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$43K

$82.6K

$162K

How much do director pharmaceutical development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 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.

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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:
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Director Pharmaceutical Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Pharmaceutical Development job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, and 3% Part Time. 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.

Associate Director, Drug Product Development

Jazz Pharmaceutical

Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

If you are a current Jazz employee please apply via the Internal Career site
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases - often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com for more information.
Job Description
The Associate Director of Drug Product Development is responsible for providing scientific and technical leadership for Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Pharmaceutical Development programs at various stages of the development life-cycle including preformulation, formulation and process development, technical transfer and validation. The Associate Director of Drug Product Development will oversee drug product aspects of development and manufacturing projects from pre-formulation and product feasibility through to clinical trial supply and technology transfer/commercialization. In addition, the Associate Director of Drug Product Development may provide leadership of cross-functional CMC development teams. The Associate Director of Drug Product Development will have broad experience in pharmaceutical product development, demonstrated problem solving ability, module 3 authorship, development of robust manufacturing processes through designed experiments and data analysis, and excellent project management, teamwork and leadership skills.
Essential Functions
  • Leads the development of small molecule drug product formulations, appropriate to the phase of pharmaceutical development, with sufficient stability and robustness for clinical and/or commercial manufacturing.
  • Responsible for specifying product and process requirements, including manufacturing equipment and methods, performance criteria, materials, test protocols, required analytical methodology, packaging (clinical and commercial); and in developing robust processes for pharmaceutical production.
  • Directs projects and leads cross-functional teams (as required) with technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration with others to achieve project goals on time and within budget.
  • Create intellectual property covering Jazz Pharmaceuticals products and ensure freedom to operate in the development of new drug products
  • Support the identification and selection of suitable drug product development and commercial manufacturing vendors (CMOs).
  • Direct technical projects (internally and at CDMOs) including developing detailed technical work plans and managing performance of vendors.
  • Work cooperatively with, or lead, internal and external teams as required.
  • Author CMC sections of regulatory dossiers for products at all stages to enable acceptance by global regulators.
  • Supports asset due diligence and new product introduction and integrations
  • Apply current knowledge of cGMP and industry standards for process design and validation to manage vendors and contract development organizations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • >10 years' experience in drug product development in the pharmaceutical industry required. Direct experience with formulation development, process development, technical transfer and/or process validation.
  • Demonstrated technical proficiency, engineering, collaboration with others, and independent thought. Strong teamwork skills.
  • Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving skills including the use of designed experiments, statistical process control,
  • Development/authorship of CMC regulatory filings for pharmaceutical products.
  • Broad exposure to multiple drug delivery technologies and knowledge of standard dosage forms preferred.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Current knowledge of quality systems and FDA and EU regulations as they relate to pharmaceutical development and validation.
  • Experience in intellectual property development desirable.
  • Proven project management skills for technical programs.
  • Flexibility to travel on company business when required

Required/Preferred Education and Licenses
  • Advanced degree in Chemistry, Pharm. Sci., Engineering, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and work-related experience required.

Description of Physical Demands
  • Occasional mobility within office environment. Routinely sitting for extended periods of time.
  • Constantly operating a computer, printer, telephone and other similar office machinery.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
FOR US BASED CANDIDATES ONLY
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that are market competitive. For this role, the full and complete base pay range is:
$157,600.00 - $236,400.00
Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, and other pertinent factors. The goal is to ensure fair and competitive compensation aligned with the candidate's expertise and contributions, within the established pay framework and our Total Compensation philosophy. Internal equity considerations will also influence individual base pay decisions. This range will be reviewed on a regular basis.
At Jazz, your base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate may also be eligible for a discretionary annual cash bonus or incentive compensation (depending on the role), in accordance with the terms of the Company's Global Cash Bonus Plan or Incentive Compensation Plan, as well as discretionary equity grants in accordance with Jazz's Long Term Equity Incentive Plan.
The successful candidate will also be eligible to participate in various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation. For more information on our Benefits offerings please click here: https://careers.jazzpharma.com/benefits.html

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