H-1B Visa Clinical Development Specialist Jobs
Clinical Development Specialist roles sit squarely within H-1B visa specialty occupation territory, requiring at minimum a bachelor's degree in a life sciences or clinical field. Pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and biotech firms regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this title, making it one of the more accessible paths for international professionals in clinical operations.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
This position will be located at our Woodlands campus.
The primary purpose of the Clinical Development Specialist (CDS) position is to serve as a clinical expert, professional development leader, educator, consultant, change agent, and champion for evidence-based practice within ambulatory oncology services. The CDS is responsible for advancing nursing practice, supporting workforce development, promoting clinical competency, improving patient outcomes, and facilitating quality and safety initiatives across ambulatory care settings. The CDS partners with nursing leadership, providers, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care and supports organizational goals through education, innovation, regulatory readiness, and continuous improvement.
This role serves as an expert in nursing across the spectrum of complex patient care needs while fostering the ongoing growth and development of nursing staff through competency assessment, coaching, and mentorship. In collaboration with area management and the nursing education department, they will design and implement tools, methodologies, and educational opportunities that enhance clinical knowledge, technical skills, professional growth, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Integrates infusion and oncology nursing standards, as well as institutional policies and procedures, into daily practice and works with leadership to identify, validate, and maintain annual competencies. Actively participates in initiatives focused on improving clinical practice and patient outcomes, evaluates outcomes related to quality, effectiveness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and ethical considerations, and collaborates with providers across the enterprise to ensure educational initiatives and compliance standards are met. Serves as a resource by maintaining a clear distinction between educational and managerial responsibilities and performs other duties as assigned.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The ideal candidate will bring at least five years of progressive supervisory or leadership experience, to include 3 years of clinical nursing experience including staff development, education, or competency management.
Additional consideration will be given to candidates who demonstrate advanced expertise in intravenous (IV) chemotherapy administration, including the ability to serve as a clinical resource, identify and assess infusion-related complications, and implement timely, appropriate interventions. Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification is strongly preferred.
Position Information
- Salary: Minimum $101,000 - Midpoint $126,500 - Maximum $152,000
- Hours: 8-hour role that supports the units staffing hours between 8:00am - 6:30pm, Monday - Friday.
- Work Location: 100% onsite. Main location: Woodlands Campus. To assist with educational events, this position will be expected to float to other Campuses as needed, including West Houston, Northwest, and TMC.
Why Us?
Join UT MD Anderson and contribute directly to a mission-driven organization dedicated to ending cancer. This role offers the opportunity to influence nursing practice, drive professional development, improve patient outcomes, support innovation, and lead meaningful change across ambulatory oncology services while working alongside nationally recognized clinical experts in a collaborative environment that values growth, learning, and professional excellence.
MD Anderson offers our nurses:
- Paid employee medical benefits (zero premium) starting on first day for employees who work 30 or more hours per week
- Group Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and Disability coverage
- Paid time off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) paid leave accruals
- Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs
- Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service
- Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans
- Employer paid life, AD&D and an illness-related reduced salary pay program
- Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement flexible spending accounts
- Fertility benefits
- State of Texas longevity pay
- Extensive wellness, recognition, fitness, employee health programs and employee resource groups.
Clinical Nurses relocating from 100+ miles from MD Anderson will also qualify for up to $10,000 in relocation assistance!
MD Anderson is among 25 of hospitals in the world who have earned six consecutive Magnet Recognition Program® designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Our nursing community transforms nursing care through clinical practice, education, and research. Each day, more than 4,400 registered nurses deliver compassionate, evidence-based cancer care to patients and their families.
Clinical Leadership
Serves as a clinical expert and trusted advisor to nursing leadership. Promotes evidence-based practice, supports practice change, identifies clinical improvement opportunities, collaborates with providers and operational leaders, and serves as a resource for complex clinical issues. Leads initiatives that advance nursing practice, patient outcomes, and professional excellence.
Professional Development and Education
Conducts learning needs assessments; develops educational plans; coordinates onboarding, orientation, residency, and continuing education programs; facilitates classroom and clinical learning experiences; mentors staff; promotes certification; and supports career development and succession planning.
Competency Management
Leads annual competency assessment and validation programs. Develops competency tools, skills checklists, simulation activities, and remediation plans. Evaluates competency outcomes and collaborates with leaders to address performance gaps.
Self-Adaptability
Help coworkers with tasks as necessary. Smoothly handle multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change. Persist despite obstacles. Flexible to meet the needs of the unit. Work in situations involving uncertainty, shifting priorities, and rapid change; deal constructively with mistakes and setbacks; demonstrate flexibility.
Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Leadership
Participates in and leads quality improvement, patient safety, and regulatory readiness initiatives. Supports Joint Commission, Magnet, accreditation, policy compliance, high-reliability principles, and performance improvement efforts. Utilizes data to evaluate outcomes and drive practice improvements.
Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Innovation
Promotes research utilization, evidence-based practice, and innovation. Assists teams with literature review, practice change implementation, project evaluation, poster development, and dissemination of best practices. Encourages inquiry and continuous learning.
Collaboration and Relationship Management
Builds collaborative relationships with nursing leadership, physicians, advanced practice providers, educators, pharmacists, patient access teams, and interdisciplinary departments. Maintain effective communication through actively listening to fully understand the needs of the nurse/team/unit. Functions as a consultant and facilitates communication to achieve organizational goals.
Structural Empowerment and Professional Practice
Supports shared governance, professional practice councils, clinical advancement programs, specialty certification, and leadership development. Creates an environment that promotes accountability, engagement, resilience, professional growth, and excellence in nursing practice.
Analytical Thinking and Outcomes Evaluation
Analyzes clinical, educational, quality, and operational data to identify trends and opportunities. Measures effectiveness of educational interventions and practice initiatives. Develops action plans and monitors outcomes to ensure sustained improvement.
Leadership Competencies
Demonstrates transformational leadership, coaching, mentorship, communication, change management, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, and professional accountability. Leads through influence and expertise rather than direct supervisory authority.
Scope of Leadership
The Clinical Development Specialist is a member of the ambulatory nursing leadership team and functions as a clinical practice leader, professional development leader, quality improvement leader, consultant, educator, and change agent. The position influences nursing practice, competency achievement, staff development, regulatory readiness, patient safety, and patient outcomes across ambulatory services through collaboration, expertise, and strategic leadership.
CORE Values and Emergency Preparedness Expectations
As part of MD Anderson's commitment to excellence in patient care, nursing staff are expected to uphold the following values and responsibilities, particularly during emergency conditions:
- Integrity: Maintain ethical standards, transparency, and accountability in all professional actions, especially under challenging circumstances.
- Business Continuity: Support the uninterrupted delivery of patient care by fulfilling essential duties during emergency conditions, including ride-out and recovery operations.
- Safety: Prioritize the safety of patients, colleagues, and oneself by adhering to institutional emergency protocols and preparedness plans.
- Stewardship: Responsibly manage time, resources, and institutional trust to ensure the sustainability of care and operations during and after emergencies.
- Emergency Response Commitment: As essential employees and first responders, nursing staff are expected to report for duty during both the ride-out and recovery phases of a catastrophic event. In alignment with MD Anderson Institutional Policy #ADM0297 (Employee Reporting Requirements During Emergency Conditions), recovery staff must return to work as soon as conditions allow to support the restoration of clinical operations. The designated recovery location will be the patient recovery area identified by the department, and staff are expected to report there as directed.
Emergency Role Selection
Emergency role designated by Manager:
- Ride-Out
- Recovery
Education
- Required: Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing.
- Preferred: Bachelor's Degree Nursing.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Required: Five years Registered nursing experience.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Required: RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure State of Texas Professional Nursing license (RN) Upon Hire
- Required: BLS - Basic Life Support Upon Hire or
- Required: CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation Upon Hire
- Preferred: ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire
- Preferred: OCN - Oncology Nurse Certification Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. Upon Hire
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.
This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.
Additional Information
- Requisition ID: 183923
- Employment Status: Full-Time
- Employee Status: Regular
- Work Week: Days
- Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 101,000
- Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 126,500
- Maximum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 152,000
- FLSA: exempt and eligible for overtime, paid at a straight rate
- Fund Type: Hard
- Work Location: Onsite
- Pivotal Position: Yes
- Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
- Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes
LI-Onsite
INTRODUCTION
This position will be located at our Woodlands campus.
The primary purpose of the Clinical Development Specialist (CDS) position is to serve as a clinical expert, professional development leader, educator, consultant, change agent, and champion for evidence-based practice within ambulatory oncology services. The CDS is responsible for advancing nursing practice, supporting workforce development, promoting clinical competency, improving patient outcomes, and facilitating quality and safety initiatives across ambulatory care settings. The CDS partners with nursing leadership, providers, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care and supports organizational goals through education, innovation, regulatory readiness, and continuous improvement.
This role serves as an expert in nursing across the spectrum of complex patient care needs while fostering the ongoing growth and development of nursing staff through competency assessment, coaching, and mentorship. In collaboration with area management and the nursing education department, they will design and implement tools, methodologies, and educational opportunities that enhance clinical knowledge, technical skills, professional growth, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Integrates infusion and oncology nursing standards, as well as institutional policies and procedures, into daily practice and works with leadership to identify, validate, and maintain annual competencies. Actively participates in initiatives focused on improving clinical practice and patient outcomes, evaluates outcomes related to quality, effectiveness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and ethical considerations, and collaborates with providers across the enterprise to ensure educational initiatives and compliance standards are met. Serves as a resource by maintaining a clear distinction between educational and managerial responsibilities and performs other duties as assigned.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The ideal candidate will bring at least five years of progressive supervisory or leadership experience, to include 3 years of clinical nursing experience including staff development, education, or competency management.
Additional consideration will be given to candidates who demonstrate advanced expertise in intravenous (IV) chemotherapy administration, including the ability to serve as a clinical resource, identify and assess infusion-related complications, and implement timely, appropriate interventions. Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification is strongly preferred.
Position Information
- Salary: Minimum $101,000 - Midpoint $126,500 - Maximum $152,000
- Hours: 8-hour role that supports the units staffing hours between 8:00am - 6:30pm, Monday - Friday.
- Work Location: 100% onsite. Main location: Woodlands Campus. To assist with educational events, this position will be expected to float to other Campuses as needed, including West Houston, Northwest, and TMC.
Why Us?
Join UT MD Anderson and contribute directly to a mission-driven organization dedicated to ending cancer. This role offers the opportunity to influence nursing practice, drive professional development, improve patient outcomes, support innovation, and lead meaningful change across ambulatory oncology services while working alongside nationally recognized clinical experts in a collaborative environment that values growth, learning, and professional excellence.
MD Anderson offers our nurses:
- Paid employee medical benefits (zero premium) starting on first day for employees who work 30 or more hours per week
- Group Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D and Disability coverage
- Paid time off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) paid leave accruals
- Paid institutional holidays, wellness leave, childcare leave, and other paid leave programs
- Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service
- Teachers Retirement System defined-benefit pension plan and two voluntary retirement plans
- Employer paid life, AD&D and an illness-related reduced salary pay program
- Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement flexible spending accounts
- Fertility benefits
- State of Texas longevity pay
- Extensive wellness, recognition, fitness, employee health programs and employee resource groups.
Clinical Nurses relocating from 100+ miles from MD Anderson will also qualify for up to $10,000 in relocation assistance!
MD Anderson is among 25 of hospitals in the world who have earned six consecutive Magnet Recognition Program® designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Our nursing community transforms nursing care through clinical practice, education, and research. Each day, more than 4,400 registered nurses deliver compassionate, evidence-based cancer care to patients and their families.
Clinical Leadership
Serves as a clinical expert and trusted advisor to nursing leadership. Promotes evidence-based practice, supports practice change, identifies clinical improvement opportunities, collaborates with providers and operational leaders, and serves as a resource for complex clinical issues. Leads initiatives that advance nursing practice, patient outcomes, and professional excellence.
Professional Development and Education
Conducts learning needs assessments; develops educational plans; coordinates onboarding, orientation, residency, and continuing education programs; facilitates classroom and clinical learning experiences; mentors staff; promotes certification; and supports career development and succession planning.
Competency Management
Leads annual competency assessment and validation programs. Develops competency tools, skills checklists, simulation activities, and remediation plans. Evaluates competency outcomes and collaborates with leaders to address performance gaps.
Self-Adaptability
Help coworkers with tasks as necessary. Smoothly handle multiple demands, shifting priorities, and rapid change. Persist despite obstacles. Flexible to meet the needs of the unit. Work in situations involving uncertainty, shifting priorities, and rapid change; deal constructively with mistakes and setbacks; demonstrate flexibility.
Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Leadership
Participates in and leads quality improvement, patient safety, and regulatory readiness initiatives. Supports Joint Commission, Magnet, accreditation, policy compliance, high-reliability principles, and performance improvement efforts. Utilizes data to evaluate outcomes and drive practice improvements.
Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Innovation
Promotes research utilization, evidence-based practice, and innovation. Assists teams with literature review, practice change implementation, project evaluation, poster development, and dissemination of best practices. Encourages inquiry and continuous learning.
Collaboration and Relationship Management
Builds collaborative relationships with nursing leadership, physicians, advanced practice providers, educators, pharmacists, patient access teams, and interdisciplinary departments. Maintain effective communication through actively listening to fully understand the needs of the nurse/team/unit. Functions as a consultant and facilitates communication to achieve organizational goals.
Structural Empowerment and Professional Practice
Supports shared governance, professional practice councils, clinical advancement programs, specialty certification, and leadership development. Creates an environment that promotes accountability, engagement, resilience, professional growth, and excellence in nursing practice.
Analytical Thinking and Outcomes Evaluation
Analyzes clinical, educational, quality, and operational data to identify trends and opportunities. Measures effectiveness of educational interventions and practice initiatives. Develops action plans and monitors outcomes to ensure sustained improvement.
Leadership Competencies
Demonstrates transformational leadership, coaching, mentorship, communication, change management, critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, and professional accountability. Leads through influence and expertise rather than direct supervisory authority.
Scope of Leadership
The Clinical Development Specialist is a member of the ambulatory nursing leadership team and functions as a clinical practice leader, professional development leader, quality improvement leader, consultant, educator, and change agent. The position influences nursing practice, competency achievement, staff development, regulatory readiness, patient safety, and patient outcomes across ambulatory services through collaboration, expertise, and strategic leadership.
CORE Values and Emergency Preparedness Expectations
As part of MD Anderson's commitment to excellence in patient care, nursing staff are expected to uphold the following values and responsibilities, particularly during emergency conditions:
- Integrity: Maintain ethical standards, transparency, and accountability in all professional actions, especially under challenging circumstances.
- Business Continuity: Support the uninterrupted delivery of patient care by fulfilling essential duties during emergency conditions, including ride-out and recovery operations.
- Safety: Prioritize the safety of patients, colleagues, and oneself by adhering to institutional emergency protocols and preparedness plans.
- Stewardship: Responsibly manage time, resources, and institutional trust to ensure the sustainability of care and operations during and after emergencies.
- Emergency Response Commitment: As essential employees and first responders, nursing staff are expected to report for duty during both the ride-out and recovery phases of a catastrophic event. In alignment with MD Anderson Institutional Policy #ADM0297 (Employee Reporting Requirements During Emergency Conditions), recovery staff must return to work as soon as conditions allow to support the restoration of clinical operations. The designated recovery location will be the patient recovery area identified by the department, and staff are expected to report there as directed.
Emergency Role Selection
Emergency role designated by Manager:
- Ride-Out
- Recovery
Education
- Required: Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing.
- Preferred: Bachelor's Degree Nursing.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Required: Five years Registered nursing experience.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Required: RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure State of Texas Professional Nursing license (RN) Upon Hire
- Required: BLS - Basic Life Support Upon Hire or
- Required: CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation Upon Hire
- Preferred: ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification as required by patient care area. Upon Hire
- Preferred: OCN - Oncology Nurse Certification Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. Upon Hire
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.
This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.
It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.
Additional Information
- Requisition ID: 183923
- Employment Status: Full-Time
- Employee Status: Regular
- Work Week: Days
- Minimum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 101,000
- Midpoint Salary: US Dollar (USD) 126,500
- Maximum Salary: US Dollar (USD) 152,000
- FLSA: exempt and eligible for overtime, paid at a straight rate
- Fund Type: Hard
- Work Location: Onsite
- Pivotal Position: Yes
- Referral Bonus Available?: Yes
- Relocation Assistance Available?: Yes
LI-Onsite
See all H-1B Visa Clinical Development Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Clinical Development Specialist
Verify your degree aligns with SOC codes
USCIS evaluates specialty occupation based on whether your degree field directly relates to the role. Pull the O*NET profile for Clinical Development Specialists to confirm the listed education requirements match your credentials before applying.
Target CROs with active LCA filing histories
Contract Research Organizations file LCAs frequently for clinical roles across multiple sites. Use the OFLC Wage Search to identify CROs that have certified LCAs for Clinical Development Specialist positions, which signals active sponsorship infrastructure.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsors
Filter Clinical Development Specialist openings by employers with H-1B filing history using Migrate Mate. This surfaces companies that have already navigated the sponsorship process for this specific role, not just employers open to it in theory.
Confirm employer size before salary negotiations
DOL prevailing wage levels for clinical development roles vary by geography and employer classification. Knowing whether your prospective employer qualifies as H-1B dependent affects how tightly the offered wage must align with the LCA-certified prevailing wage.
Request an LCA copy before your start date
Your employer must post the certified LCA at the worksite and provide you a copy. Confirm this happens at least ten business days before your employment begins, as USCIS can audit compliance and gaps can complicate future renewals.
Account for petition timing around protocol timelines
Clinical development roles often start mid-study cycle. If your offer letter ties your start date to a specific protocol phase, make sure your employer files the I-129 early enough to allow standard USCIS processing, which currently runs several months.
H-1B Visa Clinical Development Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Clinical Development Specialist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Clinical Development Specialist positions typically require a bachelor's degree or higher in a life sciences field such as biology, pharmacology, nursing, or clinical research. USCIS classifies this as a specialty occupation when the employer's job requirements and the role's industry norms both require that specific degree. Roles requiring a generic degree in any field can face RFE scrutiny, so the job description wording matters significantly.
Which types of employers most commonly sponsor H-1B visas for this role?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology companies, Contract Research Organizations, and academic medical centers are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for Clinical Development Specialists. CROs in particular file high volumes of LCAs for this title across therapeutic areas. You can browse openings from verified sponsors on Migrate Mate, which filters listings by employers with documented H-1B filing history.
How does the prevailing wage requirement affect my offer negotiation?
Your employer must pay you at least the DOL prevailing wage for your job title, level, and work location, as certified in the LCA. If the offered salary falls below the wage level on the LCA, the petition is non-compliant. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up wage levels for Clinical Development Specialist by geography before entering negotiations so you understand the floor your employer is legally committed to meeting.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new clinical employer mid-study?
Yes. H-1B portability under AC21 allows you to start working for a new employer once the transfer petition is filed, without waiting for approval, as long as your current H-1B has been approved for at least 180 days. The new employer must file a new I-129 and LCA. Clinical development roles can involve multi-year studies, but the visa transfer itself is independent of where you are in a protocol cycle.
What documentation strengthens an H-1B petition for this role?
A detailed job description linking clinical development duties to your specific degree field, your academic transcripts, and any protocol or therapeutic area certifications are the core supporting documents. If your degree is from outside the U.S., a credential evaluation from a NACES-member evaluator is typically required. USCIS also looks favorably on evidence that the employer routinely hires degree holders in your exact field for this title.