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Drug Development Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Senior Director, Drug Development Program Leadership Location: Home-based in USA/Europe Job Overview Responsible for Drug Development Program Leadership services. Provides leadership and oversight ...

Senior Director, Drug Development Program Leadership Location: Home-based in USA/Europe Job Overview Responsible for Drug Development Program Leadership services. Provides leadership and oversight ...

Job Level: Senior Director, Drug Development Location: Home-based in USA/Europe Job Overview: Manages a department or small unit.; Provide leadership and advice on the development of optimum ...

Drug Safety Coordinator

Clayton, NC · On-site

$19.23 - $26/hr

Clinical drug development experience preferred. If you are interested in this role, please apply via the apply now link provided. Our overriding goal is to provide quality staffing solutions that ...

D. in a basic or health‑related scientific discipline with related research and drug development experience, with an emphasis in late‑stage clinical development expertise (Preferred). * Strong ...

Ability to apply drug development knowledge during production of high quality statistical analyses. * Perform sample size calculations for a variety of scenarios and study designs. * Leads projects ...

Development Manager

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$55K - $69K/yr

... drug development, partnering with the CF community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care. By joining the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation , you will be part of a dedicated team committed to our ...

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Showing results 1-20

Drug Development information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$32.1K

$75.3K

$129.3K

How much do drug development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for drug development in Raleigh, NC is $75,276.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,900.00 and $88,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is drug development?

Drug development is the process of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to market. It involves several stages, including drug discovery, preclinical research, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. Each stage is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of the drug before it can be made available to patients. The entire process can take several years and requires collaboration between scientists, clinicians, regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.

What are the typical stages of collaboration between different teams in a drug development role?

In drug development, professionals regularly collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including research scientists, clinical trial coordinators, regulatory affairs specialists, and manufacturing experts. Early stages involve close work with research and discovery teams to identify promising compounds, followed by coordination with clinical teams during trial phases, and finally with regulatory and production teams as the drug moves toward approval and commercialization. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are essential, as each stage relies on timely data sharing and joint problem-solving to navigate complex challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in drug development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Drug Development, you need a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biology, or chemistry, often supported by an advanced degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD, or MSc). Familiarity with regulatory compliance, clinical trial management systems, and data analysis software such as SAS or R is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional communication skills help professionals excel in this multidisciplinary field. These competencies ensure that new drugs are developed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory standards.

What is the difference between Drug Development vs Pharmacologist?

AspectDrug DevelopmentPharmacologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fields; often requires experience in clinical trialsDegree in Pharmacology, Pharmacy, or related fields; may require licensing or certification for clinical practice
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, clinical trial sitesResearch labs, hospitals, academic institutions, regulatory agencies
Industry UsageDeveloping new drugs, overseeing clinical trials, regulatory submissionsStudying drug effects, mechanisms, safety, and efficacy; advising on drug use

While both roles are integral to the pharmaceutical industry, Drug Development focuses on creating and bringing new drugs to market through research, testing, and regulatory processes. Pharmacologists primarily study how drugs interact with biological systems, often working in research or clinical settings to understand drug effects and safety. The two roles often collaborate but differ in their core responsibilities and career focus.

How much do drug development professionals make?

Drug development professionals, including roles such as research scientists and clinical trial managers, typically earn salaries ranging from $70,000 to over $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior positions or those with specialized skills and certifications can earn higher salaries, especially in biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Is drug development a good career?

Drug development is a challenging and rewarding career that involves research, clinical trials, and regulatory processes to bring new medications to market. It requires strong scientific knowledge, attention to detail, and often collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. The field offers opportunities for growth, innovation, and contributing to public health, but can also involve long hours and high responsibility.

What career develops drugs?

A career in drug development typically involves roles such as pharmacologist, medicinal chemist, clinical researcher, or regulatory affairs specialist. These professionals work in laboratories, research facilities, or pharmaceutical companies to discover, test, and bring new drugs to market, often requiring knowledge of biology, chemistry, and regulatory processes.

What are popular job titles related to Drug Development jobs in Raleigh, NC?

For Drug Development jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Drug Development jobs?

Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Drug Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Drug Development job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,276 per year, or $36.2 per hour.

Sr Director, Drug Development Lead

IQVIA

Durham, NC • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago


IQVIA rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

62nd of 225 rated it services


Job description

Job Level: Senior Director, Drug Development Program Leadership

Location: Home-based in USA/Europe

Job Overview

Responsible for Drug Development Program Leadership services. Provides leadership and oversight for the successful delivery of complex pharmaceutical and biotechnology development programs across all stages of development. Leads integrated cross-functional teams and serves as a senior strategic advisor to customers on drug development strategy, portfolio governance, program execution, indication prioritization, asset development planning, and development decision-making.

Responsible for the leadership, development, and performance of Program Leaders, Project Managers, Clinical Scientists, and Drug Development Leaders. Drives operational excellence, customer satisfaction, business growth, and delivery excellence while ensuring consistent execution of high-quality strategic drug development and program leadership.

This role has direct line management responsibility for Project Managers, Clinical Scientists, and Drug Development Leaders and is accountable for the overall performance and delivery excellence of DDRS (Drug Development and Regulatory solutions) projects and programs. The role is responsible for establishing and advancing program leadership and project management capabilities across DDRS, ensuring consistent standards of execution, governance, and customer delivery across the portfolio.

Participates in all aspects of Drug Development Program Leadership and leads the implementation of mission, goals and objectives, development of policies, procedures and standards for the department. Provides thought leadership in pharmaceutical product development and program leadership through publications, white papers, blogs, industry conferences, webinars, and customer forums, as appropriate.

Essential Functions
  • Lead and oversee the successful delivery of complex drug development programs and portfolios for biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, budgets, quality expectations, risks, and stakeholder requirements.
  • Provide strategic leadership to integrated cross-functional drug development teams spanning clinical development, translational medicine, biometrics, medical affairs, regulatory affairs and other key drug development functions
  • Evaluate and develop integrated drug development strategies for pharmaceutical products, biologics, and advanced therapies, including Target Product Profiles (TPPs), Clinical Development Plans (CDPs), indication prioritization, asset lifecycle planning, and portfolio decision-making.
  • Lead program governance activities including executive steering committees, portfolio reviews, risk management, issue resolution, milestone planning, and strategic decision-making forums.
  • Support the innovative development of compounds to maximize scientific, technical, operational, and commercial success throughout the development lifecycle.
  • Ensure high-quality, well-reasoned, objective deliverables that meet the highest standards of scientific integrity, operational excellence, and customer expectation.
  • Provide drug development expertise to support clients strategic business activities, due diligence opportunities, portfolio assessments, and investment decisions.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing organization of Program Leaders, Project Managers, Clinical Scientists, and Drug Development Leaders through recruitment, coaching, mentoring, performance management, career development, and succession planning.
  • Establish and maintain program leadership frameworks, methodologies, best practices, governance models, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives that improve delivery consistency and customer outcomes.
  • Drive the development and advancement of program leadership and project management capabilities across DDRS through competency frameworks, training programs, mentoring initiatives, and operational excellence activities.
  • Ensure Customer Satisfaction by working closely with Senior Management, Therapeutic Units, Functional Leadership, and Operations Heads to ensure optimum strategic guidance and successful execution of customer development programs.
  • Serve as a key resource and participate in strategic business development activities including proposal development, solution design, bid defense presentations, strategic account planning, and customer relationship management.
  • Assist in the development of programs that maximize organizational growth, profitability, customer retention, and service excellence.
  • Provide internal and external educational services related to drug development strategy, program leadership, governance, portfolio management, and operational excellence.
  • Contribute to the continued growth of IQVIA's Drug Development Program Leadership capabilities.
  • Ensure compliance with all business office requirements for tracking time, effort, quality, and performance metrics.
Qualifications
  • Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, MD, MBA, or equivalent) or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
  • Typically requires 15-20+ years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO drug development experience with a global or multi-regional focus, including significant experience in senior strategic and operational leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex drug development programs and portfolios across multiple therapeutic areas and stages of development.
  • Significant experience leading integrated cross-functional development teams responsible for drug development strategy and execution.
  • Proven experience in managing the development and implementing Target Product Profiles (TPPs), Clinical Development Plans (CDPs), indication selection strategies, development roadmaps, governance models, and portfolio plans.
  • Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership and guidance to biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers.
  • Proven people leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including key drug development functions .
  • Experience within a Contract Research Organisation (CRO) or biopharmaceutical company.
  • Requires broad management and leadership knowledge to lead multiple functional areas, influence senior stakeholders, and drive strategic organizational initiatives.
  • Strong strategic thinking, analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to thrive in a culture of achievement.
  • Client-focused and consultative approach that combines strategic vision, operational excellence, and customer-centric delivery.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior customer stakeholders and act as a strategic advisor on complex drug development challenges.
  • Demonstrates a strong command of program leadership methodologies, portfolio management principles, governance frameworks, risk management practices, and organizational leadership techniques.
  • Grasps key issues quickly, understand the broader drug development landscape, and links scientific and operational insights to larger business and development objectives.
  • Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills and is effective in executive presentations, governance boards, customer meetings, and strategic decision-making forums.
  • Has a strong commitment to quality, delivery excellence, operational effectiveness, and customer success.
  • Has a proven track record of meeting or exceeding business, customer, organizational, and operational goals.
  • Expertise in Excel, PowerPoint, program/ project management tools, and portfolio management practices.
  • Early development experience, including translational medicine, clinical pharmacology, biomarker strategy, CMC, or related disciplines is highly desirable.
  • Recognized as a strategic thought leader in drug development and program leadership, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders and drive successful development outcomes.

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IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more athttps://jobs.iqvia.com

IQVIA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law. https://jobs.iqvia.com/eoe

IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.

The potential base pay range for this role, when annualized, is $186,300.00 - $519,000.00. The actual base pay offered may vary based on a number of factors including job-related qualifications such as knowledge, skills, education, and experience; location; and/or schedule (full or part-time). Dependent on the position offered, incentive plans, bonuses, and/or other forms of compensation may be offered, in addition to a range of health and welfare and/or other benefits.

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About IQVIA

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At IQVIA, we are passionate about helping customers and partners improve results and patient outcomes. Everything we do contributes to this vision for creating a healthier world. In today’s healthcare environment, it’s not only about how much data, information, and technology you have at your fingertips – it’s what you do with it. IQVIA is focused on making intelligent connections for customers across the entire healthcare ecosystem to help you drive healthcare forward. Whether that means partnering with novel technology companies to boost patient engagement, leveraging AI & machine learning to accelerate results, or using decentralized trials to reach the right patients wherever they are – we are always looking for smarter ways to move you forward.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Durham, NC, US