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Pfizer
San Diego, California

Associate Director, Clinical Development Medical Director (MD Required)

Medical AffairsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$189k-$315k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 57m ago · Verified live

Job Description

The Associate Director, Clinical Development Medical Director:

Is accountable for the medical & scientific integrity of the study and the wellbeing of the patients enrolled in one or more clinical trials. The role applies technical and clinical/medical skills to ensure the design of efficient and high-quality clinical trials, employing quantitative design principles, and clinical best practices to deliver both clinical and operational excellence.

Is responsible for effective execution of studies and works in close partnership with other clinical and medical colleagues, clinical operations, and other functional lines. The Associate Director, Clinical Development Medical Director is accountable for timely delivery of a quality protocol, clinical execution of clinical trials and supports appropriate interpretation and communication of clinical trial data.

Maintains compliance with internal and external standards, proactively mitigates risk and manages emerging clinical/medical issues through timely, diligent clinical data, safety and protocol deviation review. May perform medical monitoring of one of more clinical trials.

Will be the primary contact with external investigators & the internal study team for questions relating to clinical/medical aspects of the protocol and partners with/supports the Global Development Lead regarding study and disease area strategy.

Job Responsibilities

Performs medical monitoring on one or more clinical trials: Provides study-related medical information and assistance, e. g., on: medical questions from investigators, site personnel and non-study health care providers safety findings, medical issues, and complex serious adverse events audits or inspection medical responses

  • Contributes to final significant quality event medical assessments.
  • Jointly with clinical colleagues, conducts and documents periodic safety data reviews, and ongoing clinical/medical data review.
  • Reviews required safety text and endorses significant medical changes in the Informed Consent Document.
  • Provides clinical/medical input to support development of the protocol design document (PDD).

Leads or supports development of the protocol from the approved PDD and ensures efficient protocols which maximize operational efficiency, trial quality and participant / site engagement and which minimize the likelihood of amendments or quality issues. Partners with/supports the Global Development Lead in governance review and approval process.

Leads development of protocol amendments, Protocol Administrative Change Letters, and Dear Investigator Letters.

Provides clinical/medical input to the development of data collection tools. Responsible for providing clinical/medical input to SAP, TLFs and BDR.

Authors and manages approval of Informed Consent Documents (ICDs) including responses to external stakeholder questions.

Provides clinical/medical input to development of the Integrated Quality Management Plan (IQMP). Review and approves final document.

Accountable for establishing Data Monitoring Committees (DMCs) and endpoint adjudication committees, including chartering, contracts, provision of relevant data and documentation of outcomes.

Inputs to, reviews, and approves, Risk Management and Safety Review Plan.. Ensures activities are conducted consistent with the approved plan and partners with key stakeholders (clinical operations, safety risk lead, etc) to develop and implement any risk mitigations.

Reviews and approves country selection, develops site selection criteria, and contributes to authoring and delivery of site training materials.

Serves as the primary contact with external investigators and internal study team for questions relating to clinical/medical aspects of protocol.

Reviews, reports and manages protocol deviations.

Reviews patient level and cumulative data per the data review plan across one or more studies.

Reviews safety data, SAE reports, TME’s, DME’s and ensures clinical documents (eg ICD) are updated as required. Tracks and reconciles serious adverse events (SAEs) across a study and leads presentation of data during Safety Review Team meetings.

May act as the medical monitor for one or more clinical trials.

Ensures TMF compliance for clinical documents.

Inputs and reviews the Clinical Study Report including the review of narratives. Responsible for supporting disclosure of safety and efficacy data and trial conclusions. Contributes to primary publication of clinical trial results.

Provides clinical support to the study team or clinical program in response to audits or inspections, including providing support as needed to audit/inspection

May contribute to clinical sections of regulatory filings (Pediatric Investigational Plan, Investigator Brochure (IB), IND/NDA Annual Reports, and Periodic Safety Update Reports and Regulatory authority responses) if required.

May support responsible colleagues with the development of responses to regulatory queries and audit/inspection findings and Clinical Trial Applications (CTAs)

Contributes to continuous improvement / process enhancement activities and innovative approaches to maximize effectiveness of clinical trial execution.

Basic Qualifications

As medically qualified individual, the successful candidate must have the following qualifications:

Obtained a primary medical degree (e. g., MD, DO, MBBS, MBChB) from a recognized medical school/university and has Clinical Research experience

Been licensed by a licensing body/health authority to prescribe medicines independent of Supervision for at least 2 years post their intern/house officer/foundation period.

Clinical research experience in phase 3/pivotal space

Demonstrated scientific writing skills; scientific productivity via publications, posters, abstracts, and/or presentations.

Preferred Qualifications

Have maintained registration/Medical License to practice and always have been in good standing with their Medical Licensing Authority preferred.

  • Clinical Research experience in industry/CRO.
  • Cardiometabolic disease experience highly preferred (ie, cardiology, obesity, endocrinology, nephrology etc.)
  • Extensive knowledge of clinical development, global and regional regulation, ICH/GCP, adverse event management

Demonstrated clinical/medical, administrative, and project management capabilities, as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, in relating to individuals both inside and outside Pfizer

Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance productivity.

Demonstrated curiosity for exploring how these tools can improve outcomes and understanding of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use.

Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.

NON-Standard Work Schedule, Travel or Environment Requirements

Global Travel May Be Required

Work Location Assignment: This is a hybrid role requiring you to live within commuting distance and work on-site an average of 2.5 days per week.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $189,200.00 to $315,400.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 22.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program.

We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments.

Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage.

Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

This role is posted in multiple locations. If you are applying for the role in an secondary job posting location where pay transparency regulations apply, your Talent Advisor will share the local pay information with you during the first interview.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations.

These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure.

Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act.

Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government.

If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of emplo

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Director is accountable for the medical and scientific integrity of clinical trials, ensuring patient safety and high-quality study execution. They perform medical monitoring, lead protocol development, and partner with cross-functional teams to deliver clinical and operational excellence.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a primary medical degree (MD, DO, MBBS, MBChB) with at least 2 years of independent clinical practice and experience in phase 3 clinical research. Strong scientific writing skills and the ability to influence and collaborate within a global development environment are essential.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Clinical trial managementSafety data reviewRegulatory complianceCardiometabolic disease expertiseData analysisGenerative AI tools

Medical Affairs — Physician Career Context

In California, the Medical Affairs weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$314k (58 salary observations; 74 listings), vs ~$298k nationally (260 salary observations; 470 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-03-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$252k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $228k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Medical Affairs market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$189k–$315kMedical Affairs median $315k (middle half $285k–$338k)18 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$314k median in California$298k nationally (+5%)58 state / 260 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$228k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Medical Affairs listings in California41 active274 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonusCalifornia physician listings (all specialties): 32% state a sign-on bonus (median $75k) · 30% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
Medical Affairs hiring demand#6 of 28 specialtiespostings stay open a median 69 days · 44% state a sign-on bonusWeekdayDoc Hiring Index, October 2026 · 162 postings, 36 closed
New Medical Affairs listings101 in the last 30 days94 the 30 days before (+7%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Medical Affairs pay trend+8.8% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Pfizersilver tier, 70/100Top Employers work-life index3 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), WeekdayDoc Hiring Index; as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Medical Affairs Jobs

1 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Payer & Health Systems Oncology, Medical Affairs Director (PHSO MAD) (PA, MD, Upstate NY)

MSD · Baltimore, Maryland

$210k-$331k

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 50% of Medical Affairs listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 273 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
Pfizer logo

About Pfizer

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
New York, New York
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

401(k) with Pfizer Matching Contributions
Additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution
Paid vacation, holiday and personal days
Paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
Medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
Global Performance Plan bonus target 22.5%
Share-based long-term incentive program
Relocation assistance may be available

Living in San Diego

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.00M≈ 5.3× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,004/mo≈ 19% 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 (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 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.