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 JobsWhat You Will Do
Work with the Manager to support the following.
- System Pharmacy education strategy including but not limited to: ACPE continuing education program and accreditation, preceptor development, education committee, pharmacy education needs, etc
- Monthly subcommittee agendas for the system adult formulary and/or system pediatric formulary and/or ambulatory needs for the Ambulatory Medication Management Committee
- Develop/manage and/or support medication use evaluation program
- Engage in formulary metrics and high cost drug stewardship program
- Organize formulary engagement in system stewardship efforts
- Support policy needs for accreditation and policy software
- Develop, maintain, and conduct tracers as needed (e.g. policy)
- Support formulary and policy and pharmacy education needs as assigned
- Support drug information and analytic needs across acute and ambulatory space (e.g. employee health formulary alignment, transitions of care)
- Maintain website and serve as editor for newsletter for communications and education
- Monitor pipeline medications and new medication research
- Participate and lead advocacy for medication related legislation
- Precept pharmacy students and residents
- Identify and pursue opportunities to publish and present best practices
- Assist with budget forecasting and management
- Complete projects and IRB approved research related to clinical pharmacy and medication use improvement as needed
Additional Responsibilities
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
- For specific duties and responsibilities, refer to documentation provided by the department during orientation.
- Must abide by all requirements to safely and securely maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) for our patients. Annual training, the UH Code of Conduct and UH policies and procedures are in place to address appropriate use of PHI in the workplace.
Education
- Pharm.D. or Master of Science in pharmacy required.
- PGY-1 and PGY-2 residency (drug information/drug policy) preferred.
Work Experience
- less than 1 year Experience as a pharmacist with training in drug therapy of diseases including the knowledge and application of clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions, and pharmaceutics to patients, training in cost analysis/cost evaluation techniques (Preferred)
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Computer systems skills in spreadsheet, database and word processing (Preferred proficiency)
- Must demonstrate highly effective written and oral communication skills (Required proficiency)
Licenses and Certifications
- Registered Pharmacist (R.Ph) in the State of Ohio (Required)
Physical Demands
- Standing Frequently
- Walking Frequently
- Sitting Rarely
- Lifting Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Carrying Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Pushing Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Pulling Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Climbing Occasionally up to 50 lbs
- Balancing Occasionally
- Stooping Frequently
- Kneeling Frequently
- Crouching Frequently
- Crawling Occasionally
- Reaching Frequently
- Handling Frequently
- Grasping Frequently
- Feeling Constantly
- Talking Constantly
- Hearing Constantly
- Repetitive Motions Constantly
- Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination Constantly
Travel Requirements
- 10%
What You Will Do
Work with the Manager to support the following.
- System Pharmacy education strategy including but not limited to: ACPE continuing education program and accreditation, preceptor development, education committee, pharmacy education needs, etc
- Monthly subcommittee agendas for the system adult formulary and/or system pediatric formulary and/or ambulatory needs for the Ambulatory Medication Management Committee
- Develop/manage and/or support medication use evaluation program
- Engage in formulary metrics and high cost drug stewardship program
- Organize formulary engagement in system stewardship efforts
- Support policy needs for accreditation and policy software
- Develop, maintain, and conduct tracers as needed (e.g. policy)
- Support formulary and policy and pharmacy education needs as assigned
- Support drug information and analytic needs across acute and ambulatory space (e.g. employee health formulary alignment, transitions of care)
- Maintain website and serve as editor for newsletter for communications and education
- Monitor pipeline medications and new medication research
- Participate and lead advocacy for medication related legislation
- Precept pharmacy students and residents
- Identify and pursue opportunities to publish and present best practices
- Assist with budget forecasting and management
- Complete projects and IRB approved research related to clinical pharmacy and medication use improvement as needed
Additional Responsibilities
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
- For specific duties and responsibilities, refer to documentation provided by the department during orientation.
- Must abide by all requirements to safely and securely maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) for our patients. Annual training, the UH Code of Conduct and UH policies and procedures are in place to address appropriate use of PHI in the workplace.
Education
- Pharm.D. or Master of Science in pharmacy required.
- PGY-1 and PGY-2 residency (drug information/drug policy) preferred.
Work Experience
- less than 1 year Experience as a pharmacist with training in drug therapy of diseases including the knowledge and application of clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions, and pharmaceutics to patients, training in cost analysis/cost evaluation techniques (Preferred)
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Computer systems skills in spreadsheet, database and word processing (Preferred proficiency)
- Must demonstrate highly effective written and oral communication skills (Required proficiency)
Licenses and Certifications
- Registered Pharmacist (R.Ph) in the State of Ohio (Required)
Physical Demands
- Standing Frequently
- Walking Frequently
- Sitting Rarely
- Lifting Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Carrying Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Pushing Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Pulling Frequently up to 50 lbs
- Climbing Occasionally up to 50 lbs
- Balancing Occasionally
- Stooping Frequently
- Kneeling Frequently
- Crouching Frequently
- Crawling Occasionally
- Reaching Frequently
- Handling Frequently
- Grasping Frequently
- Feeling Constantly
- Talking Constantly
- Hearing Constantly
- Repetitive Motions Constantly
- Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination Constantly
Travel Requirements
- 10%
See all OPT Clinical Development Specialist Jobs
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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.