Novartis Posted August 12, 2026

Senior Clinical Sciences Trial Leader (Multiple Openings)

Cambridge (USA), United States Regular
Clinical Development Senior

Novartis is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

#LI-HybridPosition Location: Cambridge, MA We are Clinical Sciences and Innovation at Novartis. A dynamic group of Clinical Trial Leaders (Clinical Scientists) who plan and execute early phase trials worldwide. From First-in-Human to ph2a studies and beyond. We design and operationalize trials, ensuring they run smoothly, on time and – most importantly – with patients’ interests to the fore.Curious, unbossed and inspired; we are committed to flexibility in the workplace.As a member of our team, you will support or lead the clinical science and operations of planning and executing translational medicine clinical trials. Collaborate across our global network. Partner with outstanding physicians and scientists. Build therapeutic area expertise. Revolutionize next-generation, digital and patient-centric trial design. Be always curious, innovative and inspiring.

Key Responsibilities:Operationally and scientifically lead complex clinical studiesDrive and deliver aspects of global clinical trial execution from study design, set-up and recruitment to final reportingLead the matrix-management of robust global clinical trial teams, collaborating across the organization and externally with service providers/investigator sitesDrive the development of clinical study protocols, clinical operations execution plans and other required documentsEnsure quality conduct and document standards are applied across the clinical trial lifecycleLead clinical data reviewContribute to project/program level plansMay mentor junior team membersSupport optimization of standard methodologies in clinical trial operations and adopt an open learning and sharing environmentUnleash the value of data and digital within clinical studies Ultimately, YOU will help bring new technologies and therapies closer to our patientsEssential Requirements:Bachelors in life science/healthcare required; Advanced degree or equivalent education/degree in life sciences/ healthcare preferred (PhD/MD/ PharmD/ Masters)6+ years’ experience in clinical trials developmentA broad knowledge of the drug development field; preferably within the pharma industry.Strong project management experience; excellent planning, prioritization and organizational skills; used to managing multiple priorities concurrentlyDemonstrates high learning agility in therapeutic areaDesirable Requirements:Experience in study design and protocol development/writing is highly desirableThe salary for this position is expected to range between $126,000 and $234,000 per year.The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Job details

Seniority
Senior
Function
Clinical Development
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Cambridge (USA), United States
Employment type
Regular

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Clinical Development role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 186 comparable Senior Clinical Development roles across 34 biopharma companies.

186Comparable roles tracked
161Currently active
34Companies hiring similar roles
23Countries represented

Salary context

40 of 186 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $126,000/yr – $234,000/yr
Peer group range $90,199 – $363,200 (median $223,673)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 186 comparable roles

United States65
India55
Germany8
China7
Australia5
Poland5

+ 17 more countries

Seniority mix

186 of 186 peers have a known seniority level

Senior90
Associate Director73
Principal23

Therapeutic area mix

21 of 186 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Immunology7
Oncology6
Dermatology & Aesthetics2
Neuroscience2
Cardiovascular / CVRM2
Ophthalmology1
Respiratory1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

60%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie Senior
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Open in 2 locations

San Francisco, United StatesNorth Chicago, United States
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AbbVie North Chicago, IL Senior
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AbbVie North Chicago, IL Senior
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Novartis Field Non-Sales (USA), United States Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
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Same function Same seniority Same country

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

60%
Associate/Senior Associate, Nonclinical Operations
Lilly · Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Clinical Pharmacologist
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
Novartis · Field Non-Sales (USA), United States · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Biostatistics Sr Mgr
Amgen Inc. · Remote, United States · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.