarker panels, or imaging modalities is an advantage
    • Excellent scientific writing skills with a track record of clear, structured documents and presentations
  • Core competencies
    • Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple studies or workstreams in parallel in a fast-paced environment
    • Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills; able to move from complex data to clear, actionable recommendations
    • Effective communicator, able to tailor scientific messages to diverse audiences (clinicians, scientists, operations, leadership, regulators)
    • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and constructively across disciplines and with external partners
    • Comfortable operating with ambiguity and evolving data; proactive in identifying risks and proposing solutions
    • Commitment to high ethical standards, patient safety, and data integrity

Expected salary range:
  • $125,000-180,000 annual base salary

Tenvie is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.

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