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Senior Director Drug Product Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Eli Lilly and Company

Senior Director, Drug Product CMC

$238K - $249K/yr

Our asset-centric model offers a unique R&D logic that has been applied by single asset companies ... Centessa is seeking a Senior Director of Drug Product within the CMC group. The successful ...

Merck & Co.

... Director, Vaccine Drug Product Development, a highly visible role responsible for providing ... Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to senior leadership by integrating scientific ...

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Senior Director Drug Product Development information

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How much do senior director drug product development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior director drug product development in the United States is $163,684.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,500.00 and $185,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior director drug product development do?

A Senior Director of Drug Product Development oversees the strategic planning, formulation, and advancement of pharmaceutical products from early-stage development through to commercialization. They lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines and budgets, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate with stakeholders such as R&D, manufacturing, and quality assurance. Their role is crucial in translating scientific discoveries into safe, effective, and market-ready drug products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior director drug product development?

To thrive as a Senior Director Drug Product Development, you need advanced knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences, drug formulation, and regulatory requirements, typically supported by a PhD or advanced degree and extensive industry experience. Familiarity with tools like QbD (Quality by Design), project management software, and regulatory submission systems (e.g., eCTD) is essential, along with certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma being advantageous. Outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These capabilities are crucial for driving innovation, ensuring compliance, and delivering high-quality drug products on time and within budget.

What are some common challenges faced by a senior director drug product development, and how can they be addressed?

A Senior Director of Drug Product Development often navigates complex regulatory requirements, tight project timelines, and cross-functional team coordination. Managing resource allocation while balancing innovation with compliance is a daily challenge. Success in this role requires strong leadership, effective communication with regulatory and manufacturing teams, and adaptability to shifting priorities. Establishing clear project milestones and fostering collaboration across departments can help mitigate risks and ensure timely product advancement.

What is the difference between Senior Director Drug Product Development vs Director of Drug Development?

AspectSenior Director Drug Product DevelopmentDirector of Drug Development
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (PhD, MS), extensive industry experience, leadership skillsRelevant degrees (PhD, MS), significant industry experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, cross-functional teams, high-level decision makingProject management, team oversight, operational tasks
Industry UsageUsed in large pharma and biotech companies for senior leadership rolesCommon in mid to large companies overseeing drug development projects

The Senior Director Drug Product Development typically holds a higher strategic leadership role with broader responsibilities compared to the Director of Drug Development, focusing on guiding overall product development strategies and managing senior teams.

What cities are hiring for Senior Director Drug Product Development jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Director Drug Product Development job openings:

What states have the most Senior Director Drug Product Development jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Director Drug Product Development jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Director Drug Product Development jobs?

For Senior Director Drug Product Development jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Senior Director Drug Product Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $163,684 per year, or $78.7 per hour.

Associate Director/Director Drug Product Development

Cambridge, MA • On-site

Merida Biosciences
See more jobs at Merida Biosciencesexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Lead drug product manufacturing process design, optimization, and scale-up across non-GMP and cGMP stages.

  • Coordinate with Contract Manufacturing Organizations to ensure technology transfer, GMP drug product delivery, and timely supply for clinical studies.

  • Plan and execute process characterization and validation activities for late-stage and commercial drug product development.

Job description

Description:

Associate Director/Director Drug Product Development

At Merida Biosciences, we are pioneering true precision medicines for antibody-driven diseases. We specifically target pathogenic antibodies and their cellular sources with bespoke Fc biotherapeutics engineered to selectively and eliminate the root causes of autoimmune and allergic diseases, and to achieve deep, durable responses while preserving essential immunity. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our mission to transform treatment paradigms across the spectrum of antibody-driven diseases.


We are seeking a talented Drug Product expert who is interested in joining a highly dynamic team. This position will offer a tremendous opportunity to lead formulation and DP manufacturing for an innovative biologic medicines. Experience in design and scale-up of high concentration formulations for biotherapeutics is critical. Successful candidates will be innovative, thrive in a startup environment and use their creative and imaginative problem-solving skills to help bring new products to patients.


Responsibilities:


  • Lead drug product manufacturing process design, optimization, and scale-up across non-GMP and cGMP stages, partnering with DS, QA, and QC to ensure aligned manufacturing timelines.
  • Lead selection of and interactions with Contract Manufacturing Organizations to ensure technology transfer and delivery of GMP drug product for clinical studies, including review of MBR and EBR and associated documents.  Function as person-in-plant (PIP). Work closely with internal colleagues to ensure timely delivery of drug product supplies for non-clinical and clinical studies as appropriate. 
  • Collaborate with CMC colleagues to ensure suitable DP platform development and support clinical site engagement (dosage forms, Pharmacy Manual, ancillary assessment).
  • Manage the strategy of DP development by planning and executing process characterization and validation activities for late-stage and commercial development, as appropriate.
  • Author DP regulatory sections for global filings, including source document reports as needed.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive strategies for formulation development both internally and with Contract Research Organizations from early stage through commercial platform, including characterization, pre-formulation, and evaluation of multiple formulation options.  
  • Author technical reports (formulation development, tech transfer, batch records, etc) and regulatory documents (IND, IMPD, BLA, etc) as necessary.


Requirements:

Qualifications:


  • MS/Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics, Material Sciences or related discipline with a minimum 8 years' experience in cGMP manufacturing of biologics.
  • Proven track record of developing high concentration biologics drug products. Strong understanding of analytical characterization for biologic molecules (e.g., monoclonal antibody, bispecific antibodies, fc-fusion molecules, etc).
  • Experience working with CRO's and CMO's in directing drug product development and manufacturing.
  • Ideal candidate will have a strong working knowledge of pre-formulation and formulation of high concentration biologics. Experience working with internal discovery teams and a creative mind for novel ideas to resolve technical issues.
  • Goal-oriented team player with excellent communication skills, flexibility, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple teams across the company.


Compensation: We understand that compensation is an important part of considering a new opportunity. Our goal is to be transparent so there are no surprises at the end of the process, and you can feel confident that your offer is both fair and equitable. To support that, we’re sharing our hiring range for this role upfront: typically for the AD/Director level we target $200,000 to $270,000. The final offer will take into account a number of factors, including your skills, experience, location, market data, and internal equity. Along with a competitive salary, we’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both personally and professionally.


Merida Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.



Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited