Ascendis Pharma logo
Ascendis Pharma
Palo Alto, California

Associate Medical Director, Clinical Development - Job ID: 1912, 1913, 1914

Medical AffairsIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$255K - $265K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 4mo ago · Verified live

Job 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 Associate Medical Director is involved in the design, safety monitoring, and data analysis of the Company’s late-phase clinical trials in endocrinology. As such, the Associate Medical Director is an important and visible member of the clinical development team. The Associate Medical Director position is based in the United States, and will report to a Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development.

Key Responsibilities

Leverage medical expertise and hands-on clinical experience to promote relevance and rigor of the development program

  • For clinical trials: design, provide medical 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 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

  • Anticipate obstacles within a clinical trial, and implement solutions
  • Analyze, evaluate, interpret, and report study results
  • Contribute to drafting and reviewing clinical documents, manuscripts, presentations, and regulatory submissions
  • Contribute to design of the Clinical Development Plan

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant science, medical information, good clinical practices, and regulatory guidance

Collaborate with—and serve as a clinical research resource for—cross-functional colleagues to optimize product development

Cultivate relationships with investigative sites, clinical consultants, and key opinion leaders to represent the interests of the company

  • Contribute to corporate strategic and organizational initiatives
  • Assist with 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
  • 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 3 years of industry (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).

  • At least 2 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 $255-265K/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.

  • 401(k) plan with company match
  • Medical, dental, and vision plans
  • Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) 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

A Note to Recruiters

We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.

Requirements

Requires an M.D. degree with at least 3 years of industry experience and 2 years of experience in clinical trial design and execution. Board certification and a specialty in endocrinology are highly desired.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

Board Certification (preferred)

Key Skills

Clinical Development PlanningCross-functional LeadershipScientific InquiryGCPPatient Safety MonitoringStakeholder Management

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 ~$260k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $235k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Medical Affairs pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

What does the Medical Affairs market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$255k–$265kMedical Affairs median $306k (middle half $285k–$338k)17 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$235k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Medical Affairs listings in California43 active287 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Medical Affairs pay trend−2.5% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing 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

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Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 285 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
Ascendis Pharma logo

About Ascendis Pharma

Biotechnology Research
Hellerup, Capital Region of Denmark
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Discretionary annual bonus
Stock-based long-term incentives
Paid time off
401k with company match
Medical, dental, vision plans
Life and AD&D insurance
Short and long-term disability
Pet Insurance

Living in Palo Alto

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$3.28M≈ 12.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$4,558/mo≈ 21% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
110.4
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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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