Senior Level Scientific Director Jobs
Senior level scientific director jobs place experienced scientists in charge of research strategy, program direction, and the cross-functional teams that drive scientific outcomes. Openings are concentrated across Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare & Medical Services, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote positions available, and employers like Neurocrine Biosciences, Lila Sciences, and Ascendis Pharma hiring at this level now.
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INTRODUCTION
Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology. Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills. Are you passionate about science and eager to make a difference in patient's lives? We are seeking an experienced trainer who can join our dynamic Global Scientific Training team as an Associate Director!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this pivotal role, you will have the opportunity to shape and enhance the scientific training programs that empower our Medical Affairs teams across the globe. You will collaborate with cross-functional scientific affairs team members to ensure that our scientific standards are aligned across the organization. As an Associate Director, you will be asked to take charge of developing training content, facilitating engaging learning experiences, and fostering a culture of continuous learning within the Ascendis organization. Your expertise will help drive our mission to create innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes and enhance lives.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute on a regular basis to the content and process updates in several scientific training curriculums that are tailored to diverse medical audiences
- Collaborate with internal subject matter experts, as needed, to internally develop engaging training materials and curricula with limited vendor support
- Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and seminars using adult learning principles to enhance scientific understanding around the world, while taking into consideration potential cultural differences
- Evaluate and improve training effectiveness through feedback with formal and informal assessments
- Stay current with industry trends, our disease state areas and the treatment guidelines that impact our training content
- Support the onboarding process for new employees to ensure they receive a strong scientific foundation while also looking for new ways to engage those with extensive knowledge within our teams also
- Foster a positive learning environment that encourages employee participation, a learning journey and knowledge sharing
- Seek new formats and technologies to enhance audience engagement while also utilizing a learning management system and various existing technologies
- Participate in the advancement of a Global Medical Affairs fellowship program with the commitment to create a competitive professional educational experience within the Pharma industry
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years of Biotech/Pharma training experience in the biotech industry required
- Prior Biotech/Pharma Field Medical or Clinical experience, required
- PharmD/PhD with training experience required
- Clinical Development experience is desired
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively and work efficiently with people at all levels within an organization to support both urgent and long-term business needs
- Strong and effective written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail
- Ability to gather, disseminate, and present information in a logical, professional, engaging and audience-appropriate manner
- Must possess proficient organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple tasks at one time
- Experience with the use of an Electronic Learning Management Systems in order to support training record activities
- Highly self-motivated and self-managed with the ability to work independently, but also enjoy working as part of a team for an extended period of time
- Ability to effectively execute a variety of training deliverables (i.e., f2f instructor led training (ILT), virtual ILT, self-guided resources)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word and PowerPoint, particularly as used in the development of instructional content
- Ability to travel up to 20% of the time domestically and occasionally internationally
COMPENSATION
The estimated salary range for this position is $190k - $200k. Actual salary determination is dependent on a variety of factors some of which include: experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus or an incentive compensation plan (eligibility varies based on role and position level), discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package.
A note to recruiters:
We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.
BENEFITS
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
- Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
- Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Discounts
- Professional Development
- Health Saving Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Various incentive compensation plans
- Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Mental Health resources
- Paid leave benefits for new parents
INTRODUCTION
Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology. Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills. Are you passionate about science and eager to make a difference in patient's lives? We are seeking an experienced trainer who can join our dynamic Global Scientific Training team as an Associate Director!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In this pivotal role, you will have the opportunity to shape and enhance the scientific training programs that empower our Medical Affairs teams across the globe. You will collaborate with cross-functional scientific affairs team members to ensure that our scientific standards are aligned across the organization. As an Associate Director, you will be asked to take charge of developing training content, facilitating engaging learning experiences, and fostering a culture of continuous learning within the Ascendis organization. Your expertise will help drive our mission to create innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes and enhance lives.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute on a regular basis to the content and process updates in several scientific training curriculums that are tailored to diverse medical audiences
- Collaborate with internal subject matter experts, as needed, to internally develop engaging training materials and curricula with limited vendor support
- Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and seminars using adult learning principles to enhance scientific understanding around the world, while taking into consideration potential cultural differences
- Evaluate and improve training effectiveness through feedback with formal and informal assessments
- Stay current with industry trends, our disease state areas and the treatment guidelines that impact our training content
- Support the onboarding process for new employees to ensure they receive a strong scientific foundation while also looking for new ways to engage those with extensive knowledge within our teams also
- Foster a positive learning environment that encourages employee participation, a learning journey and knowledge sharing
- Seek new formats and technologies to enhance audience engagement while also utilizing a learning management system and various existing technologies
- Participate in the advancement of a Global Medical Affairs fellowship program with the commitment to create a competitive professional educational experience within the Pharma industry
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years of Biotech/Pharma training experience in the biotech industry required
- Prior Biotech/Pharma Field Medical or Clinical experience, required
- PharmD/PhD with training experience required
- Clinical Development experience is desired
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively and work efficiently with people at all levels within an organization to support both urgent and long-term business needs
- Strong and effective written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail
- Ability to gather, disseminate, and present information in a logical, professional, engaging and audience-appropriate manner
- Must possess proficient organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple tasks at one time
- Experience with the use of an Electronic Learning Management Systems in order to support training record activities
- Highly self-motivated and self-managed with the ability to work independently, but also enjoy working as part of a team for an extended period of time
- Ability to effectively execute a variety of training deliverables (i.e., f2f instructor led training (ILT), virtual ILT, self-guided resources)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word and PowerPoint, particularly as used in the development of instructional content
- Ability to travel up to 20% of the time domestically and occasionally internationally
COMPENSATION
The estimated salary range for this position is $190k - $200k. Actual salary determination is dependent on a variety of factors some of which include: experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus or an incentive compensation plan (eligibility varies based on role and position level), discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package.
A note to recruiters:
We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.
BENEFITS
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Medical, dental, and vision plans
- Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
- Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
- Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Discounts
- Professional Development
- Health Saving Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Various incentive compensation plans
- Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Mental Health resources
- Paid leave benefits for new parents
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Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Senior Level Scientific Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level scientific director job?
Employers at this level look for a demonstrated history of leading research programs, shaping scientific strategy, and delivering measurable outcomes across complex projects. What gives candidates an edge is the ability to show cross-functional leadership, a record of mentoring scientists at earlier career stages, and deep domain expertise that informs both technical decisions and organizational direction. Tailoring your materials to reflect ownership, not just contribution, matters significantly here.
Which companies hire senior level scientific directors?
Companies hiring senior level scientific directors right now include Neurocrine Biosciences, Lila Sciences, and Ascendis Pharma, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from large pharmaceutical and biotech firms, medical device companies, research-intensive technology organizations, and academic medical centers with active R&D programs.
Are there remote senior level scientific director jobs?
Yes, though availability depends on the organization and the nature of the research work. About 0% of senior level scientific director openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements being more common at large employers where some lab oversight or in-person leadership presence is expected. Fully remote roles tend to be concentrated in regulatory, medical affairs, and strategic advisory functions.
What makes a scientific director role senior level?
Senior level scientific director roles are defined by program-wide ownership rather than project-level execution. These positions carry responsibility for setting scientific priorities, managing teams of researchers and managers, influencing organizational strategy, and often overseeing budgets and external partnerships. The technical depth expected is substantial, and mentoring earlier-career scientists is typically a core part of the role, not an occasional responsibility.
Which industries hire the most senior level scientific directors?
Senior Level scientific director roles concentrate in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare & Medical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they sustain large internal research functions, face ongoing pressure to advance pipelines or products, and require experienced scientific leadership to align technical work with broader business or regulatory goals.