Medical Director, Clinical Development-Rheumatology

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Clinical Development & Research – MD

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, San Diego, California, United States of America, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

About Immunology

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Our Immunology team leads in the development of transformational medicines for immunological disorders and illnesses. You can influence where medicine is going by restoring health to millions of people living with immune diseases. 

The Medical Director provides medical and scientific leadership for late-stage rheumatology clinical development. The role leads assigned studies and contributes to program strategy, with accountability for rigorous trial design, medical oversight, data interpretation, and high-quality clinical and regulatory deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, execution, analysis, and reporting of Phase 2 and Phase 3 rheumatology trials, aligned with clinical development strategy and regulatory requirements.

• Serve as medical lead for assigned studies, including eligibility guidance, medical monitoring, safety review, protocol deviation assessment, and benefit-risk evaluation.

• Lead cross-functional study teams and drive timely decisions, risk mitigation, and delivery of study milestones.

• Develop and review clinical documents, including study concepts, protocols, investigator brochures, statistical analysis inputs, clinical study reports, and publications.

• Contribute medical content to regulatory submissions, briefing packages, health authority responses, and regulatory interactions.

• Interpret emerging clinical, translational, and competitive evidence and translate it into actionable development recommendations.

• Build effective relationships with investigators, external experts, patient organizations, and development partners.

• Support evaluation of new mechanisms, modalities, and external opportunities relevant to rheumatology and autoimmune disease.

• Mentor clinical team members and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and high-accountability culture.

Education and Experience

• MD or equivalent medical degree is required.

• Clinical expertise in rheumatology is required, with board certification in rheumatology preferred.

• Typically 3 or more years of relevant clinical development or clinical research experience is preferred, with pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience strongly preferred; academic clinical research experience may also be considered.

• Experience leading or materially contributing to interventional clinical trials, including protocol development, medical monitoring, data review, and study reporting, is required.

• Experience with deep depletion approaches or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is desirable.

Required Capabilities

• Strong clinical judgment and current knowledge of rheumatology, immunology, clinical trial methodology, and Good Clinical Practice.

• Ability to analyze complex data, identify material risks, and communicate a clear recommendation.

• Demonstrated effectiveness in global, cross-functional, and matrixed teams.

• Clear scientific writing, presentation, collaboration, and influencing skills.

• Comfort using artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve productivity, strengthen scientific analysis, and support high-quality clinical development deliverables.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

 This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.

 Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

• Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson and Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please email the Employee Health Support Center ([email protected]) or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

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Required Skills:

Clinical Development, Clinical Research Trials, Rheumatology

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Business Savvy, Clinical Research and Regulations, Clinical Trials, Collaboration, Consulting, Data Management and Informatics, Design Mindset, Drug Discovery Development, Industry Analysis, Innovation, Market Research, Regulatory Affairs Management, Research Ethics, Scientific Evaluation, Scientific Research, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Analysis