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Director Medical Writing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Director Medical Writing information

See California salary details

$12.8K

$229.3K

$352.3K

How much do director medical writing jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for director medical writing in California is $229,326.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $195,400.00 and $280,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a director medical writing?

A Director of Medical Writing oversees the development of clinical and regulatory documents for pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare companies. They lead medical writing teams, ensuring high-quality, compliant, and scientifically accurate content for submissions, publications, and regulatory filings. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing timelines, and maintaining adherence to industry guidelines. Strong leadership, project management, and writing expertise are essential for success in this position.

What are the responsibilities of a director of medical writing?

A director of medical writing works to write clinical documents, regulatory submission documents, manuals, research grant applications, and other technical medical publications. In this career, your duties include working to manage a team of writers and editors. You may also have author responsibilities yourself. Your employer may expect you to review documents written by other staff members and make or recommend changes. As the director of medical writing, you also create strategies for document writing and implement writing standards plans so that all employees know how to organize their documents to the same standard.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a director medical writing?

A Director Medical Writing typically oversees a team of medical writers, ensuring the timely creation and quality of clinical and regulatory documents such as study protocols, clinical study reports, and submission dossiers. They collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including clinical operations, regulatory affairs, and biostatistics to align on project goals and timelines. In addition to managing and mentoring staff, they may also review and approve key documents, provide strategic input on document planning, and interact with clients or health authorities. This leadership role often involves balancing multiple projects simultaneously and problem-solving to navigate evolving industry requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the director medical writing position, and why are they important?

To excel as a Director Medical Writing, you need advanced scientific expertise, strong leadership experience, and a background in life sciences or pharmacy, often supported by an advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, or MD). Familiarity with document management systems, regulatory submission platforms (such as eCTD), and certifications like the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) are highly valued. Superior communication, strategic thinking, project management, and mentoring skills distinguish top performers in this position. These competencies ensure the production of high-quality documents, effective team leadership, and successful navigation of complex regulatory environments.

Do medical writers make good money?

Medical writers, including those in director roles, typically earn competitive salaries that vary by experience, location, and industry sector. Senior positions often offer higher compensation, and proficiency in regulatory guidelines and scientific knowledge can influence earning potential. Overall, medical writing can be a financially rewarding career path for qualified professionals.

Is there a demand for director medical writers?

There is a strong demand for director medical writers due to the growth of the pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare industries. These professionals are needed to lead medical writing teams, develop regulatory documents, and ensure compliance with industry standards, often requiring advanced degrees and experience in scientific communication. The role is expected to remain vital as regulatory requirements and the need for clear scientific communication increase.

What does a director of medical writing do?

A director of medical writing oversees the creation and review of scientific and regulatory documents for pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare companies. They manage teams of medical writers, ensure compliance with industry standards, and coordinate the development of materials such as clinical study reports, regulatory submissions, and publication content. Strong project management skills and knowledge of regulatory requirements are essential in this role.
More about Director Medical Writing jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Medical Writing jobs in California?

The most popular types of Medical Writing jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Medical Writing jobs in California?

For Director Medical Writing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Medical Writing jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Medical Writing jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Director Medical Writing jobs?

Cities in California with the most Director Medical Writing job openings:

Director Medical Writing jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Medical Writing job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Temporary. Highlights an 80% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $229,326 per year, or $110.3 per hour.

Director, Medical Writing

Scorpion Therapeutics

Foster City, CA • On-site

$230 - $245/hr

Other

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Position Summary

Director, Medical Writing works with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, and other teams and manages medical writing vendors to develop regulatory and clinical documents.

Job Functions/Responsibilities
  • Oversee vendors for writing, editing, and scientific/medical accuracy of clinical and regulatory documents.
  • Incorporate/adjudicate internal and external stakeholder comments to deliver high-quality final documents.
  • Coordinate timely development, review, and publication with internal teams and external providers.
  • Analyze complex data and collaborate on data analysis, description, and presentation.
  • Coordinate development of protocols/amendments, clinical study reports, patient narratives, clinical development plans, IND, integrated summary reports, NDA/MAA and eCTD submissions, Investigator Brochures, and other assigned documents.
  • Perform quality control and formatting finalization; support submission-level documents.
  • Ensure adherence to timelines; manage multiple assignments in parallel.
  • Prepare documents per Mirum SOP and applicable ICH/regulatory guidelines.
  • Review SAP and Tables/Figures/Listings for CSR-ready data presentation; provide feedback.
  • Communicate medical writing issues/solutions; advise project teams.
  • Represent the department in audits and working groups.
  • Maintain scientific/medical/technical knowledge and develop relationships with external advisors.
Qualifications
  • Advanced degree; 8–10+ years medical writing experience (pharma/biotech/agency).
  • Excellent writing/editorial and formatting skills; English fluency.
  • Independently motivated, strong problem-solving; vendor management experience.
  • Rare disease or liver disease background highly desirable.
  • Knowledge of FDA/ICH; familiarity with AMA/Chicago style.
  • Strong Word/Excel/PowerPoint; clinical research familiarity and ability to interpret/present complex data.
  • Prioritization, multitasking, and on-time delivery.
Compensation
  • Salary range: $230,000–$245,000 USD.
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