Scientific Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Scientific director roles in California sit at the intersection of biotech, pharmaceuticals, and academic research, with major employers concentrated in the Bay Area, San Diego's Torrey Pines corridor, and Los Angeles. Companies like Genentech, Gilead Sciences, and AstraZeneca regularly seek senior scientific talent from outside the U.S., making California one of the most active states for scientific director visa sponsorship.
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About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Scientific Director provides medical and scientific input into medical market access payer, group purchasing organizations, health systems, guidelines, and pathways oncology scientific objectives and tactics for healthcare access decision makers. Develops and executes medical market access activities such as payer/healthcare access decision maker strategies, educational initiatives (medical education, data, guidelines, pathways, and value proposition), and translates payer/HCMD insights into. Works cross functionally in a highly matrixed environment with commercial, HEOR and medical affairs teams to provide strategic payer/HCDM input into brand strategies and shape integrated holistic value evidence plan.
- Leads development of medical affairs payer/HCDM strategy for the assigned therapeutic area and assets, translating the clinical, economic, humanistic, and real-world evidence into a differentiated value narrative that shapes access strategy, brand and portfolio priorities, and enterprise decisions.
- Actively participates in relevant cross functional brand, medical affairs and market access teams to provide medical, scientific, pharmaeconomic, and healthcare landscape input into portfolio and product strategies, influences without authority in a matrixed environment.
- Leads development and approval of medical affairs access/HCDM field and omnichannel materials.
- Leads and delivers training to the Medical Outcomes Science Liaison teams.
- Partners on the development of integrated evidence plan with Medical Affairs, HEOR to support scientific and business strategy aligned to Medical Affairs Evidence Gaps.
- Develops strategy for payer/HCDM collaborative customer research, thought-leadership forums, and external partnerships aligned with therapeutic area and AbbVie objectives in partnership with HEOR and medical affairs.
- Monitors scientific, health economic, access and healthcare policy trends through conferences, insights gathering and external engagement; proactively provide and provide proactive inputs into portfolio, therapeutic area and brand strategies.
- Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures. Responsible for understanding the legal and regulatory requirements as well as the healthcare landscape and accountable for complying with those requirements. Serves as the scientific team interface for key regulatory, OEC and Legal discussions.
- May assist with the scientific review, development, execution and communication of medical affairs sponsored or supported RWE research activities.
- Lead cross functional and functional sub teams responsible for discrete projects within the therapeutic area.
Qualifications
- Advanced Education PhD, PharmD, PA, NP highly preferred. Residency or additional post doctorate highly preferred.
- Typically 8 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry or equivalent; substantial understanding of managed care required and pharmacoeconomic experience preferred.
- Management and leadership experience at project level, experience with strategic initiatives and issues. Proven leadership skills in a cross-functional environment. International experience is a plus.
- Ability to interact externally and internally to support global business strategy. Ability to advance RWE studies or medical affairs directed research independently with little supervision. Knowledge of statistical methodology, regulatory requirements governing RWE and experience in development strategy and the design of RWE protocols.
- Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Works mostly independently with limited guidance.
Hybrid position based in one of our locations.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Scientific Director provides medical and scientific input into medical market access payer, group purchasing organizations, health systems, guidelines, and pathways oncology scientific objectives and tactics for healthcare access decision makers. Develops and executes medical market access activities such as payer/healthcare access decision maker strategies, educational initiatives (medical education, data, guidelines, pathways, and value proposition), and translates payer/HCMD insights into. Works cross functionally in a highly matrixed environment with commercial, HEOR and medical affairs teams to provide strategic payer/HCDM input into brand strategies and shape integrated holistic value evidence plan.
- Leads development of medical affairs payer/HCDM strategy for the assigned therapeutic area and assets, translating the clinical, economic, humanistic, and real-world evidence into a differentiated value narrative that shapes access strategy, brand and portfolio priorities, and enterprise decisions.
- Actively participates in relevant cross functional brand, medical affairs and market access teams to provide medical, scientific, pharmaeconomic, and healthcare landscape input into portfolio and product strategies, influences without authority in a matrixed environment.
- Leads development and approval of medical affairs access/HCDM field and omnichannel materials.
- Leads and delivers training to the Medical Outcomes Science Liaison teams.
- Partners on the development of integrated evidence plan with Medical Affairs, HEOR to support scientific and business strategy aligned to Medical Affairs Evidence Gaps.
- Develops strategy for payer/HCDM collaborative customer research, thought-leadership forums, and external partnerships aligned with therapeutic area and AbbVie objectives in partnership with HEOR and medical affairs.
- Monitors scientific, health economic, access and healthcare policy trends through conferences, insights gathering and external engagement; proactively provide and provide proactive inputs into portfolio, therapeutic area and brand strategies.
- Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures. Responsible for understanding the legal and regulatory requirements as well as the healthcare landscape and accountable for complying with those requirements. Serves as the scientific team interface for key regulatory, OEC and Legal discussions.
- May assist with the scientific review, development, execution and communication of medical affairs sponsored or supported RWE research activities.
- Lead cross functional and functional sub teams responsible for discrete projects within the therapeutic area.
Qualifications
- Advanced Education PhD, PharmD, PA, NP highly preferred. Residency or additional post doctorate highly preferred.
- Typically 8 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry or equivalent; substantial understanding of managed care required and pharmacoeconomic experience preferred.
- Management and leadership experience at project level, experience with strategic initiatives and issues. Proven leadership skills in a cross-functional environment. International experience is a plus.
- Ability to interact externally and internally to support global business strategy. Ability to advance RWE studies or medical affairs directed research independently with little supervision. Knowledge of statistical methodology, regulatory requirements governing RWE and experience in development strategy and the design of RWE protocols.
- Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Works mostly independently with limited guidance.
Hybrid position based in one of our locations.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Scientific Director Job Roles in California
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Search Scientific Director Jobs in CaliforniaScientific Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa types realistically fit scientific director roles in California?
Scientific director positions typically qualify as specialty occupations requiring a directly related advanced degree, making the H-1B visa the most common path. Nationals from Australia can pursue the E-3 visa, and nationals from Chile or Singapore may qualify for the H-1B1 visa. For candidates with extraordinary ability or a track record of leading high-impact research programs, the O-1A is worth exploring. A green card via EB-2 or EB-3 is also a common long-term pathway for senior scientific roles.
Which companies sponsor visas for scientific directors in California?
California's biopharma and biotech sectors generate a high volume of scientific director sponsorships. Employers with consistent H-1B LCA filing histories for senior research roles include Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Regeneron's California operations, and AstraZeneca. Large pharmaceutical companies and well-funded biotech firms in San Diego and the Bay Area account for the majority of filings. Academic medical centers such as UCSF and Stanford also sponsor scientific directors, particularly for research-focused positions.
How to find scientific director visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search, showing California scientific director roles at employers with verified visa sponsorship history. Rather than manually sorting through general job postings, you can search directly for scientific director positions at companies that have filed LCAs for comparable roles in California. This is particularly useful in a state where sponsorship activity is concentrated among a subset of biotech and pharma employers, and where the distinction between sponsoring and non-sponsoring companies matters significantly.
Which cities in California have the most scientific director sponsorship jobs?
San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area account for the largest share of scientific director sponsorship activity in California. San Diego's Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley clusters are home to dozens of biotech and life sciences companies that sponsor senior scientific roles. The Bay Area concentrates pharma and biotech headquarters in South San Francisco and Foster City. Los Angeles has a smaller but growing presence, driven by research hospitals and emerging biotech firms.
Are there any California-specific factors that affect scientific director visa sponsorship?
California's dense concentration of biotech, pharmaceutical, and research institutions means employer sponsorship activity here is higher than in most other states, but competition for senior scientific roles is also intense. California institutions such as UC San Diego, UCLA, and UCSF frequently transition postdoctoral researchers and faculty into industry scientific director roles, creating a well-established pipeline. State labor law does not alter federal visa requirements, but California's prevailing wage levels are generally higher than national averages, which affects LCA wage determinations for sponsored roles.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored scientific director 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.