
Medical Director, Clinical Development
Palo Alto, CAJob$265–295K/yrSeen 6 days agoSeen in employer's feed 6 days ago
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Job overview
Ascendis Pharma is seeking a Medical Director to support late-phase endocrinology clinical trials and development programs. The role contributes to trial design, oversight, data interpretation, regulatory strategy, and cross-functional product development, and reports to the Vice President of Clinical Science. The position is based in the United States and includes up to 20% domestic and international travel. Residency and fellowship completion, physician licensure, and board certification are strongly preferred; endocrinology specialty is highly desired.
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Full job description
::: section ## Description 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. The Medical Director is involved in the design, monitoring, data analysis, and interpretation of the Companys late-phase clinical trials in endocrinology. As such, the Medical Director is an important and visible member of the clinical development team. The Medical Director position is based in the United States and will report to the Vice President, Clinical Science. Key Responsibilities - Contribute to formulation and implementation of the Clinical Development Plan {=html} - Leverage medical expertise and hands-on clinical experience to promote relevance and rigor of the development program - For clinical trials: design, provide overall oversight, and support site and subject retention - Serve as a Medical Monitor for clinical trials, ensure study integrity, and track accumulating safety and efficacy data - Provide leadership to teams of medical monitors - Provide leadership to study teams - Ensure successful completion of trial-related documents (including clinical trial protocols, investigator brochures, medical monitoring plans, site training materials, clinical study reports, health authority responses, standard operating procedures, etc.) with cross-functional team members - Ensure study integrity, and track accumulating safety and efficacy data - Analyze, evaluate, interpret, and report clinical data - Anticipate and solve complex drug development problems - Contribute to regulatory strategy - Contribute to drafting and reviewing of clinical documents, manuscripts, presentations, and regulatory submissions - Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant science, medical information, good clinical practices, and regulatory guidance - Collaborate withand serve as a clinical research resource forcross-functional colleagues (e.g. in clinical operations, statistics, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, health economics outcomes research, commercial, finance) to optimize product development - Contribute to (and may be asked to represent the clinical development department in) corporate strategic and organizational initiatives - Cultivate relationships with investigative sites, clinical consultants, and key opinion leaders to represent the interests of the company - Assist in portfolio management and commercial activities as needed - Complete assigned tasks thoroughly, accurately, and on time - Adhere to rigorous ethical standards - Travel up to 20% domestically and internationally for scientific meetings ::: ::: section ## Requirements Knowledge, Skills and Experience - M.D. degree - Completion of ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship (strongly preferred) - Physician licensure in at least one state (strongly preferred) - Board-certified (strongly preferred), with specialty in endocrinology highly desired - At least 5 years of industry experience (other relevant experience e.g. post-graduate experience in the clinical and/or academic realms may also be considered on a case-by-case basis). Those with less experience may be considered for an Associate Medical Director position. - At least 3 years of experience with clinical trial design and execution - Strong track record of scientific and clinical inquiry - Possess excellent communication skills (written and oral) - Learn quickly, follow complex directions under pressure - Multi-task while remaining organized and attentive to detail - Lead both directly and by example - Work hard, be a trustworthy and collaborative team player - Take initiative and solve complex problems - Demonstrate sound judgement in terms of handling complex, confidential, and regulated information The estimated salary range for this position is $265-295K/year. 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. ::: ::: section ## Benefits - 401(k) plan with company match - Medical, dental, and vision plans - Company-offered Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (ADandD) 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 Ascendis Pharma is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. A note to recruiters: []{style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: "} :::
How this job compares
Set against the 1,871 open Medical Director jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$265–295K/yr
- California median$236–350K/yr104 salary ranges
- US median$228–373K/yr1,048 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $280K, is 5% below the California median midpoint ($295K) — in the middle half of Medical Director salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 139 open Medical Director jobs in California and 1,871 across the US. 8% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in California
- VCA Animal Hospitals12 open
- Gilead Sciences, Inc.10 open
- Sutter Health9 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Medical Director postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (1,015 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a doctorate or professional degree; 1,332 of the 1,871 open Medical Director jobs (71%) ask for a doctorate or professional degree.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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