OPT Clinical Development Specialist Jobs
Clinical Development Specialist jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in life sciences, clinical research, or public health. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT-eligible, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers in pharma, biotech, and CROs regularly sponsor H-1B visas for this role.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation Address:
2400 Unser Blvd SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Compensation Pay Range:
Minimum Offer $0.00 Maximum Offer $0.00
Summary
- Serves as educator, consultant, researcher, instructional and evaluation designer, clinical practice expert, and interprofessional collaborator supporting the clinical development needs of staff throughout the PHS enterprise
- Supports the educational components of the organizations clinical initiatives and practices
How you grow, learn and thrive matters here.
- Educational and career development options, including tuition and certification reimbursement, scholarship opportunities
- Staff Safety (a wearable badge that allows nurses to quickly and discreetly call for help when safety is a concern)
- Differentials for night/weekend shifts, higher education, certifications and various lead roles (for eligible positions)
- Malpractice liability insurance
- Loan forgiveness through the New Mexico Higher Education Department
- EPIC electronic charting system
Type of Opportunity: Full time FTE: 1.00 Job Exempt: Yes Work Shift: Weekday Schedule Monday-Friday (United States of America)
Responsibilities:
Educator: Provides educational activities based on learning needs assessments, utilizing the right instructional design, training delivery, learning technology, and evaluation methodology to provide learning opportunities with high impact.
- Independently drives learning / performance needs assessment
- Collaborates in the identification of target audience performance needs/gaps
- Defines the performance gap objectives and partners with management to achieve agreement on approach to bridge the gap
- Creates optimal, budget-conscious instructional design to achieve performance objectives
- Incorporates evidence-based data to structure instructional design and performance content
- Drives the implementation of educational content/program in collaboration with management and team members
- Builds the approach, deployment, collection, analysis and reporting of educational program effectiveness
- Designs new programs to meet organizational strategic objectives
- At the elbow support for team and clinical staff in informatics systems
Performance Evaluator: Applies a systematic process for analyzing human performance or practice gaps and develops and implements a plan to effectively close the gaps.
- Builds and implements Levels 1-4 evaluation tools to measure satisfaction, learning, and transfer to performance based upon performance objectives
- Partners with management to assess clinical performance gaps and build remediation action plans
Clinical Practitioner: Acts as a role model for high standards of practice, coaches to resolve practice issues or foster professional growth, and implements evidence-based practice changes to improve patient outcomes or enhance staff knowledge and skills.
- Role models and coaches in the moment at the point of care
- Role models highest specialty standards
- Mentors others in evidence-based-practice to enhance practice
- Organizes and deploys clinical practice leaders in partnership with management
Consultant / Collaborator: Engages intra- and interprofessional groups in practice or process/workflow-related problem-solving through data analysis, development of an action plan, consensus and commitment building, and incorporation and evaluation of changes.
- Works and mentors team members within Clinical Education team and nursing management to accelerate clinical performance
- Initiates and/or supporting changes in practice through the clinical governance process
- Participates and leads in local, state and/or national committees, specialty groups
Researcher: Incorporates a problem-solving approach to produce better patient and/or educational outcomes that incorporates the best evidence, is cost effective, acknowledges patient / learner knowledge, and results in more individualized, streamlined, effective and dynamic nursing care and/or education.
- Incorporates research into clinical practice; leads research projects
- Supports, builds, initiates new research to enhance practice
- May participate in the PHS Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Promise and CARES Commitment: Supports, role models, champions, and integrates into assignments behaviors supporting The Promise and CARES Commitments
Specialty Role Focus: Leads advanced clinical skills and critical thinking related to specialty practice if assigned to a specialty area and area of assignment
Qualifications
Licensure: State of New Mexico or Compact State Nursing License
Academic Preparation:
- Bachelors Degree in Nursing required; Master’s Degree in Nursing, Nursing Education, Education, Instructional Design, Business, Leadership, Informatics, Administration or equivalent degree required.
Specialty Certifications: Specialty certification in nursing, informatics, education or equivalent certification preferred
Professional Requirements/Emergency Response: Maintains current training in following:
- BLS
- ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, and other emergency response certification may be required depending upon area of assignment
Experience: Minimum At least 3 years of clinical care expertise required in clinical specialty
We're all about well-being, starting with yours.
Presbyterian employees have access to a fun, engaging and unique wellness program, including free on-site and community-based gyms, nutrition coaching and classes, mindfulness and meditation resources, wellness challenges and more.
Learn more about our employee benefits.
About Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Presbyterian exists to improve the health of patients, members, and the communities we serve. We are locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system of nine hospitals, a statewide health plan and a growing multi-specialty medical group. Founded in New Mexico in 1908, we are the state's largest private employer with nearly 14,000 employees - including more than 1600 providers and nearly 4,700 nurses.
Our health plan serves more than 580,000 members statewide and offers Medicare Advantage, Medicaid (Centennial Care) and Commercial health plans.
AA/EOE/VET/DISABLED. PHS is a drug-free and tobacco-free employer with smoke free campuses.
Compensation Disclaimer
The compensation range for this role takes into account a wide range of factors, including but not limited to experience and training, internal equity, and other business and organizational needs.
We're Determined to Support New Mexico's Well-Being | Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Location Address:
2400 Unser Blvd SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Compensation Pay Range:
Minimum Offer $0.00 Maximum Offer $0.00
Summary
- Serves as educator, consultant, researcher, instructional and evaluation designer, clinical practice expert, and interprofessional collaborator supporting the clinical development needs of staff throughout the PHS enterprise
- Supports the educational components of the organizations clinical initiatives and practices
How you grow, learn and thrive matters here.
- Educational and career development options, including tuition and certification reimbursement, scholarship opportunities
- Staff Safety (a wearable badge that allows nurses to quickly and discreetly call for help when safety is a concern)
- Differentials for night/weekend shifts, higher education, certifications and various lead roles (for eligible positions)
- Malpractice liability insurance
- Loan forgiveness through the New Mexico Higher Education Department
- EPIC electronic charting system
Type of Opportunity: Full time FTE: 1.00 Job Exempt: Yes Work Shift: Weekday Schedule Monday-Friday (United States of America)
Responsibilities:
Educator: Provides educational activities based on learning needs assessments, utilizing the right instructional design, training delivery, learning technology, and evaluation methodology to provide learning opportunities with high impact.
- Independently drives learning / performance needs assessment
- Collaborates in the identification of target audience performance needs/gaps
- Defines the performance gap objectives and partners with management to achieve agreement on approach to bridge the gap
- Creates optimal, budget-conscious instructional design to achieve performance objectives
- Incorporates evidence-based data to structure instructional design and performance content
- Drives the implementation of educational content/program in collaboration with management and team members
- Builds the approach, deployment, collection, analysis and reporting of educational program effectiveness
- Designs new programs to meet organizational strategic objectives
- At the elbow support for team and clinical staff in informatics systems
Performance Evaluator: Applies a systematic process for analyzing human performance or practice gaps and develops and implements a plan to effectively close the gaps.
- Builds and implements Levels 1-4 evaluation tools to measure satisfaction, learning, and transfer to performance based upon performance objectives
- Partners with management to assess clinical performance gaps and build remediation action plans
Clinical Practitioner: Acts as a role model for high standards of practice, coaches to resolve practice issues or foster professional growth, and implements evidence-based practice changes to improve patient outcomes or enhance staff knowledge and skills.
- Role models and coaches in the moment at the point of care
- Role models highest specialty standards
- Mentors others in evidence-based-practice to enhance practice
- Organizes and deploys clinical practice leaders in partnership with management
Consultant / Collaborator: Engages intra- and interprofessional groups in practice or process/workflow-related problem-solving through data analysis, development of an action plan, consensus and commitment building, and incorporation and evaluation of changes.
- Works and mentors team members within Clinical Education team and nursing management to accelerate clinical performance
- Initiates and/or supporting changes in practice through the clinical governance process
- Participates and leads in local, state and/or national committees, specialty groups
Researcher: Incorporates a problem-solving approach to produce better patient and/or educational outcomes that incorporates the best evidence, is cost effective, acknowledges patient / learner knowledge, and results in more individualized, streamlined, effective and dynamic nursing care and/or education.
- Incorporates research into clinical practice; leads research projects
- Supports, builds, initiates new research to enhance practice
- May participate in the PHS Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Promise and CARES Commitment: Supports, role models, champions, and integrates into assignments behaviors supporting The Promise and CARES Commitments
Specialty Role Focus: Leads advanced clinical skills and critical thinking related to specialty practice if assigned to a specialty area and area of assignment
Qualifications
Licensure: State of New Mexico or Compact State Nursing License
Academic Preparation:
- Bachelors Degree in Nursing required; Master’s Degree in Nursing, Nursing Education, Education, Instructional Design, Business, Leadership, Informatics, Administration or equivalent degree required.
Specialty Certifications: Specialty certification in nursing, informatics, education or equivalent certification preferred
Professional Requirements/Emergency Response: Maintains current training in following:
- BLS
- ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, and other emergency response certification may be required depending upon area of assignment
Experience: Minimum At least 3 years of clinical care expertise required in clinical specialty
We're all about well-being, starting with yours.
Presbyterian employees have access to a fun, engaging and unique wellness program, including free on-site and community-based gyms, nutrition coaching and classes, mindfulness and meditation resources, wellness challenges and more.
Learn more about our employee benefits.
About Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Presbyterian exists to improve the health of patients, members, and the communities we serve. We are locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system of nine hospitals, a statewide health plan and a growing multi-specialty medical group. Founded in New Mexico in 1908, we are the state's largest private employer with nearly 14,000 employees - including more than 1600 providers and nearly 4,700 nurses.
Our health plan serves more than 580,000 members statewide and offers Medicare Advantage, Medicaid (Centennial Care) and Commercial health plans.
AA/EOE/VET/DISABLED. PHS is a drug-free and tobacco-free employer with smoke free campuses.
Compensation Disclaimer
The compensation range for this role takes into account a wide range of factors, including but not limited to experience and training, internal equity, and other business and organizational needs.
We're Determined to Support New Mexico's Well-Being | Presbyterian Healthcare Services
See all OPT Clinical Development Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Clinical Development Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Clinical Development Specialist
Target CROs and mid-size biotech companies
Contract research organizations and mid-size biotech firms hire Clinical Development Specialists at high volume and have established visa sponsorship pipelines. They process more H-1B petitions annually than most hospitals or academic medical centers and are more accustomed to sponsoring early-career candidates.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Degrees in biology, biochemistry, public health, or clinical research typically qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Verify your program CIP code with your DSO before accepting a role, since the extension depends on your degree field, not the job title itself.
Frame your clinical research training as a direct match
Employers worry OPT timelines create hiring risk. Address this upfront by emphasizing that your degree directly matches the role, your STEM extension gives up to 36 months total, and the H-1B cap-subject deadline aligns with your authorization window.
Prioritize employers with active IND or NDA submissions
Companies with active Investigational New Drug or New Drug Application submissions have immediate, ongoing need for clinical development staff. These employers are far more likely to sponsor visas because losing a specialist mid-study creates costly regulatory delays they cannot afford.
Get your e-Verify enrollment confirmed before your start date
STEM OPT extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Confirm enrollment during the offer negotiation stage, not after signing. If the employer is not yet enrolled, they can register, but the process takes time and must be completed before your extension is approved.
Use your clinical internships and practicum as negotiating leverage
Any GCP-certified training, IRB experience, or clinical trial coordination from your program demonstrates immediate productivity. Hiring managers sponsoring OPT students need to justify the investment. Concrete study experience reduces perceived risk and strengthens the case for sponsorship.
Clinical Development Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Clinical Development Specialist roles qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most do, but eligibility depends on your degree, not the job title. Degrees in biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, public health, or clinical research typically carry STEM-designated CIP codes that qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility based on your program's CIP code. The job itself must also be directly related to your degree field, which is straightforward for clinical development roles when your background is in life sciences.
How much time do I actually have to work as a Clinical Development Specialist on OPT?
You get 12 months of standard OPT work authorization, plus a 24-month STEM extension if your degree qualifies, for up to 36 months total. That window covers roughly three H-1B lottery cycles, which meaningfully improves your odds of selection before your OPT expires. Filing for the STEM extension early, at least 90 days before your standard OPT expires, protects your work authorization during USCIS processing.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for Clinical Development Specialists?
Contract research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms with active clinical programs sponsor H-1B petitions for this role at the highest rates. Large pharma companies like those running Phase II or III trials have dedicated immigration teams and predictable sponsorship pipelines. You can browse Clinical Development Specialist roles from verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate, where listings are filtered specifically for OPT and visa-sponsored positions.
Can I work as a Clinical Development Specialist at a hospital or academic medical center on OPT?
Yes, but verify two things before accepting an offer. First, confirm the employer is enrolled in E-Verify, which is required for STEM OPT. Some smaller hospitals and academic departments are not enrolled and may be unwilling to register. Second, academic medical centers often use contract or grant-funded positions, which can complicate H-1B sponsorship if the funding cycle does not align with visa timelines.
Does a Clinical Development Specialist role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Generally yes. The role typically requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific life science or clinical research field, which satisfies the USCIS specialty occupation standard. The key is that the job description must state a degree requirement in a specific field, not just any bachelor's degree. If a posting says a degree in any health-related field is acceptable, that broader language can weaken a specialty occupation argument during adjudication.