Principal Jobs in Durham, NC
Principal jobs in Durham, North Carolina are concentrated in Research Triangle Park, downtown Durham, and the Ninth Street and Duke University corridors, with strong demand across K-12 education, life sciences, and professional services. Employers hiring right now include IQVIA, Fidelity Investments, and City of Durham, NC. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Associate Principal – Patient-Centered Solutions
IQVIA™ is The Human Data Science Company™, focused on using data and science to help healthcare clients find better solutions for their patients. IQVIA offers a broad range of solutions that harness advances in healthcare information, technology, analytics, and human ingenuity to drive healthcare forward.
The Patient-Centered Solutions team (PCS)
The PCS team leads the industry in the science of measuring the patient experience. We pair strategic consulting expertise with technical scientific knowledge to design and execute scientifically rigorous research that incorporates the patient voice into the development and commercialization of new medicines. This research includes qualitative (e.g., patient interviews, focus groups), quantitative (e.g., clinical outcome assessments (COAs)/patient-reported outcomes (PROs), preference research) and passive (e.g., digital health technology tools) approaches to understand patient, caregiver and physician experiences and expectations of disease and treatment.
Why join?
- Become part of a recognized global leader in patient-focused research
- Keep growing with an organization that encourages and invests in continuous professional and personal development
- Develop your business and leadership skills further, with coaching from senior leaders
- Continue challenging yourself by addressing the toughest client issues, working across multiple geographies and solutions in a dynamic and crucial field for the industry
- Make a difference to patients by enabling the successful approval or launch of new treatments with features that are truly patient-centric
Responsibilities
As an Associate Principal, you will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of projects in the field of patient-centred research, for developing and communicating strategic insights and recommendations to clients, and for supporting business development. In your day-to-day role, you will collaborate directly with IQVIA’s senior leaders, independently manage client relationships, prepare proposals and contracts with limited supervision, and start to build a book of business. You will typically oversee 6 or more projects at the same time staffed with project managers and researchers.
- Oversee and contribute to delivery of a portfolio of consulting, scientific and analytic projects
- Develop and deliver insightful, value-added strategies that address complex client issues in the patient science field
- Plan resources for project delivery, track and ensure project financial health
- Coach and direct project managers and project team members
- Create reports, presentations and facilitate workshops
- Lead bid teams, develop proposals and participate in business development processes
- Develop a broad knowledge of patient science and how it addresses client needs for evidence generation and dissemination, regulatory and market access strategy
- Identify opportunities for expansion of PCS consulting service offerings
- Support people-related activities such as recruitment, training and development
- Lead special initiatives that contribute to the growth and maturing of the PCS practice
- Manage 3-4 team members
Essential experience, skills and education required
- An advanced academic science degree in public health, epidemiology, psychology, sociology, medical anthropology, health economics or another related field
- 5 – 8 years of experience in at least 1 of the above fields
- Previous experience in strategic consulting and project management
- Strong experience working in roles generating or communicating robust clinical data suitable for submission to regulatory bodies, payers or for publication; preferably with exposure to COA/PRO, patient preference and/or HEOR
- Advanced knowledge of the healthcare regulatory processes and international payer systems
- Ability to rapidly understand new scientific content and to engage meaningfully with clients and project teams
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presenting, facilitating meetings and workshops, and report writing
- Demonstrable analytical, interpretative, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with others
- An ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple tasks
- An ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in multi-disciplinary and international teams
IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at https://jobs.iqvia.com
IQVIA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law. https://jobs.iqvia.com/eoe
IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.
The potential base pay range for this role, when annualized, is $111,000.00 - $309,200.00. The actual base pay offered may vary based on a number of factors including job-related qualifications such as knowledge, skills, education, and experience; location; and/or schedule (full or part-time). Dependent on the position offered, incentive plans, bonuses, and/or other forms of compensation may be offered, in addition to a range of health and welfare and/or other benefits.See All 39 Principal Jobs in Durham
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Find Principal JobsPrincipal Job Market in Durham
Who's Hiring
- IQVIA5

- Fidelity Investments5

- City of Durham, NC4

- NVIDIA3

- Fortrea2

Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals7
- Technology & Software6
- Consulting & Professional Services4
- Electronics & Hardware3
- Manufacturing2
Principal Jobs in Durham: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal job in Durham?
Focus your search on Durham's K-12 public and charter school systems, the research and administrative operations anchored near Duke University and Research Triangle Park, and the growing life sciences and professional services firms downtown. Candidates who demonstrate direct leadership experience in Durham's specific demographics and a familiarity with its community-centered school culture consistently stand out. Networking through Durham Public Schools and local education nonprofits also opens doors that online applications alone rarely do.
Which companies hire principals in Durham?
Durham principal roles are posted by IQVIA, Fidelity Investments, and City of Durham, NC and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Durham's employer mix is distinctive, pulling from a combination of large public institutions, charter networks, research-driven organizations near Research Triangle Park, and an expanding base of corporate offices that use the principal title for senior technical and product leadership.
Are there remote principal jobs in Durham?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the type of principal role. School-based principal positions are almost entirely on-site by nature, while principal engineers, principal scientists, and principal consultants tied to Durham's tech and life sciences sectors are far more likely to offer flexibility. About 53% of principal openings tied to Durham are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with the highest share found in software, data, and research-oriented roles connected to the Research Triangle Park corridor.
How can I get a principal job in Durham with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Durham is building toward the role through assistant or vice principal positions within Durham Public Schools or the city's charter networks, which actively develop internal candidates. For corporate principal titles in Durham's tech and life sciences sectors, lateral moves from senior individual contributor roles at Research Triangle Park employers are common stepping stones. Volunteering with Durham education nonprofits or joining mentorship programs tied to Duke and North Carolina Central University also builds the local visibility that hiring managers notice.
Which industries hire the most principals in Durham?
The sectors hiring the most principals in Durham are Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Technology & Software, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Durham's concentration of public schools, charter networks, university-affiliated research institutions, and a rapidly expanding life sciences and technology corridor around Research Triangle Park makes it one of the more diverse markets in the state for the principal title across both education and corporate contexts.
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