OPT Medical Director Jobs
Medical Director jobs on OPT require employers to sponsor work authorization, typically through H-1B visa or O-1A visas after your OPT period. Most roles require an MD or DO degree, active licensure, and several years of clinical experience. STEM OPT extension does not apply to this field.
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Get Access To All JobsMedical Director/Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development
Who we are:
At Agios, we are fueled by connections to transform rare diseases. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture – one that sparks bold thinking and strengthens our connections with each other and with the rare disease communities we serve. We embrace diverse backgrounds with respect, active listening, and a commitment to inclusion – because our differences shape how we hire, collaborate, and innovate. Our team’s proven track record of executional excellence, combined with our depth of expertise and dedication, enables us to develop innovative medicines that reflect the priorities of rare disease communities. Our commitment is more than scientific – it’s deeply personal, grounded in the meaningful connections we have built.
The impact you will make:
Agios Pharmaceuticals is searching for a dynamic Medical Director / Senior Medical Director to join our clinical development team. We want someone who cares about this important work, and who’s driven to connect to our mission of helping these patient communities. The Medical Director/Senior Medical Director is responsible for the development and execution of clinical research and development programs for Agios including the leadership of the pivotal trials, NDA and/or filing activities. This role gives strategic medical and tactical input to the Business Development team. This position serves as a key liaison between company and clinical investigators and establishes credible relationships with opinion leaders, and regulatory officials.
What you will do:
- Direct involvement in trial design of Phase I/II/III targeting rare or orphan diseases.
- Provide ongoing support for open-label extension periods and life cycle management of a product.
- Directly supervise and monitor trial conduct as well as work closely with external medical monitor physicians to assure consistency of conduct across trials. Work closely with all functions of the organization and external partners to manage trial execution.
- Provide medical input to global regulatory plans and regulatory meetings in partnership with regulatory affairs.
- Provide medical input to global safety leads and at safety meetings in partnership with safety and medical safety and risk management teams.
- Follow important developments and relevant trends in scientific literature and develop/maintain contracts with external experts to support understanding of the candidate drug effects and to gain strategic insights to the further development and placement of study and overall program.
- Develop effective relationships with clinical research organizations to ensure successful medical oversight of outsourced studies.
- Provide clinical assessments during disease/target evaluation, prioritization and selection, identifying novel therapeutics opportunities as well as critical study design and execution challenges.
- Support qualifications of pharmacodynamic/disease markers of assessment of efficacy.
- Work closely with the project management representative(s) to track trial status.
- Work closely with study physicians, as well as other project team members/functional areas to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Author and review clinical study reports, manuscripts, regulatory documents and other written material related to clinical study.
- Be responsible for the scientific quality of all clinical work.
- Ensure consistent practices with the highest ethical standards in compliance with internal SOPs, local regulations and laws.
What you bring:
- M.D. or equivalent degree
- Board Certification, Board Eligibility or specialist accreditation in internal medicine or pediatrics; specific experience with classical hematologic diseases is desirable.
- 3-10 years in industry (biotech/pharma) specifically within Clinical Development or closely related functions
- Clinical and managerial experience within pharmaceutical trial design and conduct (POC through Phase 3 experience) within the pharmaceutical industry CRO or Academia is required. Experience with trials through NDA preferred, but not required
- Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills are required for this high visibility position.
Concerned that you don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! At Agios, we value each other’s differences and recognize that teams thrive when everyone brings their unique experiences to the table. We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where all employees can bring their whole selves to work. If you’re excited about this role but your previous experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another opening!
Work Location:
Location Agnostic: Work location for this role is based on employee's individual preference. This role can be either remote in the US or hybrid in our Cambridge Headquarters. Hybrid schedules vary but are generally less than 3 days per week onsite and hybrid employees are expected to live within commutable distance of our Cambridge Headquarters. Remote employees work entirely from home except for attending Company sponsored events/ meetings. For employees who choose to work remotely, travel may be required for certain company events commensurate with the above job description.
What we will give you:
- Deliberate Development. Your professional growth is one of our top priorities.
- Flexibility. We’re all about individual needs. We embrace different perspectives, work styles, health and wellness approaches, care of families and productivity. When you’re at your best, we’re at our best.
- Premium benefits package. We invest in the health, well-being, and security of our people with a premium benefits package that is well-rounded and flexible to help meet the varied personal and professional needs of every member of our team. For more detail on the benefits we offer at Agios, visit the Inside Agios section of our website.
- Competitive and equitable performance-based compensation. This includes base salary and both short- and long-term incentives that are connected to our business strategy and vary based on individual and company performance.
- The current base salary range for this position at the Medical Director is expected to be between $221,600 and $369,333 annualized and the current base salary range for this position at the Senior Medical Director is expected to be between $277,140 and $461,900 annualized; final salary will be determined based on various factors including, but not limited to, years of relevant experience, job knowledge, skills and proficiency, degree/education, and internal comparators.
- Psychological safety. We support an environment of fearlessness. We want you to share your ideas, speak candidly and take data-informed risks to help push the boundaries.
- Commitment to diversity. We strive to foster a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re continuously looking to improve the inclusivity of our workforce.
- Commitment to community. We’re an active participant in the communities that surround us – the communities where we live, and the community of people and their loved ones in need of better treatment options for conditions that are often overlooked.
Medical Director/Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development
Who we are:
At Agios, we are fueled by connections to transform rare diseases. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture – one that sparks bold thinking and strengthens our connections with each other and with the rare disease communities we serve. We embrace diverse backgrounds with respect, active listening, and a commitment to inclusion – because our differences shape how we hire, collaborate, and innovate. Our team’s proven track record of executional excellence, combined with our depth of expertise and dedication, enables us to develop innovative medicines that reflect the priorities of rare disease communities. Our commitment is more than scientific – it’s deeply personal, grounded in the meaningful connections we have built.
The impact you will make:
Agios Pharmaceuticals is searching for a dynamic Medical Director / Senior Medical Director to join our clinical development team. We want someone who cares about this important work, and who’s driven to connect to our mission of helping these patient communities. The Medical Director/Senior Medical Director is responsible for the development and execution of clinical research and development programs for Agios including the leadership of the pivotal trials, NDA and/or filing activities. This role gives strategic medical and tactical input to the Business Development team. This position serves as a key liaison between company and clinical investigators and establishes credible relationships with opinion leaders, and regulatory officials.
What you will do:
- Direct involvement in trial design of Phase I/II/III targeting rare or orphan diseases.
- Provide ongoing support for open-label extension periods and life cycle management of a product.
- Directly supervise and monitor trial conduct as well as work closely with external medical monitor physicians to assure consistency of conduct across trials. Work closely with all functions of the organization and external partners to manage trial execution.
- Provide medical input to global regulatory plans and regulatory meetings in partnership with regulatory affairs.
- Provide medical input to global safety leads and at safety meetings in partnership with safety and medical safety and risk management teams.
- Follow important developments and relevant trends in scientific literature and develop/maintain contracts with external experts to support understanding of the candidate drug effects and to gain strategic insights to the further development and placement of study and overall program.
- Develop effective relationships with clinical research organizations to ensure successful medical oversight of outsourced studies.
- Provide clinical assessments during disease/target evaluation, prioritization and selection, identifying novel therapeutics opportunities as well as critical study design and execution challenges.
- Support qualifications of pharmacodynamic/disease markers of assessment of efficacy.
- Work closely with the project management representative(s) to track trial status.
- Work closely with study physicians, as well as other project team members/functional areas to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Author and review clinical study reports, manuscripts, regulatory documents and other written material related to clinical study.
- Be responsible for the scientific quality of all clinical work.
- Ensure consistent practices with the highest ethical standards in compliance with internal SOPs, local regulations and laws.
What you bring:
- M.D. or equivalent degree
- Board Certification, Board Eligibility or specialist accreditation in internal medicine or pediatrics; specific experience with classical hematologic diseases is desirable.
- 3-10 years in industry (biotech/pharma) specifically within Clinical Development or closely related functions
- Clinical and managerial experience within pharmaceutical trial design and conduct (POC through Phase 3 experience) within the pharmaceutical industry CRO or Academia is required. Experience with trials through NDA preferred, but not required
- Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills are required for this high visibility position.
Concerned that you don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! At Agios, we value each other’s differences and recognize that teams thrive when everyone brings their unique experiences to the table. We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where all employees can bring their whole selves to work. If you’re excited about this role but your previous experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another opening!
Work Location:
Location Agnostic: Work location for this role is based on employee's individual preference. This role can be either remote in the US or hybrid in our Cambridge Headquarters. Hybrid schedules vary but are generally less than 3 days per week onsite and hybrid employees are expected to live within commutable distance of our Cambridge Headquarters. Remote employees work entirely from home except for attending Company sponsored events/ meetings. For employees who choose to work remotely, travel may be required for certain company events commensurate with the above job description.
What we will give you:
- Deliberate Development. Your professional growth is one of our top priorities.
- Flexibility. We’re all about individual needs. We embrace different perspectives, work styles, health and wellness approaches, care of families and productivity. When you’re at your best, we’re at our best.
- Premium benefits package. We invest in the health, well-being, and security of our people with a premium benefits package that is well-rounded and flexible to help meet the varied personal and professional needs of every member of our team. For more detail on the benefits we offer at Agios, visit the Inside Agios section of our website.
- Competitive and equitable performance-based compensation. This includes base salary and both short- and long-term incentives that are connected to our business strategy and vary based on individual and company performance.
- The current base salary range for this position at the Medical Director is expected to be between $221,600 and $369,333 annualized and the current base salary range for this position at the Senior Medical Director is expected to be between $277,140 and $461,900 annualized; final salary will be determined based on various factors including, but not limited to, years of relevant experience, job knowledge, skills and proficiency, degree/education, and internal comparators.
- Psychological safety. We support an environment of fearlessness. We want you to share your ideas, speak candidly and take data-informed risks to help push the boundaries.
- Commitment to diversity. We strive to foster a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re continuously looking to improve the inclusivity of our workforce.
- Commitment to community. We’re an active participant in the communities that surround us – the communities where we live, and the community of people and their loved ones in need of better treatment options for conditions that are often overlooked.
See all 255+ OPT Medical Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Medical Director Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Medical Director
Target healthcare systems with established immigration programs
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers sponsor physician executives far more consistently than small private practices. Look for organizations with in-house legal teams or stated commitments to international medical graduates in leadership roles.
Secure your state medical license before applying
Most Medical Director roles require an active, unrestricted state license before day one. Beginning the licensing process early signals readiness to employers and removes a common barrier that causes sponsorship conversations to stall before they start.
Understand your OPT timeline relative to H-1B cap dates
Standard OPT gives you 12 months. If your program is not STEM-designated, plan your job search around the H-1B lottery cycle to ensure your employer can file a petition before your OPT authorization expires and a gap in status occurs.
Position yourself as a clinical and operational hybrid
Employers hiring Medical Directors want candidates who bridge medicine and management. Highlight experience with quality improvement, utilization review, or clinical protocol development alongside your clinical background to differentiate yourself from purely clinical applicants.
Raise the O-1A visa as an alternative to H-1B
Medical Directors with publications, leadership awards, or significant administrative achievements may qualify for the O-1A, which has no lottery and no annual cap. Discuss this option with an immigration attorney early so your employer understands it as a viable pathway.
Document your board certifications thoroughly in applications
Specialty board certification is a common hard requirement for Medical Director roles, and it directly supports H-1B specialty occupation classification. List your certifying board, certification date, and recertification status explicitly rather than burying them in a CV footnote.
Medical Director OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can an F-1 OPT student work as a Medical Director in the United States?
Yes, an F-1 OPT student can work as a Medical Director as long as the role is directly related to your degree field and your employer is registered with E-Verify. Most Medical Director positions require an MD or DO degree, so OPT authorization typically aligns well with the role's educational requirements. You'll need your employer to sponsor long-term work authorization before OPT expires.
Does the STEM OPT 24-month extension apply to Medical Director roles?
In almost all cases, no. STEM OPT extension applies only to graduates of programs on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, which generally does not include MD, DO, or standard medical degree programs. If your underlying degree is in a qualifying STEM field such as biomedical engineering or health informatics and your Medical Director role falls under that classification, an extension may be possible, but this is uncommon. Confirm with your DSO.
What visa options do employers use to sponsor Medical Directors after OPT?
The H-1B cap-subject lottery is the most common route, though it introduces timing uncertainty. Employers who qualify as cap-exempt, such as nonprofit hospitals affiliated with universities or research institutions, can file H-1B petitions year-round without lottery risk. The O-1A extraordinary ability visa is another strong option for candidates with notable research output, leadership recognition, or administrative achievements. Some Medical Directors also pursue EB-1 or EB-2 NIW green card pathways concurrently.
How do I find Medical Director positions where employers are open to OPT sponsorship?
Migrate Mate specializes in surfacing jobs from employers with a demonstrated history of sponsoring international candidates. Searching Medical Director roles on Migrate Mate lets you filter for sponsorship-friendly employers rather than applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a hiring team has no pathway in place for OPT or visa sponsorship.
Do Medical Director roles qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes. Medical Director positions consistently meet the H-1B specialty occupation standard because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in a specific specialty, and in practice an MD or DO degree, as a standard and normal requirement for entry into the role. USCIS has routinely approved H-1B petitions for physician executive positions. Having board certification in a relevant specialty strengthens the petition by further demonstrating the degree-job nexus.