Project Director Jobs in California
Project Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in technology, construction and infrastructure, healthcare systems, and defense and aerospace across every level from emerging to executive. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where employers like Kaiser Permanente, Bechtel, and Apple maintain significant project leadership teams. Certifications such as the PMP and California-specific construction management credentials are consistently emphasized in postings, particularly for roles tied to state infrastructure programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Project Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,296+ Project Director jobs
Description
The Department of Medicine is seeking an experienced and strategic Project Director to lead high-impact, multi-site research initiatives that advance innovative clinical and health services research. This role offers a unique opportunity to partner with nationally recognized investigators, drive complex research programs from concept to completion, and shape a growing portfolio of externally funded studies.
The Project Director will provide leadership across all aspects of research operations, including grant development, study implementation, regulatory compliance, budget oversight, and multi-institutional collaboration. Working closely with investigators, funding agencies, and institutional partners, the incumbent will oversee large-scale research projects, facilitate data-sharing and research partnerships, and ensure the successful execution of research programs that influence clinical practice and healthcare delivery.
This position is ideal for a highly organized and collaborative leader with a strong background in research administration, program management, and grant-funded research who is passionate about advancing scientific discovery and improving patient outcomes.
Annual range: $105,700.00-$234,500.00
Qualifications
Required:
- Doctoral degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or related field.
- Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or related field.
- Experience managing complex research programs or multi-site studies within academic medical centers or research institutions.
- Experience developing and submitting competitive grant proposals to federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DoD, NCI, PCORI) and foundations.
- Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research including study design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Experience managing regulatory processes including IRB submissions and human subjects compliance.
- Experience managing research budgets, contracts, and grants administration.
- CITI Human Subjects Research Certification.
- Demonstrated expertise in the management of complex research studies, including multi-site clinical or population-based research.
- Advanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
- Strong experience with grant proposal development, including preparation of scientific and administrative sections.
- Working knowledge of federal funding mechanisms (e.g., Federal/Private foundation) and grant submission processes.
- Experience navigating regulatory processes including IRB submissions and human subjects protections.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-institutional collaborations and manage complex research operations.
- Excellent scientific writing skills for preparation of manuscripts, grant proposals, and reports.
- Experience working with institutional research infrastructure such as CTSI and clinical data systems.
- Strong project management skills including ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of collaborators across multi-disciplinary backgrounds (e.g., engineering, cognitive science, clinical medicine, etc.).
- 8+ years experience managing complex research programs or multi-site studies within academic medical centers or research institutions.
- 6+ years experience developing and submitting competitive grant proposals to federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DoD, NCI, PCORI) and foundations.
- 7+ years experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research including study design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- 7+ years experience managing regulatory processes including IRB submissions and human subjects compliance.
- 7+ years experience managing research budgets, contracts, and grants administration.
Preferred:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex datasets and research findings.
- Experience and/or understanding of diagnostic accuracy, cancer screening, medical decision making, use of AI tools in medicine.
Description
The Department of Medicine is seeking an experienced and strategic Project Director to lead high-impact, multi-site research initiatives that advance innovative clinical and health services research. This role offers a unique opportunity to partner with nationally recognized investigators, drive complex research programs from concept to completion, and shape a growing portfolio of externally funded studies.
The Project Director will provide leadership across all aspects of research operations, including grant development, study implementation, regulatory compliance, budget oversight, and multi-institutional collaboration. Working closely with investigators, funding agencies, and institutional partners, the incumbent will oversee large-scale research projects, facilitate data-sharing and research partnerships, and ensure the successful execution of research programs that influence clinical practice and healthcare delivery.
This position is ideal for a highly organized and collaborative leader with a strong background in research administration, program management, and grant-funded research who is passionate about advancing scientific discovery and improving patient outcomes.
Annual range: $105,700.00-$234,500.00
Qualifications
Required:
- Doctoral degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or related field.
- Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, health services research, social sciences, or related field.
- Experience managing complex research programs or multi-site studies within academic medical centers or research institutions.
- Experience developing and submitting competitive grant proposals to federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DoD, NCI, PCORI) and foundations.
- Experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research including study design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Experience managing regulatory processes including IRB submissions and human subjects compliance.
- Experience managing research budgets, contracts, and grants administration.
- CITI Human Subjects Research Certification.
- Demonstrated expertise in the management of complex research studies, including multi-site clinical or population-based research.
- Advanced knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
- Strong experience with grant proposal development, including preparation of scientific and administrative sections.
- Working knowledge of federal funding mechanisms (e.g., Federal/Private foundation) and grant submission processes.
- Experience navigating regulatory processes including IRB submissions and human subjects protections.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-institutional collaborations and manage complex research operations.
- Excellent scientific writing skills for preparation of manuscripts, grant proposals, and reports.
- Experience working with institutional research infrastructure such as CTSI and clinical data systems.
- Strong project management skills including ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of collaborators across multi-disciplinary backgrounds (e.g., engineering, cognitive science, clinical medicine, etc.).
- 8+ years experience managing complex research programs or multi-site studies within academic medical centers or research institutions.
- 6+ years experience developing and submitting competitive grant proposals to federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DoD, NCI, PCORI) and foundations.
- 7+ years experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research including study design, data analysis, and interpretation.
- 7+ years experience managing regulatory processes including IRB submissions and human subjects compliance.
- 7+ years experience managing research budgets, contracts, and grants administration.
Preferred:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex datasets and research findings.
- Experience and/or understanding of diagnostic accuracy, cancer screening, medical decision making, use of AI tools in medicine.
See All 1,296+ Project Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Director JobsProject Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Alvarez & Marsal45
- Revolution Medicines38
- Adobe34
- GHD23
- University of California Berkeley19
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software319
- Consulting & Professional Services186
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals148
- Electronics & Hardware121
- Education84
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project director jobs across California.
- PMP or equivalent project management certification recognized in California required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, construction management, or related field required
- Minimum eight to twelve years of progressive project management experience across large programs
- Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams and enterprise-level project budgets
- Experience with California-specific regulatory environments including CEQA or state procurement rules
- Proficiency with project management platforms such as MS Project, Primavera, or Smartsheet
Project Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project director in California?
Most project directors in California follow a path that combines a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field with progressive team leadership experience and a Project Management Professional credential. Construction-focused roles often require familiarity with California Environmental Quality Act processes and, for public works, compliance with state contractor licensing requirements overseen by the Contractors State License Board. Industry experience and demonstrated delivery of complex programs carry more weight than any single credential.
How much do project directors make in California?
Project directors in California earn a median of about $120,910 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,180 for the lowest 10% to over $188,560 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project directors in California?
Employers hiring project directors in California right now include Alvarez & Marsal, Revolution Medicines, and Adobe, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of large technology headquarters, healthcare networks, and major infrastructure contractors means openings appear across a wide range of industries and project types.
Which California cities have the most project director jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose consistently post the most project director openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles lead because of their density of technology headquarters, large health systems, and major construction programs, while San Diego draws significant volume from its defense contractor and biotech clusters, which run ongoing multi-year projects that require senior oversight.
Are there remote project director jobs in California?
Yes, though they are less common than for purely desk-based roles. About 24% of project director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the fact that many programs require on-site coordination with construction crews, clinical teams, or hardware. The portions of the role most likely to be performed remotely include stakeholder reporting, budget management, and planning work.
How can I get hired as a project director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a project coordinator or project manager role at a large California employer such as a major health system, a general contractor working on state infrastructure, or a Bay Area technology company, then building toward director-level scope. Kaiser Permanente, Caltrans programs, and large construction firms run structured project management development programs. Earning a CAPM credential and gaining exposure to California-specific compliance frameworks, including CEQA for construction and regulated industries, helps candidates stand out early.
Where can I find and apply to project director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to project director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 1,296+ Project Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Director Jobs