Medical Director, Imaging Biomarkers, Translational Medicine (San Diego based)

Who We Are :

At Neurocrine Biosciences, we pride ourselves on having a strong, inclusive, and positive culture based on our shared purpose and values. We know what it takes to be great, and we are as passionate about our people as we are about our purpose - to relieve suffering for people with great needs.

What We Do :

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading neuroscience-focused, biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose : to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering and developing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, neuroendocrine and neuropsychiatric disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, endometriosis

• and uterine fibroids,
• as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X and Facebook. (
• in collaboration with AbbVie)

About the Role :

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Medical Director, Imaging Biomarkers to lead and support the design, execution, and interpretation of imaging biomarkers in the translational medicine early clinical development. The ideal candidate will have an M.D. degree, preferably with a specialization in clinical neuroscience, such as clinical neurology or neuroimaging. This role will focus on leveraging PET and MRI imaging methodologies to assess pharmacodynamic endpoints and provide key translational biomarker insights to guide decision-making in early-stage drug development.

The successful candidate will be embedded in our Translational Medicine team, working cross-functionally with research and clinical representatives and engaging with external partners, including academic institutions and commercial vendors. This position will also act as biomarker lead within development programs, ensuring imaging strategies align with broader clinical and regulatory objectives, and oversee clinical conduct of biomarker studies at Neurocrine.

Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to) :

Lead the design, execution, and interpretation of imaging biomarker studies with a focus on pharmacodynamic endpoints in both healthy volunteers and patient populations

Apply PET and MRI imaging techniques, including both morphological and functional endpoints, to support early-stage drug development and biomarker validation

Oversee neuroimaging studies in a clinical research setting, collaborating with internal teams, external partners, and imaging vendors

Establish and manage relationships with commercial and academic imaging partners, ensuring the highest quality data acquisition and analysis

Work cross-functionally with translational medicine, clinical development, regulatory affairs, and research teams to integrate imaging biomarker strategies into drug development programs

Serve as the biomarker lead in development programs, contributing to study protocols, regulatory interactions, and clinical development plans

Ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards for imaging biomarker data used in clinical studies

Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and thought leadership in the field of imaging biomarkers

Collaborate with biomarker and clinical scientists, as well as clinical development team across the Translational Medicine and Experimental Medicine groups at Neurocrine

Requirements : Minimum Experience

MD or equivalent advanced medical degree with a strong scientific background in Clinical Neurosciences, or biomarker-relevant disciplines (Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuropediatrics, Neuroradiology)

Minimum 5-10 years of experience in neuroimaging research and biomarker development within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, government, or academic environment

Prior experience designing and executing imaging biomarker studies in early clinical development

Exceptional PhD candidates with extensive (10 years) clinical imaging research experience will be considered

Preferred Experience

Board Certification in relevant clinical discipline

Demonstrated leadership in managing scientific teams and projects

Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences

Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals

Experience with regulatory filings and interactions with health authorities

Prior experience working within a GxP-regulated environment

Extensive experience with PET and MRI imaging methodologies, particularly in the context of pharmacodynamic biomarkers and disease characterization

Proven ability to independently design and execute neuroimaging studies in clinical trial settings

Strong expertise in managing imaging vendors, data acquisition, and quality control processes

Experience in regulatory filings related to imaging biomarkers and interactions with health authorities

Ability to communicate complex imaging biomarker strategies and findings effectively to senior management, clinical investigators, and external stakeholders

Strong ability to work in large, matrixed teams with colleagues from multiple disciplines, including clinical operations, regulatory, imaging science, pharmacology, and biostatistics

Expertise in neuroimaging data interpretation and integration within a translational and clinical development framework

Ability to make data-driven strategic and tactical decisions in imaging biomarker development

LI-TM1

Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO / AA / Disability / Vets employer.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements. We are looking for the best candidate for the job and encourage you to apply even if your experience or qualifications don’t line up to exactly what we have outlined in the job description.

The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $246,500.00-$356,950.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties / requirements, and relevant experience and skills. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 35% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity based long term incentive program. Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver / parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Salary : $246,500 - $356,950