Director, Life Sciences Jobs

Explore Director, Life Sciences opportunities for experienced leaders across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare research. These roles help organizations translate scientific expertise into strategy, strong teams, and measurable business or patient impact. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including senior opportunities for life sciences directors.

What Does a Director of Life Sciences Do?

Responsibilities vary by organization and specialty. Directors may set departmental or program strategy, oversee research and development, guide clinical or regulatory initiatives, manage portfolios and budgets, and build partnerships across scientific, commercial, and operational teams. They often communicate complex scientific work to executives, collaborators, customers, or regulators.

Common Skills and Qualifications

Employers typically seek substantial experience in a relevant life sciences field, a record of leading teams or complex programs, and the ability to make decisions using scientific and business evidence. Depending on the role, useful qualifications may include an advanced degree in biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline; expertise in drug development, clinical research, quality, regulatory affairs, or commercialization; and strong communication, project management, and strategic planning skills.

Where Director-Level Opportunities Are Found

Director, Life Sciences jobs can be found at biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, medical device and diagnostics businesses, research organizations, contract research organizations, healthcare companies, and consulting firms. Focus areas may include research and development, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, quality, data science, or business development.

Find Your Next Life Sciences Leadership Role

Use Ladders to discover vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Search by specialty, location, and seniority to identify Director, Life Sciences roles that align with your experience and career goals. Review each listing for its specific responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation details.

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$150K - $180K *

Transform software delivery by leading a skilled team in the execution of DevOps strategies, driving automation, and optimizing cloud infrastructure for performance, security, and resilience across or...

Los Angeles, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$125K - $150K *

Drive growth by cultivating owner relationships and securing management agreements in multifamily and hospitality sectors, enhancing market presence and collaboration with internal teams...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$90K - $100K *

Help us drive strategic initiatives within Navy housing programs. You will support the planning and execution of barracks improvements, collaborating with stakeholders to enhance housing conditions, r...

Hawaii, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's driving high-impact commercial data center projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, timelines, and budgets while fostering collaboration among...

Quanah, TXRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in managing high-impact commercial data center projects, ensuring alignment with client goals, timelines, and budgets while fostering collaboration among stakeholders and driving opera...

Texas, USRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Manage successful execution of diverse events and webinars, optimize lead capture processes, and leverage insights to enhance future strategies. Flexibly navigate challenges while partnering closely w...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$100K - $120K *

Transform workplace safety by leading initiatives, conducting assessments, and fostering a culture of compliance and performance. Collaborate with teams to implement effective health and safety strate...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$80K - $95K *

Transform airport advertising environments by conducting site visits, developing signage concepts, and collaborating with design teams. This role combines hands-on fieldwork with creative design to en...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$120K - $165K *

Pioneer in leading a dynamic team of Solution Engineers, optimizing multi-discipline datacenter solutions across data protection, storage, compute, and networking. Drive collaboration to shape industr...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $120K *

Join a team that's dedicated to optimizing sales solutions through technical expertise. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop proposals, evaluate technologies, and manage multiple project...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$83K - $135K *

Lead the charge in delivering expert technical leadership for complex power systems. Oversee startup, commissioning, and maintenance of advanced switchgear and controls, while mentoring junior enginee...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$83K - $135K *

Unlock potential by leading complex field assignments in mission-critical power applications. Drive technical excellence in startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting of advanced switchgear and contr...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$117K - $184K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing patient access by providing expert guidance on healthcare processes. Collaborate cross-functionally to address access barriers and ensure compliance while sup...

North Wales, PARemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$90K - $100K *

Lead the charge in implementing safety programs to minimize workplace risks and ensure compliance with OSHA standards across multiple facilities. Manage safety assessments, training, and incident inve...

Herndon, VARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$90K - $100K *

Lead and optimize safety initiatives across multiple facilities, ensuring compliance with OSHA and DCSA standards. Drive risk reduction programs, conduct assessments, and manage safety training to fos...

Herndon, VARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Pioneer innovative AI solutions in healthcare, tackling ambiguous challenges directly. Collaborate with top experts, shipping impactful products at speed while taking full ownership of your work and d...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $105K *

Drive your career with a key role in supporting retrofit sales through strategic technical field support, optimizing HVAC systems, and enhancing customer engagement across a regional territory...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $200K *

Drive operational excellence by leading process improvement initiatives, analyzing metrics, and implementing innovative solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency across the organization. Collab...

Virginia, USRemote

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $115K *

Drive the execution and scaling of AI-enabled cardiovascular care programs, collaborating across teams to enhance workflows and operational efficiency while ensuring continuous improvement in patient...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $230K *

Lead and empower a dedicated project management team to deliver exceptional service across a diverse portfolio, driving strategic growth and fostering strong client relationships while navigating comp...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$110K - $172K *

Shape global procurement governance and compliance by leading analytics, training, and process excellence initiatives. Drive transformation and data management in a collaborative environment to enhanc...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$119K - $190K *

Transform your career by building strategic partnerships with major design firms while driving engineering excellence in electrical distribution across diverse industries. Join a dynamic team focused...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $100K *

Lead strategic sales initiatives to enhance Wireless, EMC, and Product Safety revenue. Cultivate new and existing customer relationships while driving technical discussions and solutions across divers...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$120K - $150K *

Advance federal business growth by leading strategic initiatives, fostering agency relationships, and executing contract opportunities to enhance market positioning and drive success within federal ag...

Indianapolis, INRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$114K - $190K *

Build a resilient Site Reliability Engineering practice, leading a global team to enhance cloud platform reliability, scalability, and operational excellence while fostering collaboration and continuo...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Director of Life Sciences do?question toggle

    A Director of Life Sciences leads a scientific, technical, or business function. Depending on the employer, the role may involve setting strategy, managing teams and budgets, overseeing research or clinical programs, and coordinating with regulatory, commercial, and operational groups.

  • What qualifications are typically required for Director, Life Sciences jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary by specialty and employer. Many roles call for significant life sciences experience, leadership or program-management achievements, and relevant technical expertise. Some positions prefer or require an advanced degree, such as a Ph.D., M.D., or a master's degree in a related field.

  • Which industries hire Directors of Life Sciences?question toggle

    Employers include biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, medical device and diagnostics firms, clinical research organizations, healthcare businesses, research institutions, and consulting firms.

  • What specialties are available for Director, Life Sciences roles?question toggle

    Director-level openings may focus on research and development, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, quality, manufacturing, medical affairs, data science, or business development. Specific areas depend on the company and its products or services.

  • How can I find Director, Life Sciences jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Ladders for vetted professional openings and refine your search by role, location, and specialty. Check each job listing for its stated compensation range and requirements; pay varies by employer, experience, and location.