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Director Pharmaceutical Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Technical Development Director, Pharmaceutical leads a broad range of activities to grow the firm's consultancy business within the pharmaceutical sector. This role is responsible for developing ...

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Director Pharmaceutical Development information

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$43K

$82.6K

$162K

How much do director pharmaceutical development jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for director pharmaceutical development in the United States is $82,598.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,000.00 and $97,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Director of Pharmaceutical Development typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the drug development process?

A Director of Pharmaceutical Development regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, including research scientists, regulatory affairs, clinical development, and manufacturing departments. This role acts as a bridge to ensure alignment between scientific objectives, regulatory requirements, and commercial goals. Effective communication and project management skills are crucial, as the director must coordinate timelines, resolve technical challenges, and integrate feedback from different stakeholders to advance projects efficiently. Collaboration is key to ensuring that product development stays on track and meets both quality standards and regulatory expectations.

What does a Director of Pharmaceutical Development do?

A Director of Pharmaceutical Development leads and oversees the process of developing new pharmaceutical products, from initial concept through to clinical trials and regulatory approval. They manage teams of scientists, coordinate with regulatory agencies, and ensure projects meet timelines, budgets, and quality standards. Additionally, they collaborate with cross-functional departments such as research, manufacturing, and marketing to align product development with business goals. Their role is crucial in bringing safe and effective medications to market.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Pharmaceutical Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Pharmaceutical Development, you need advanced expertise in pharmaceutical sciences, drug development processes, and regulatory compliance, typically supported by a PhD or PharmD and significant industry experience. Familiarity with tools like LIMS, project management software, and knowledge of FDA/EMA submission systems is crucial. Outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies ensure effective management of complex development pipelines, regulatory success, and alignment with organizational goals.

What is the difference between Director Pharmaceutical Development vs Senior Pharmaceutical Scientist?

AspectDirector Pharmaceutical DevelopmentSenior Pharmaceutical Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (PhD, PharmD), extensive industry experienceMaster's or PhD in pharmaceutical sciences or related field
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, strategic planning, cross-department collaborationResearch, formulation, laboratory work
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, R&D divisionsResearch labs, development teams within pharma companies

The main difference is that the Director Pharmaceutical Development oversees strategic development projects and manages teams, while the Senior Pharmaceutical Scientist focuses on hands-on research and formulation work. The director role involves leadership and planning, whereas the senior scientist role emphasizes technical expertise and experimentation.

More about Director Pharmaceutical Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Pharmaceutical Development jobs? Cities with the most Director Pharmaceutical Development job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Pharmaceutical Development jobs? The most popular types of Pharmaceutical Development jobs are:
What states have the most Director Pharmaceutical Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Pharmaceutical Development jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Pharmaceutical Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,598 per year, or $39.7 per hour.
Director, Pharmaceutical Development

Director, Pharmaceutical Development

Spyglass Pharma

Aliso Viejo, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

About SpyGlass Pharma:


At SpyGlass Pharma (NASDAQ: SGP), we are focused on improving and preserving the vision of patients suffering from chronic eye conditions, while minimizing the impact on their daily lives. We aim to achieve this by developing cutting-edge long-term drug delivery products to address common causes of blindness and getting these products to the patients that need them.

We have built a highly collaborative team with deep expertise across ophthalmology, drug delivery, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Our scientists, engineers, and clinical leaders bring decades of experience developing and commercializing breakthrough technologies, united by a shared commitment to patients and our guiding principle: "We create for patients." That mindset shapes how we build our products, our teams, and our culture.

Backed by strong clinical progress, significant funding, and a growing organization, SpyGlass Pharma is entering an exciting stage of growth as we advance our lead program, the SpyGlass BIM-IOL, through Phase 3 clinical development.


Summary:


We are seeking a Director of Pharmaceutical Development to join our team at SpyGlass Pharma. This role will lead late-stage formulation development activities for our lead program as it advances through Phase 3 clinical development toward submission.


The Director will provide technical and strategic leadership for drug product formulation, scale-up, and CMC development activities required to support late-stage clinical programs and regulatory filings. This individual will work closely with cross-functional teams including analytical development, manufacturing, quality, regulatory affairs, and external development partners to ensure the successful progression of the program toward commercialization.


This role will also lead and mentor a team of scientists and technicians responsible for formulation and process development activities and will play a key role in developing CMC strategies supporting NDA and potential lifecycle management activities including ANDA considerations


Essential Duties & Responsibilities:


  • Lead formulation development and CMC activities for late-stage small molecule drug products supporting Phase 3 clinical programs and NDA submission.
  • Develop and execute formulation and process development strategies aligned with regulatory expectations for late-stage development and commercialization.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for small molecule drug product formulation, ensuring robust, scalable, and commercially viable formulations.
  • Lead and manage a team of scientists and technicians responsible for formulation development and technical studies.
  • Design and oversee formulation optimization, stability studies, process characterization, and scale-up activities required for registration.
  • Provide strategic leadership for CMC development plans supporting NDA submissions and lifecycle management strategies, including potential ANDA considerations.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including analytical development, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and clinical teams to ensure alignment of development activities.
  • Author, review, and contribute to CMC sections of regulatory submissions including INDs, NDAs, and related regulatory documentation.
  • Manage and oversee activities at Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of development and manufacturing milestones.
  • Support technology transfer, process validation, and preparation for commercial manufacturing.
  • Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure program timelines and regulatory objectives are achieved.
  • Provide technical leadership in interactions with regulatory agencies and preparation for regulatory meetings as needed.

Qualifications Required For Position:


  • PhD or MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical development with a focus on small molecule drug product formulation.
  • Demonstrated experience leading late-stage pharmaceutical development programs supporting Phase 3 clinical trials and NDA submissions.
  • Preference to candidates with ophthalmic drug products or drug delivery systems, or aseptic or sterile pharmaceutical formulations.
  • Direct experience contributing to CMC sections of regulatory submissions including NDA and/or ANDA filings.
  • Strong expertise in formulation development, scale-up, process development, and technology transfer.
  • Experience managing and mentoring scientific teams in pharmaceutical development environments.
  • Experience working with CDMOs and external development partners.
  • Strong understanding of cGMP requirements and regulatory expectations for late-stage pharmaceutical development.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple development programs.+


Why SpyGlass Pharma?


  • We are offering a range of $225,000 - $250,000, based on experience and qualifications, along with an Annual Bonus opportunity.
  • Share in our success with stock options, giving you a stake in the company's future.
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans to keep you and your family healthy and happy, with a variety of plan and coverage options.
  • Generous paid time off, including holidays, vacation days, and personal leave.

SpyGlass Pharma is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. SpyGlass Pharma takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

SpyGlass Pharma is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to JOBS@SPYGLASSPHARMA.COM and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.