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Roche
South San Francisco, California · Hybrid

Principal Medical Director, Neuroscience

Medical AffairsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$242k-$449k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

We advance science so that we all have more time with the people we love.

Roche’s Clinical Development organization is structured by therapeutic area and is responsible for developing and executing the late development clinical strategies and plans that deliver medically differentiated therapies that provide meaningful improvement to patients.

Roche is looking for an experienced and highly specialized individual to join the Neuroscience, MS group. The role of Principal Medical Director will focus on guiding the development within one of our Neuroscience portfolios.

The ideal candidate will have experience in late stage drug development and a demonstrated level of collaboration experience with cross-functional teams.

The Principal Medical Director position requires a strong understanding of neuroscience diseases, clinical trial protocols, regulatory requirements, and possibly interactions with regulatory agencies to ensure studies meet the required standards.

The Principal Medical Director leads development of the Clinical Development (CD) strategy and is responsible for developing the CD plan and ensuring effective and efficient execution for assigned molecule(s)/indication(s). Principal Medical Directors are expected to act as CD leaders, perform their responsibilities independently, and effectively lead multiple projects.

You will interact with the highest levels of management and experts both internally and externally, serving as internal consultants to Roche committees as well as representing the therapeutic area’s CD strategy, plans, objectives and interests to health authorities (HAs) and prominent thought leaders.

You are expected to provide critical insights and contributions to the overall development and effectiveness of the assigned therapeutic area(s), including therapeutic area scientific strategies and plans..

You have demonstrated a high level of experience in Clinical Development Plan (CDP) Strategy & Planning, CDP Execution, Regulatory Activities, and Cross-Functional Team Leadership.

You will oversee the end-to-end (E2E) drug delivery device strategy (where appropriate) for programs in your franchise and ensure each strategy is integrated within the overall clinical development plan and asset strategy for the assigned molecule to ensure seamless execution and regulatory alignment.

You will mentor other physicians / scientists in their disease area of expertise.

This position will be based on-site in San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA or remotely within the US.

Relocation benefits are not available for this role.

Who You Are

(Required)

You have an MD, MBBS or MD (MBBS)/PhD, Board Certified in Neurology; along with significant clinical trial/development experience in MS studies.

You have 7+ years of pharma/biotech R&D experience across all phases of development; including experience working with global teams internally and externally

You have experience authoring global clinical development plans and working with various health authorities; (i. e. have led successful interactions with the FDA, EMA and other health authorities, including a filing.)

You have extensive understanding of Phase II – III drug development (e. g trials across different stages of development, or formal education/qualifications in pharmaceutical medicine or drug development); have made significant contributions to an organization’s drug development (whether at Roche or another organization); have identified and created clinical development strategies that have led to label-enabling outcomes

You have significant regulatory experience: providing clinical science information and input for regulatory submissions and other regulatory process: experience leading/overseeing others in development of briefing packages by providing clinical science information and input; experience leading/overseeing others in development of interactions and responses to health authority (HA) questions by providing clinical science information and input; other team members, regulatory and other internal partners/stakeholders in the completion and submission of regulatory filings and other regulatory documentation

Preferred

You have in-depth knowledge of the pharma/biotech industry, the multiple functions and roles involved in the drug development process.

You have championed novel/innovative approaches to clinical development (i. e. study design, endpoints, technology)

You have the ability to collaborate on enterprise level strategic initiatives with a variety of internal and external partners and stakeholders, such as clinical investigators, clinicians, scientists and key opinion leaders (KOLs), as well as multidisciplinary internal groups, including other groups in the Roche/Genentech Product Development team: research, business development, commercial operations, legal, etc, resulting in demonstrable outcomes (e. g. new study proposals or new disease indications) and make major visible contributions to the local site community and the PDC global community, e. g. initiates, organizes, and participates in special events, presents and promotes discussion at All Staff meeting, proactively identifies new initiatives to enhance the community; is highly visible to the broader PD/GPS global community.

You have prior people management experience.

You have strong interpersonal skills: outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication and influencing skills: have built and cultivated important relationships both inside and outside of Roche; have proven abilities to influence internal partners and stakeholders, thought leaders, national advocacy organizations, national standard-setting bodies, and other relevant external parties.

The expected salary range for this position based on a primarily remote US based location is $241,500 - $448,500. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.

This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Benefits

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.

Key Responsibilities

The Principal Medical Director leads the clinical development strategy and execution for assigned neuroscience portfolios. They act as a clinical development leader, representing the therapeutic area to health authorities and internal stakeholders while mentoring other scientists.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an MD, MBBS, or MD/PhD with board certification in Neurology and at least 7 years of pharmaceutical R&D experience. Proven expertise in global clinical development plans, regulatory filings, and cross-functional team leadership is required.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Regulatory affairsCross-functional leadershipFDA interactionsEMA interactionsStrategic planningStakeholder managementScientific strategy

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 ~$345k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $312k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Roche holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 71/100, 3 active listings.

How many Medical Affairs jobs are remote?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score4.2 / 10 · above average in medical affairsranked against 282 Medical Affairs listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$242k–$449kMedical Affairs median $306k (middle half $285k–$338k)16 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$312k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Medical Affairs listings in California42 active288 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Medical Affairs pay trend−2.5% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Rochesilver tier, 71/100Top Employers work-life index3 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (282 Medical Affairs listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Medical Affairs Jobs

1 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Sr. Medical Director (Neurologist)

Allucent · Remote - Nationwide

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 4.2
Better work-life than 60% of Medical Affairs listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 282 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

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