Clinical Director Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Clinical Director jobs in San Francisco are in strong demand, concentrated in Mission Bay, the Medical Center area around Parnassus, and the Financial District, across health systems, behavioral health organizations, and outpatient care networks. Employers hiring right now include Pendulum, PwC, and Citi. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
Purpose
Leads the direction, planning, execution, and interpretation of clinical trials or research activities of one or more clinical development programs. Participates in and may lead cross-functional teams to generate, deliver, and disseminate high-quality clinical data supporting overall product scientific and business strategy.
Responsibilities
- Leads and demonstrates ownership of the design and implementation of multiple clinical development programs (or one large, complex program) in support of the overall product development plan, based on strong medical and scientific principles, knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements, AbbVie’s customers, markets, business operations, and emerging issues. Oversees project-related education of investigators, study site personnel, and AbbVie study staff.
- Has overall responsibility for leading clinical study teams, monitoring overall study integrity, and review, interpretation, and communication of accumulating data pertaining to safety and efficacy of the molecule. Along with Clinical Operations, is responsible for ensuring agreed-upon study enrollment and overall timelines for key deliverables. Responsible for assessment and reporting of serious adverse events per corporate policy and regulations for those protocols on which assigned.
- Primary responsibility for and ownership of design, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of scientific content of protocols, Investigator Brochures, Clinical Study reports, regulatory submissions and responses, and other program documents.
- May oversee the work of Medical and/or Scientific Directors and of Clinical Scientists working on the same or related programs.
- May serve on or chair Clinical Strategy Team(s), with responsibility for development of a rigorous, cross-functionally-aligned, vetted Clinical Development Plan with full consideration of contingencies and alternative approaches. In the role of CST Chair, responsibilities may include supervision of matrix team members and serving as Clinical Research representative to lend clinical development and medical expertise to Asset Development Teams (ADTs) and ADT Leadership Boards (ALBs).
- Serves as an in-house clinical expert for one or more molecules and diseases in the therapeutic area, coordinating and leading appropriate scientific and medical activities with internal stakeholders as they relate to ongoing projects. May participate in or lead clinical development contributions to due diligence or other business development activity. As required by program needs, contributes in partnership with Discovery colleagues to design and implementation of translational strategies.
- Acts as clinical lead and actively solicits opinion leader interactions related to the disease area(s); partners with Medical Affairs, Commercial and other functions in these activities as required, consistent with corporate policies, to ensure that broad cross-functional perspectives are incorporated into Clinical Development Plans and protocols as appropriate.
- Stays abreast of professional information and technology through conferences, medical literature, and other available training, to augment expertise in the therapeutic area. May represent AbbVie at key external meetings.
- Responsible for understanding the regulatory requirements related to the clinical studies and global drug development and accountable for complying with those requirements. Serves as a clinical representative for key regulatory discussions.
- Ensures adherence to Good Clinical Practices, pharmacovigilance standards, standard operating procedures and to all other quality standards in conducting research.
Qualifications
Qualifications
- Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), or non-US equivalent of M.D. degree with relevant therapeutic specialty in an academic or hospital environment. Completion of a residency program strongly preferred. Completion of a subspecialty fellowship is desirable.
- At least 5 years (7 years preferred) of clinical trial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, or equivalent.
- Ability to run a complex clinical research program independently.
- Proven leadership skills and ability to bring out the best in others on a cross-functional global team. Must be able to lead through influence.
- Ability to interact externally and internally to support a global scientific and business strategy.
- Extensive knowledge of clinical trial methodology, regulatory and compliance requirements governing clinical trials, and experience in development of clinical strategy and the design of study protocols.
- Must possess excellent oral and written English communication skills.
- Ability to exercise judgment and address complex problems and create solutions for one or more projects.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
See All 14 Clinical Director Jobs in San Francisco
Find roles in San Francisco that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Clinical Director JobsClinical Director Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- Pendulum2

- PwC1

- Citi1

- AbbVie1

- Biogen1

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
- Technology & Software2
- Healthcare & Medical Services2
- Construction & Real Estate1
- Banking & Financial Services1
Clinical Director Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a clinical director job in San Francisco?
The strongest path is targeting San Francisco's dense concentration of health systems, community health centers, and behavioral health agencies in Mission Bay, the Tenderloin, and the Bayview. Candidates with experience managing multidisciplinary teams in high-acuity or underserved settings stand out here. Familiarity with value-based care models and California's Medi-Cal ecosystem gives a clear edge over applicants with purely private-sector backgrounds.
Which companies hire clinical directors in San Francisco?
Employers hiring clinical directors in San Francisco right now include Pendulum, PwC, and Citi, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. San Francisco's market is anchored by large academic medical centers, federally qualified health centers, and a growing cluster of digital health and behavioral health companies headquartered in the city.
Are there remote clinical director jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though opportunities are limited given how much of the role involves direct oversight of clinical staff and on-site operations. About 38% of clinical director openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, with flexibility most common at digital health companies and utilization management organizations headquartered in the city.
How can I get a clinical director job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a clinical supervisor or program manager role at one of San Francisco's federally qualified health centers, such as those serving the Tenderloin or Bayview-Hunters Point. These organizations promote from within and value clinical hours in community settings over administrative credentials. Building experience with care coordination, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance makes the step to director level achievable within a few years.
Which industries hire the most clinical directors in San Francisco?
Most clinical director openings in San Francisco sit in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Technology & Software, and Healthcare & Medical Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. San Francisco's role as a hub for both safety-net healthcare and venture-backed digital health companies creates consistent demand well beyond traditional hospital settings.
Related Jobs in California
See All 14 Clinical Director Jobs in San Francisco
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