Director of Research and Development Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Director of research and development visa sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated in the Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Genentech, Qualcomm, Apple, and Nvidia regularly sponsor senior research leaders. California's density of biotech, semiconductor, and deep-tech firms makes it one of the most active states for R&D director-level sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Denali Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of biotherapeutics designed to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using its proprietary TransportVehicle™ platform. With the first FDA-approved biologic specifically designed to cross the BBB, a clinically validated delivery platform and a growing portfolio of therapeutic candidates across all stages of development, we are advancing toward our goal of delivering effective medicines to transform the lives of people living with neurodegenerative diseases, lysosomal storage disorders and other serious diseases.
We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leads Development Sciences Operations to support nonclinical and clinical development programs across Toxicology, Pathology, DMPK, Clinical, Pharmacology, Biomarkers, and Bioanalytical functions. Oversees operational execution, external partnerships, and study delivery to ensure quality, compliance, and timelines. Manages team members and vendors while driving cross-functional coordination and operational consistency across programs.
Key Accountabilities/Core Job Responsibilities:
- Lead Development Sciences Operations activities across programs, including oversight of staff, vendors, and study execution
- Manage and develop direct reports, including goal setting, performance management, and coaching
- Serve as primary operational interface with CROs, establishing workflows, expectations, and oversight
- Manage vendor selection and contracting (RFIs, SOWs, budgets, change orders) in partnership with Legal and Finance
- Oversee execution of nonclinical and clinical studies, ensuring timelines, quality, and compliance (GLP, GCP, GCLP)
- Coordinate cross-functional activities with Discovery, Development Sciences, and Clinical Operations to support program delivery
- Establish and track study timelines, risks, and deliverables to meet program objectives
- Ensure data quality, reporting, and integration into internal systems to support decision-making
- Ensure compliance with study protocols, regulatory requirements (e.g., IACUC), and internal SOPs
- Drive operational improvements, standardization, and efficiency across Development Sciences activities
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
- Typically requires 9+ years of biopharmaceutical experience with progressive responsibility in development sciences or operations and management experience
- Demonstrates experience managing direct reports and leading work through others in a matrixed environment
- Demonstrates working knowledge of nonclinical and clinical development operations, including Toxicology, DMPK, and Bioanalytical workflows
- Demonstrates experience managing CROs, vendors, and outsourced study execution
- Demonstrates ability to manage programs, including timelines, risks, budgets, and cross-functional coordination
- Demonstrates strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills in a fast-paced environment
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $171,000.00 to $223,000.00. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits.
This compensation and benefits information is based on Denali’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
INTRODUCTION
Denali Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of biotherapeutics designed to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using its proprietary TransportVehicle™ platform. With the first FDA-approved biologic specifically designed to cross the BBB, a clinically validated delivery platform and a growing portfolio of therapeutic candidates across all stages of development, we are advancing toward our goal of delivering effective medicines to transform the lives of people living with neurodegenerative diseases, lysosomal storage disorders and other serious diseases.
We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leads Development Sciences Operations to support nonclinical and clinical development programs across Toxicology, Pathology, DMPK, Clinical, Pharmacology, Biomarkers, and Bioanalytical functions. Oversees operational execution, external partnerships, and study delivery to ensure quality, compliance, and timelines. Manages team members and vendors while driving cross-functional coordination and operational consistency across programs.
Key Accountabilities/Core Job Responsibilities:
- Lead Development Sciences Operations activities across programs, including oversight of staff, vendors, and study execution
- Manage and develop direct reports, including goal setting, performance management, and coaching
- Serve as primary operational interface with CROs, establishing workflows, expectations, and oversight
- Manage vendor selection and contracting (RFIs, SOWs, budgets, change orders) in partnership with Legal and Finance
- Oversee execution of nonclinical and clinical studies, ensuring timelines, quality, and compliance (GLP, GCP, GCLP)
- Coordinate cross-functional activities with Discovery, Development Sciences, and Clinical Operations to support program delivery
- Establish and track study timelines, risks, and deliverables to meet program objectives
- Ensure data quality, reporting, and integration into internal systems to support decision-making
- Ensure compliance with study protocols, regulatory requirements (e.g., IACUC), and internal SOPs
- Drive operational improvements, standardization, and efficiency across Development Sciences activities
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology, Toxicology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
- Typically requires 9+ years of biopharmaceutical experience with progressive responsibility in development sciences or operations and management experience
- Demonstrates experience managing direct reports and leading work through others in a matrixed environment
- Demonstrates working knowledge of nonclinical and clinical development operations, including Toxicology, DMPK, and Bioanalytical workflows
- Demonstrates experience managing CROs, vendors, and outsourced study execution
- Demonstrates ability to manage programs, including timelines, risks, budgets, and cross-functional coordination
- Demonstrates strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills in a fast-paced environment
COMPENSATION
- Salary Range: $171,000.00 to $223,000.00. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits.
This compensation and benefits information is based on Denali’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.
Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
Director of Research and Development Job Roles in California
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Search Director of Research and Development Jobs in CaliforniaDirector of Research and Development Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for directors of research and development in California?
California's biotech and technology sectors produce the highest concentration of director-level R&D sponsorship. Companies such as Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Qualcomm, Apple, Nvidia, and Illumina have documented histories of sponsoring senior research leadership roles. Large pharmaceutical firms operating out of San Diego's Torrey Pines corridor and Bay Area semiconductor companies are particularly active sponsors for this level of position.
Which visa types realistically fit director of research and development roles in California?
Directors of research and development typically qualify for the H-1B visa, which covers specialty occupations requiring a directly related bachelor's degree or higher, with initial status up to three years extendable to six. The E-3 visa applies to Australian nationals in specialty occupations and requires an LCA. The H-1B1 visa applies to Chilean and Singaporean nationals similarly. EB-1B and EB-2 green card pathways, including the National Interest Waiver, are common long-term routes for senior researchers.
Which cities in California have the most director of research and development sponsorship jobs?
San Francisco and the broader Bay Area lead in R&D director sponsorship, driven by life sciences, semiconductor, and enterprise software firms. San Diego is a major hub specifically for biotech and genomics, with clusters around La Jolla and Torrey Pines. Los Angeles has a growing presence through aerospace, defense technology, and entertainment technology companies. San Jose and Santa Clara are strong for hardware and chip design research leadership roles.
How to find director of research and development visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists California employers with verified sponsorship histories for director of research and development roles, letting you focus on companies that have demonstrated willingness to sponsor at the senior research level. This is particularly useful given how competitive R&D director positions are, where identifying proven sponsors in biotech, semiconductor, or deep-tech before applying saves significant time in your search.
Are there state-specific factors that affect R&D director visa sponsorship in California?
California's university pipeline, including UC San Diego, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Caltech, feeds directly into industry R&D leadership, and many sponsors in the state are accustomed to sponsoring candidates transitioning from academic postdoctoral or research scientist roles into director positions. California's strong labor protections and high prevailing wage levels mean employers filing LCAs for director-level roles in the Bay Area or San Diego will certify wages reflecting local market conditions, which OFLC Wage Search data reflects by metropolitan area.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored director of research and development jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.