Neurocrine Biosciences logo
Neurocrine Biosciences
San Diego, California

Sr. Medical Director MD, Immunology

Medical AffairsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$301k-$411k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 6m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs.

We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders.

The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas.

For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science.

For more information, visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube. (*in collaboration with AbbVie)

At Neurocrine, strong leadership drives both business results and team success. We look for leaders who think strategically, anticipate what’s ahead and set clear direction, while building and empowering high-performing teams. Successful leaders foster an environment where people are motivated to do their best work and deliver meaningful, measurable impact through sound decision-making and accountability.

About the Role

Medical expert responsible for the development of clinical research strategies and independent direction of Phase 1-3 clinical studies while working with a cross-functional project teams (clinical project managers, preclinical/clinical pharmacology, biometrics, regulatory, drug safety) creation and execution of clinical development plans and in the development of strategies that will ultimately lead to approvals of Neurocrine's products.

Provide expert medical advice to advance the development portfolio and will help the company navigate the complex drug development landscape. Works closely with Research and Preclinical Development to develop biomarkers necessary for the most effective evaluation of novel molecules in early clinical development.

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Your Contributions (Include, But Are Not Limited To)

For assigned programs, develops clinical development strategies and accountable for the study design of clinical trials in Development, leading on the preparation of clinical study synopses and being a major contributor to the writing of protocols/major amendments, the design of data collection systems, interpretation of clinical data, and the preparation of final clinical study reports. Engages with external experts and organizations as needed to achieve these aims

Represents Medical/Clinical on the cross-functional Program Team as the Program/Therapeutic Medical Lead. Accountable and responsible for the medical input to integrated development plans prepared by the Program Team and the clinical development plans that underpin them. Collaborate cross-functionally to support medical activities for clinical studies

Provides medical leadership to the Program Team. Accountable and responsible for driving the execution of the clinical development plan

Develops and implements study protocols in conjunction with a multidisciplinary Development Team

Assist in the identification and selection of clinical investigators for clinical trials and maintain appropriate communication and professional relationships as Sponsor medical monitor/representative

Conduct medical assessment and disposition of adverse events (in conjunction with Drug Safety physician) and evaluate safety of clinical compounds prior to and during ongoing clinical studies;

Oversee the clinical trials program in conjunction with Clinical Operations in accordance with NBI SOPs, Good Clinical Practice, and applicable regulations

Identify resource requirements, leads budget planning and personnel forecasting for clinical research programs; key contributor in the recruitment, training and development of the clinical teams, as well as Identify and select clinical consultants as needed

Leads the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of results of assigned clinical studies to internal and external audiences

  • Work with Medical Affairs and external opinion leaders to secure new collaborators and present trial results
  • Interface with Research, Product Development and Business Development to assess new product opportunities, develop clinical research strategy and product development plans
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements

MD or DO (or equivalent) degree in relevant clinical specialty for the therapeutic area required AND 4+ years clinical experience with broad bio/pharmaceutical/CRO industry experience in drug development OR

  • Accredited residency training and board certification preferred AND
  • Recognized Internal thought leader and deep expertise in a discipline
  • Requires broad, deep and comprehensive expertise in leading-edge theories and techniques for functional area
  • Applies ingenuity and creativity to problem analysis and resolution in complicated and/or novel situations
  • Influences internal/external business and/or industry issues that have an impact on Neurocrine
  • Strong mentoring skills and leadership abilities supervise lower levels and/or leads indirect teams
  • Proven ability to translate strategy into tactical plans and drive outcomes

Must be flexible, adaptable, self-motivated, able to prioritize, and able to manage/progress a large volume of work with minimal supervision

Strong interpersonal skills and outstanding collaborative skills; proven track record and success in building relationships and having scientific discourse with medical and scientific experts

Outstanding oral and written communication skills, with close attention to detail; ability to translate complex scientific concepts into simple language tailored for different audiences

Demonstrated Success with Project Management

Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software and with filing (archiving) systems

Deep knowledge and understanding of the drug development process including technical, business, and regulatory issues

Proven track record working with regulatory agencies and providing clinical leadership for the filing of INDs, NDAs, or other similar government filings

Strong knowledge of Good Clinical Practice, regulatory procedures relevant to investigational drug development

Strong knowledge in translational medicine and biomarker evaluation, clinical study execution, regulatory requirements and documents, study design, biostatistics, data analysis, report writing, and scientific presentation of data

Able to effectively operate in a multi-level matrix corporate environment, requiring interaction with, and/or direction of clinical research project teams, including physicians, scientists, monitors, administrative, regulatory, commercial, and consultant personnel

Demonstrated success managing interactions with external CROs, consultants and other contract organizations, especially from the context of a small group

  • Has successfully driven program strategy, launch and project management within Clinical Development
  • Previous experience with developing and implementing policies and processes

Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer.

We are committed to building a workplace of belonging, respect, and empowerment, and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements. We are looking for the best candidate for the job and encourage you to apply even if your experience or qualifications don’t line up to exactly what we have outlined in the job description.

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The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $301,100.00-$411,000.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills.

In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 35% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity based long term incentive program.

Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Key Responsibilities

The Medical Director is responsible for developing clinical research strategies and leading Phase 1-3 clinical studies within a cross-functional team. They provide medical leadership, oversee study protocols, and ensure the safety and integrity of clinical trials in accordance with regulatory standards.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
10+ years of experience

Key Skills

Protocol developmentMedical monitoringRegulatory affairsClinical data interpretationCross-functional collaborationScientific communication

Medical Affairs — Physician Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$356k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $322k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

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Work-life snapshot

median 4.2this job 1.5
Below most Medical Affairs listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 251 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.01M≈ 3.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,036/mo≈ 12% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Neurocrine Biosciences logo

About Neurocrine Biosciences

Biotechnology Research
San Diego, California
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Annual bonus with a target of 35% of earned base salary
Equity based long term incentive program
Retirement savings plan (with company match)
Paid vacation, holiday and personal days
Paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
Medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage