Clinical Data Manager Jobs in California
Clinical Data Manager jobs in California are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where the state's dense biotech and pharmaceutical industries drive consistent demand for data oversight professionals across clinical trials, oncology, and rare disease programs. Employers such as Genentech, Gilead Sciences, and AstraZeneca maintain substantial California operations and hire clinical data managers at the associate, mid-level, and senior levels on a rolling basis. California stands as one of the most active markets in the country for this role, particularly for candidates with experience in EDC systems and regulatory submissions. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE
Manages a team to build, develop and lead a high performing data and digital strategy team of managers and analysts, scaling capabilities as the organization evolves. Establish standards and architectural principles for data modeling, metadata management, semantic interoperability, ontology governance, and FAIR data implementation across the Clinical Development organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for oversight of all aspects of data and digital strategy in Development Sciences.
- Work closely with IT, Quality, Programming and Governance teams to define scalable and compliant data standards and digital solutions.
- Define the future state digital ecosystem and lead product vision, roadmaps, investment priorities, business cases and tradeoff decisions. Balance near-term launch and growth needs with long-term platform, data, integration and lifecycle strategy.
- Develop roadmaps for scientific data platforms metadata capabilities, knowledge systems and AI-ready data assets.
- Set employee goals, conduct performance assessments and mentor and provide professional development opportunities for staff.
- As part of the Digital Strategy, Analytics and Programming leadership team, define, develop, and implement procedures, guidelines and policies for good programming practices.
- Adhere to FDA regulations regarding training records, guidelines, and SOPs.
- Seeks continual improvement: creates or modifies processes to improve effectiveness, efficiency, communication or compliance.
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation and scientific partnership.
- Define training curriculum for new employees and contractors, particularly departmental programming conventions and standards.
- Partner with biostatisticians and clinical data management staff to establish clinical data collection, management, and/or data reporting standards.
- Communicate progress, milestones, and issues to department management.
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Complies with all policies and standards
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Directly supervises employee(s) and via other subordinate supervisors.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS & ABILITIES
Education
- BS/BA degree in related discipline and a minimum of 18 years of related experience; or,
- MS/MA degree in related discipline and a minimum of 16 years of related experience; or,
- PhD in related discipline and a minimum of 15 years of related experience; or,
- Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience
- Experience in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry.
- Expertise with Databricks, Spark, Delta Lake, vector databases, and cloud-native data platforms.
- Experience writing code in R and Python.
- Experience recruiting, hiring and supervising analysts.
- Experience authoring SOPs and work instructions.
- Experience in oncology and study phases I - III studies highly desirable.
- Experience enabling machine learning, generative AI, retrieval architecture and agentic systems through modern data architecture.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Required:
- Good managerial and organizational skills.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of appropriate FDA regulations, industry standards, and guidance documents.
- Understand the clinical research process, trial designs, and the development of protocols and analysis plans.
- Proficient in computer skills relevant to data and digital strategy, data lakes, semantic layers, and analytics platforms.
- Knowledge of FDA GxP compliance and qualification.
Travel Requirements
- 5% Some travel may be required
#LI-JP1
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: ApplicantAccommodations@exelixis.com.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Data Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Science & Research
- Consulting & Professional Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical data manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences, health informatics, statistics, or a related field
- Two or more years of clinical data management experience in a regulated environment
- Proficiency with electronic data capture systems such as Medidata Rave or Oracle Clinical
- Working knowledge of CDISC standards including CDASH and SDTM
- Experience developing and reviewing data management plans and case report forms
- Familiarity with FDA regulations and ICH E6 Good Clinical Practice guidelines
Clinical Data Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical data manager in California?
A bachelor's degree in life sciences, health informatics, or a related field is the standard entry point for clinical data managers in California. No state-issued license is required for this role, but employers strongly prefer candidates who hold or are pursuing the Certified Clinical Data Manager credential offered by the Society for Clinical Data Management. California's large biotech and pharmaceutical sector means most hiring happens through direct employer pipelines in the Bay Area and San Diego.
Which companies hire clinical data managers in California?
Employers hiring clinical data managers in California right now include Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences, Gilead Sciences, and Revolution Medicines, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's concentration of biotech headquarters, contract research organizations, and major pharmaceutical companies means the state has one of the broadest and most continuous hiring pipelines for this role in the country.
Which California cities have the most clinical data manager jobs?
Redwood City, San Francisco, and Irvine account for the largest share of clinical data manager openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because it hosts the global or U.S. headquarters of major biotech and pharmaceutical firms, San Diego's life sciences corridor drives strong demand in the south, and Los Angeles is home to a growing number of clinical-stage companies and contract research organizations that staff data management teams locally.
Are there remote clinical data manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Clinical data management is fundamentally a desk-based and system-driven role, which makes it well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements. About 48% of clinical data manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting how widely companies in the state have adopted flexible work policies for data-focused roles. Database review, query management, and data review meetings are the tasks most frequently performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a clinical data manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a clinical data coordinator or data entry associate role, which large California contract research organizations and biotech employers use as a pipeline for developing data managers. Companies operating clinical trial sites in San Diego and the Bay Area regularly hire coordinators without prior data management experience and provide on-the-job EDC system training. Pursuing the CCDM certification and building hands-on familiarity with Medidata Rave through employer-sponsored training programs significantly strengthens a candidate's profile for promotion into a full data management role.
Where can I find and apply to clinical data manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to clinical data manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring for this role. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to each one.
See All 54 Clinical Data Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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