Scientific Director Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Scientific Director roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations, making you eligible for employer-sponsored status in cycles of up to three years. Employers in pharma, biotech, and research institutions regularly file Labor Condition Applications for this title. No lottery exemption exists, but cap-exempt employers like universities and nonprofit research organizations can hire year-round.
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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
See all 43+ Scientific Director Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Scientific Director Jobs
Document your research leadership credentials early
Scientific Directors need evidence of supervisory scope, not just publications. Gather org charts, grant award letters showing your PI status, and performance reviews that name direct reports before you start applying. USCIS scrutinizes whether the role genuinely requires a doctorate or equivalent.
Target cap-exempt employers for faster hiring
Universities, nonprofit research institutes, and government-affiliated labs can file H-1B petitions any time of year without entering the annual lottery. For a Scientific Director role, this removes a 12-month wait and lets you start much sooner after an offer.
Verify prevailing wage tier before negotiating salary
Scientific Director positions typically fall at DOL wage Level III or IV. Use the OFLC Wage Search to confirm the prevailing wage for your exact work location before negotiating, since the LCA must certify your offered wage meets or exceeds that threshold.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified LCA sponsors
Many pharma and biotech employers file LCAs for Scientific Director titles regularly but don't advertise sponsorship openly. Search Migrate Mate to identify companies with verified DOL filing history for this role, then target your outreach to hiring managers at those organizations.
Prepare for specialty occupation scrutiny on your petition
If your undergraduate degree is in a broad field like biology or chemistry, build a nexus argument showing how your specific graduate training directly applies to the Scientific Director duties. USCIS RFEs on this title often challenge degree-to-role alignment, not just degree level.
Align your PERM timing with your priority date strategy
If your employer plans to sponsor a green card, the EB-2 category requires PERM labor certification, and backlogs vary significantly by country of birth. Start the PERM process during your first H-1B period so your priority date is established before the six-year H-1B cap approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Scientific Director role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Scientific Director positions qualify because they normally require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related scientific field, and in practice most employers require a doctorate. USCIS evaluates the specific job duties and the employer's hiring norms, so your offer letter and job description should explicitly state the degree requirement and explain why a generalist background wouldn't suffice.
Which visa categories can sponsor a Scientific Director?
H-1B is the primary work visa for this role. Candidates from Australia can use the E-3 visa, which has a separate cap and no lottery. Candidates from Canada or Mexico may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to a USMCA-listed profession such as scientific technician or engineer, though Scientific Director as a title requires careful evaluation against that list. EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship is common for long-term hires.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor Scientific Director visas?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for Scientific Director and related research leadership titles, so you can focus your applications on companies already familiar with the filing process rather than educating a recruiter from scratch.
Does a foreign doctorate count toward H-1B eligibility for this role?
Yes, a foreign doctorate is accepted by USCIS if it's equivalent to a U.S. degree in a relevant field. Equivalency is typically established through a credential evaluation from a recognized credential assessment organization. For the H-1B advanced-degree exemption from the regular cap, the degree must be from a U.S. institution, so a foreign doctorate counts only toward the standard 65,000 cap allocation.
What makes a Scientific Director petition more likely to receive an RFE?
USCIS frequently issues Requests for Evidence when the offered role blends administrative and scientific duties without clearly requiring a specific degree field, or when the employer is a staffing firm placing the worker at a client site. Petitions are also challenged when the applicant's degree is in a broad discipline and the connection to highly specialized director-level research duties isn't explicitly argued in the support letter.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Scientific Director jobs?
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.