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Medical Safety Director Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Site Safety Coordinator

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Direct site emergency response activities with respect to GFT employees. * Collaborate with ... addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. • Tax-deferred 401(k) ...

Site Safety Coordinator

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Direct site emergency response activities with respect to GFT employees. * Collaborate with ... addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. • Tax-deferred 401(k) ...

Direct site emergency response activities with respect to GFT employees. * Collaborate with ... medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.

Direct site emergency response activities with respect to GFT employees. * Collaborate with ... medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.

Medical Director

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$218K - $272K/yr

We are seeking a dedicated Hospice Medical Director to join our leadership team and provide expert ... This is a safety-sensitive position * Employee must meet minimum requirements to be eligible for ...

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Showing results 1-20

Medical Safety Director information

See Reston, VA salary details

$75.9K

$168.9K

$255.9K

How much do medical safety director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for medical safety director in Reston, VA is $168,944.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,000.00 and $215,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a medical safety director do?

A Medical Safety Director is responsible for overseeing the safety of pharmaceutical products or medical devices throughout their lifecycle. They lead teams that monitor, assess, and manage risks related to patient safety, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Their duties often include reviewing safety data, reporting adverse events, and implementing risk management strategies. Medical Safety Directors work closely with regulatory agencies, clinical teams, and other departments to protect patient well-being and improve product safety.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a medical safety director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Medical Safety Director, you need extensive knowledge of pharmacovigilance, regulatory requirements, and clinical risk assessment, typically supported by a degree in medicine, pharmacy, or life sciences. Familiarity with safety databases (like Argus or ArisGlobal), signal detection tools, and relevant certifications (such as RAC or CCRA) is highly valued. Excellent leadership, analytical thinking, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for guiding teams and interacting with regulatory authorities. These competencies ensure patient safety, regulatory compliance, and successful management of medical product risks in the healthcare industry.

What are some common challenges faced by a medical safety director, and how can they be managed effectively?

Medical Safety Directors often navigate challenges such as rapidly evolving regulatory requirements, managing cross-functional safety teams, and responding to urgent safety signals. Effective management involves staying updated on global pharmacovigilance regulations, fostering strong communication across clinical, regulatory, and research teams, and implementing robust risk assessment processes. Proactive collaboration and continuous training are key to ensuring timely and accurate safety data reporting, which helps mitigate risks and maintain compliance.

What is the difference between Medical Safety Director vs Medical Safety Specialist?

AspectMedical Safety DirectorMedical Safety Specialist
CredentialsMedical degree, safety certifications, experience in drug safetyRelated certifications, such as pharmacovigilance training, with less managerial experience
Work EnvironmentOversees safety programs, manages teams, collaborates with regulatory agenciesSupports safety data collection, conducts analysis, assists in safety reporting
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, healthcare organizationsPharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, healthcare settings

The Medical Safety Director typically holds a leadership role, overseeing safety strategies and teams, while the Medical Safety Specialist focuses on data analysis and safety reporting. Both roles require relevant safety certifications and industry experience, but the director has broader responsibilities and managerial duties.

Do medical safety directors get paid more?

Medical Safety Directors typically earn higher salaries compared to other safety or compliance roles due to their specialized expertise, leadership responsibilities, and often advanced certifications such as RAC or CSP. Their compensation varies based on experience, industry, and organization size, but they generally receive higher pay reflecting their critical role in ensuring patient and staff safety in healthcare settings.

How much does a Medical Safety Director make in the US?

A Medical Safety Director in the US typically earns between $150,000 and $200,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the organization. They often hold advanced certifications and have extensive knowledge of pharmacovigilance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

What are popular job titles related to Medical Safety Director jobs in Reston, VA?

For Medical Safety Director jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Medical Safety Director jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Medical Safety Director jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Medical Safety Director jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Medical Safety Director job openings:

Senior Director, Global Medical Safety, Global Pharmacovigilance (psychedelics)

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

Washington, DC • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Remote

Full time

R12299

Senior Director, Global Medical Safety physician (psychedelics), leads and supports safety team(s) in all aspects of pharmacovigilance and risk management activities for assigned products, both marketed and in development.

This role will provide proactive strategic and operational safety leadership for Otsuka’s late-stage psychedelic development portfolio (~4 assets). S/he will serve as the medical safety lead for investigational psychedelic compounds, ensuring proactive identification, assessment, communication and mitigation of safety risks in a highly specialized and evolving therapeutic landscape. The role requires deep expertise in clinical safety, neuropsychiatric risk assessment and benefit-risk evaluation, strong strategic mindset combined with the ability to navigate the unique clinical, operational, ethical and regulatory considerations associated with psychedelic compounds. S/he will establish a robust safety strategy that supports accelerated development, while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and scientific integrity. The Safety physician will partner closely with the Medical Safety Therapeutic Area Lead, Head of Medical Safety, Head of Global PV (GPV), Global Clinical Development (GCD), Clinical Management (CM) and Global Regulatory Affairs (GRA) Biometrics, and Translation Medicine to identify, evaluate and communicate safety issues relevant to psychedelic portfolio.

Key Job Responsibilities

  • Serves as the medical safety expert for assigned products for late stage development through commercialization.

  • Maintains accurate and complete knowledge of assigned investigational and marketed products, being monitored by Otsuka, co-marketers, cosponsors, and/ or affiliates.

  • Develops and leads global safety strategy for late-stage psychedelic development portfolio.

  • Develops safety monitoring approach for psychedelic class, (eg acute altered states of consciousness, perceptual disturbances, emotional dysregulation, prolonged psychological effects, etc)

  • Partners with GCD, CM and GRA to define appropriate therapist/guide escalation procedures and emergency intervention frameworks.

  • Develops integrated benefit-risk frameworks tailored to psychedelic-assisted therapies and novel neuropsychiatric mechanisms.

  • Serves as the safety representative on asset strategy and governance teams (Product Development Committee (PDC) and Research & Development Teams (RDT).

  • Contributes to TrPP and overall development strategy.

  • Establishes standards for psychological safety monitoring before, during and after dosing sessions.

  • Chairs product level safety governance cross-functional meetings

  • Provides strategic regulatory safety leadership and authors safety content for Phase 2/3 protocols as well as global regulatory submissions, including INDs, NDAs, MAAs and other health authority filings. Ensures safety sections are scientifically robust, regulatory-compliant and aligned with overall development and registration strategy.

  • Represent Global Safety in regulatory interactions; presenting and defending safety findings, emerging safety signals and benefit-risk evaluations, while providing clear scientific and clinical interpretation to enable regulatory decision making.

  • Responsible for authoring safety surveillance plan and reviewing case report forms, investigator brochures, CSRs, package inserts, and NDA/PLA documents, including patient narratives.

  • Responsible for medical analysis and assessing patient safety impact for product quality or other quality related events

  • Keeps abreast of industry standards and initiatives regarding signal detection, risk management, and risk communication.

  • Represents GPV CS&PV at Labeling Committee/ Executive Committee discussions on new information impacting product profile.

  • Manages the continuous analysis of adverse events to identify signals and trends for assigned products.

  • Performs review and approval of clinical trial medical coding.

  • Participates in the creation and revisioning of SOPs.

  • Provides strategic input on safety issues during development portfolio reviews and governance meetings.

  • Prepares/review safety summaries for inclusion in medical information write-ups, including analysis of similar events in alert reports.

  • Provides medical analysis and decision making for the development and maintenance of the Company Core Data Sheet, risk management plans (RMPs/REMS) and individual case safety reports.

  • Keeps management informed of any critical safety issues on monitored products.

  • Serves as mentor and resource for GPV Associates, Scientists and Safety physicians.

  • Participates in providing training to GPV team members and other Otsuka staff as appropriate, on the epidemiological and regulatory aspects of programs.

  • Participates in inspection and audit readiness activities as medical safety subject matter expert.

  • Utilizes technical/medical knowledge to assist GPV team members in the assessment of adverse event reports.

  • Keeps abreast of current developments in the field and maintains knowledge base by attending seminars, professional association meetings, and maintaining industry and professional network.

Key Experience and Leadership Requirements

Required

  • Ability to lead and operate in a highly ambiguous and evolving regulatory and scientific space

  • Strong decision-making ability within a rapidly evolving external landscape

  • Exceptional communication and cross-functional collaboration

  • Ability to influence without authority

Preferred

  • Psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trial experience

  • Knowledge of controlled substance regulations and DEA requirements

  • Experience with suicidality monitoring tools (C-SSRS, etc.) and abuse liability monitoring

Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, Education, and Experience

Knowledge:

  • Requires a strong medical background evidenced by clinical training.

  • Proven track record of innovation in Medical Safety strategy, implementation and execution.

  • Proven strategic resource management experience (i.e. applying strategic planning, deployment and utilization of resources and technology to effectively fulfill the org/department’s mission).

  • Proven business and market knowledge (i.e., understanding stakeholder needs regarding business environments and developing strategies to maximize value to the organization).

  • Solid knowledge of FDA and global PV regulations.

  • Knowledge of clinical trials, good clinical practices, and ICH guidelines.

  • Experience in preparing and reviewing safety content for global regulatory filings (IND/NDA/MAA).

  • Experience of working in a global setting.

Skills:

  • Excellent technical skills, including the ability to comprehend and integrate scientific data from a variety of sources.

  • Knows how/when to apply organizational policy or procedures to a variety of situations.

Competencies:

  • Self-starter with proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced team environment handling multiple simultaneous high priority tasks.

  • Ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment and drive safety initiatives.

Education and Related Experience:

  • MD degree (required) with US medical license (preferred).

  • Demonstrated experience (at least 10 years) as a Safety/PV professional in pharmaceutical industry.

  • Ability to act as in-house authority/leader in Global Pharmacovigilance; and be fully accountable for Safety of assigned products.

  • High level of medical competence, with an ability to balance this with industry standards to achieve business goals.

  • A thorough knowledge of the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical industry, especially clinical research and global regulatory requirements, and practices governing expedited and periodic safety reporting, signal generation, safety evaluation, and risk management activities.

  • Able to work across therapeutic areas and functions.

  • Works collaboratively (establishes shared purpose across boundaries).

  • Develops people and the organization (invests in long-term development of others).

  • Experience interacting with global regulatory authorities.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

  • Travel (approx 20%) as and when required.

  • Global role which requires occasional after-hours meetings with Japan.

Competencies

Accountability for Results - Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change.

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving - Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business.

Patient & Customer Centricity - Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.

Impactful Communication - Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.

Respectful Collaboration - Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.

Empowered Development - Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.

Minimum $249,973.00 - Maximum $388,125.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws.

Application Deadline : This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.

Company benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, a generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits.

Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka .

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation, if you are unable or limited in your ability to apply to this job opening as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Accommodation Request (EEAccommodations@otsuka-us.com) .

Statement Regarding Job Recruiting Fraud Scams

At Otsuka we take security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please be aware individuals may approach you and falsely present themselves as our employees or representatives. They may use this false pretense to try to gain access to your personal information or acquire money from you by offering fictitious employment opportunities purportedly on our behalf.

Please understand, Otsuka will never ask for financial information of any kind or for payment of money during the job application process. We do not require any financial, credit card or bank account information and/or any payment of any kind to be considered for employment. We will also not offer you money to buy equipment, software, or for any other purpose during the job application process. If you are being asked to pay or offered money for equipment fees or some other application processing fee, even if claimed you will be reimbursed, this is not Otsuka. These claims are fraudulent and you are strongly advised to exercise caution when you receive such an offer of employment.

Otsuka will also never ask you to download a third-party application in order to communicate about a legitimate job opportunity. Scammers may also send offers or claims from a fake email address or from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc, and not from an official Otsuka email address. Please take extra caution while examining such an email address, as the scammers may misspell an official Otsuka email address and use a slightly modified version duplicating letters.

To ensure that you are communicating about a legitimate job opportunity at Otsuka, please only deal directly with Otsuka through its official Otsuka Career website https://vhr-otsuka.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External .

Otsuka will not be held liable or responsible for any claims, losses, damages or expenses resulting from job recruiting scams. If you suspect a position is fraudulent, please contact Otsuka’s call center at: 800-363-5670. If you believe you are the victim of fraud resulting from a job recruiting scam, pl