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Scientific Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The SERM Scientific Director will provide in-depth medical/scientific expertise in the safety evaluation and risk management of key GSK assets or in clinical development and/or the post-marketing ...

SERM Scientific Director Business Introduction At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on ...

Associate Scientific Director About Us Virgo Health works for pharmaceutical, biotech, and device companies to inform and educate healthcare professionals about the latest developments in clinical ...

Associate Scientific Director About Us Virgo Health works for pharmaceutical, biotech, and device companies to inform and educate healthcare professionals about the latest developments in clinical ...

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Scientific Director information

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$92K

$156.7K

$193.5K

How much do scientific director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for scientific director in the United States is $156,723.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $149,500.00 and $169,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Scientific Director vs Research Scientist?

AspectScientific DirectorResearch Scientist
Required credentialsAdvanced degrees (PhD or MD), extensive research experienceTypically a PhD or Master's degree in a relevant field
Work environmentLeadership roles in labs, research institutions, or pharmaceutical companiesLaboratory or field research settings, often under supervision
Employer and industry usageUsed in biotech, pharma, academia for overseeing research programsCommon in research labs, academia, and industry for conducting experiments

The main difference is that a Scientific Director oversees research programs and manages teams, requiring leadership skills and strategic planning, while a Research Scientist focuses on conducting experiments and generating data. Both roles require advanced degrees, but the Scientific Director has broader responsibilities in guiding research direction.

How does a Scientific Director typically collaborate with cross-functional teams in a research organization?

Scientific Directors play a central role in coordinating efforts across various departments, such as research scientists, clinical teams, regulatory affairs, and business development. They facilitate communication to ensure that scientific objectives align with organizational goals and project timelines. Regular meetings, joint project planning, and shared data platforms are commonly used to maintain transparency and drive progress. This collaborative approach helps streamline decision-making and fosters innovation by integrating diverse expertise.

What is a Scientific Director?

A Scientific Director is a senior leader responsible for overseeing and guiding the scientific research and development efforts within an organization. They set the strategic direction for research programs, manage scientific teams, and ensure projects align with the organization’s goals and regulatory standards. Scientific Directors often collaborate with other departments, secure funding, and represent the organization at conferences or in partnerships. Their role is crucial in driving innovation and maintaining the quality and integrity of scientific work.

What Does a Scientific Director Do?

A scientific director manages research programs for a company, organization, or institution. Your job duties can vary depending on where you work, but as a scientific director, you help define the research direction of an organization. You may oversee laboratory experiments, hire researchers to meet staffing needs, and offer guidance so that the research meets specific goals. You establish initiatives and create strategies that help your facility meet particular objectives. A scientific director sometimes acts as a liaison between researchers and other executives or administrators.

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

To thrive as a Scientific Director, you need advanced expertise in scientific research, typically supported by a Ph.D. and significant leadership experience in your field. Proficiency with research management tools, data analysis software, and familiarity with regulatory compliance systems is expected. Strong strategic thinking, communication, and team leadership skills set exceptional candidates apart. These skills are vital for driving innovative research, managing multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring project success within organizational and regulatory frameworks.
What cities are hiring for Scientific Director jobs? Cities with the most Scientific Director job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Scientific jobs? The most popular types of Scientific jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Scientific Director jobs? The top employers for Scientific Director jobs are:
What states have the most Scientific Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Scientific Director jobs include:
Infographic showing various Scientific Director job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $156,723 per year, or $75.3 per hour.
SERM Scientific Director

SERM Scientific Director

GlaxoSmithKline

Upper Providence, PA

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


GlaxoSmithKline rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

8th of 71 rated pharmaceutical


Job description


At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people's lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients' needs and have the highest probability of success. We're uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.
Find out more:
Our approach to R&D
Position Summary:

The SERM Scientific Director will provide in-depth medical/scientific expertise in the safety evaluation and risk management of key GSK assets or in clinical development and/or the post-marketing setting. This individual will ensure scientifically sound review and interpretation of data and management of safety issues and escalates safety issues identified through the safety review process to senior management and safety governance as appropriate. In addition to this you will also make recommendations for the further characterization, management, and communication of safety risks.

  • In this critical role, you will focus on efficiency and effectiveness to meet the needs of our Patients and HCPs. Supporting the pharmacovigilance and benefit-risk management of the assigned portfolio of GSK global assets to ensure Patient Safety globally.
  • Accountable for the product team level GSK asset Benefit Risk profile and Benefit Risk management.
  • Provides in-depth medical/scientific expertise in the safety evaluation and risk management of key GSK assets or in clinical development and/or the post-marketing setting.


Responsibilities:
This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following:

  • Leads Pharmacovigilance and Risk Management Planning and develops strategy for approach to evaluation of issues in the clinical matrix.
  • Leads the safety component of global regulatory submissions.
  • Expert evaluation skills and analytical thinking for literature review, clinical data synthesis, analysis and interpretation.
  • Demonstrated track record of quality decision making and creative problem resolution, based on assessment of all relevant supporting and conflicting information/factors and understanding of the wider context.
  • Demonstrates highly developed multi-tasking skills, ability to prioritize tasks and consistently delivers on deadlines, with high performance standards for quality.
  • Explores positions and alternatives to reach mutually beneficial agreements and solutions.
  • Leads safety governance by development of safety strategy and its execution for products in clinical development and post marketing settings. Anticipates, detects and addresses product safety issues (e.g., product incidents) and ensures that risk-reduction strategies are implemented appropriately.
  • Facilitates safety governance/SRTs in the clinical development and post marketing settings by assisting in the establishment and operation of cross-functional teams in any SERM to detect and address product safety issues and ensures that risk-reduction strategies are implemented appropriately in clinical study protocols and/or product labelling.
  • Represents GS on cross-functional Clinical Matrix Teams and/or Project Teams. Leads cross-functional ad hoc teams to address urgent and important product safety issues.
  • Leads or participates in cross-functional process initiatives and/or Process Workstreams to drive efforts to improve adherence to regulations, data standards, quality and efficiency.
  • Authors/participates in written standard updates (e.g., SOPs) to ensure policies and regulations are being adhered to correctly and consistently.
  • Accountable for the escalation of issues and communication on safety matters (e.g., GSB, CHSLC, GLC, QPPV).
  • Builds strong working relationships and displays excellent leadership skills on safety issues whilst working in a matrix team, with a demonstrated ability to lead a team in a matrix setting. Ability to coach and mentor others.
  • Leads presentations on recommendations or safety issues to senior staff members at the GSK Senior Governance Committees. Has the skillset to interact with confidence, credibility, and influence at all levels of the GSK organization. In addition, is expected to represent GSK and contribute to safety related discussions at meetings with regulatory authorities, outside consultants and other companies such as licensing partners.
  • Leads cross-functional process improvement team within GSK.
    Thinks tactically/strategically and takes account of the internal and external environment when considering safety issues and changes to SERM processes or business improvements. Contributes to development of long-term strategy for clinical programs.
    Regularly contributes innovative ideas to address new issues or improve approaches to existing operations.
  • Leads inspection readiness and prepared as needed to support audits/inspections.
  • Excellent communication (verbal, written) and influencing (internally and externally) skills.


Why You?
Basic Qualifications:
We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals:

  • Health Sciences/Health Care Professional degree required (e.g., BSc, MS, PhD, RN/BSN/MSN, NP, RPh/B Pharm/Pharm D).
  • Significant pharmacovigilance experience relating to Safety Evaluation and Risk Management, encompassing both clinical development and post-marketing activities
  • Knowledge/experience of international pharmacovigilance requirements (e.g., ICH, GVP modules, CIOMS initiatives) and drug development and approval processes.
  • Experience working in large matrix organizations


Preferred Qualifications:
If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

  • Advanced experience in the Pharmaceutical or Biotech industry working in Medical Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Drug Safety or a related field.
  • Experience working in the Biotech or Pharmaceutical Industry.
  • Experience working in Oncology, specifically solid tumors
  • Experience supporting a product spanning both clinical development and post-marketing phases


What we value:
We communicate clearly and respectfully. We welcome different perspectives and foster inclusion. We make decisions using evidence and act with integrity. If you want to apply your scientific expertise to protect patients and grow professionally within collaborative teams, please apply.
How to apply:
If this role speaks to you, please submit your resume and a brief cover note outlining your relevant experience and interest. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you are based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, the annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges $169,950 to $283,250. If you are based in another US location, the annual base salary range is $154,500 to $257,500. The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate's skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases - to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we're committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

If you require an accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at GSK, please contact the appropriate Recruitment Staff by emailing us at -usrecruitment.adjustments@gsk.com

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

Important notice to Employment businesses/ Agencies

GSK does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact GSK's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to GSK. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and GSK. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of GSK. GSK shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site.

Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK's compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/


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About GlaxoSmithKline

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

GlaxoSmithKline is a globally recognized pharmaceutical and healthcare company based in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Originated from a merger between Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham in 2000, the company excels in the pharmaceutical industry and holds a leading position in making medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. GSK's mission is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer. They adhere to core values of transparency, integrity, respect for people, and patient-focus, reflecting in their endeavors to conduct research and deliver innovative healthcare solutions to patients and consumers worldwide.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Philadelphia, PA, US