Director, Clinical Projects

At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you’ll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers.

We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon. As a Director, Clinical Projects, you will serve as a scientific and strategic leader within the Clinical Research & Development Center of Excellence (CoE), driving innovation and excellence in vision science, optometry/ophthalmology to advance the company’s pipeline. This individual will act as the subject matter expert (SME) and primary point of contact for vision science-related strategy and execution across priority programs, intraocular, extraocular device technology platforms, surgical diagnostics, serving as a bridge between foundational optics/basic science research and clinical implementation. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in visual performance science, optics, and translational research with strong leadership and collaboration skills. They will play a pivotal role in shaping clinical development strategies, defining novel endpoints, and translating bench-based innovations into clinically meaningful outcomes that drive product differentiation and patient impact across the various technology platforms in Alcon R&D.

This position would be on-site in Fort Worth, Texas (or Johns Creek, Ga and Lake Forest, CA) and a typical day would include:

• Serve as the primary vision science SME supporting top-priority projects and core development teams within Clinical R&D.
• Provide expert input on study design, endpoint selection, and data interpretation to ensure clinical programs reflect the latest scientific understanding of vision performance and optical function.
• Stay abreast of emerging research and technologies in vision science, maintaining a thought-leadership position in the field.
• Lead cross-functional workstreams, as needed, that integrate clinical, preclinical, regulatory, and technical teams to achieve key program milestones and deliverables related to vision science.
• Partner closely with program leads, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, and product development teams to ensure the scientific integrity and translational relevance of all clinical activities.
• Drive alignment between R&D, Medical Affairs, and Commercial functions on scientific narratives, clinical positioning, and evidence generation strategy.
• Develop and validate novel clinical endpoints and measures of visual performance that bridge laboratory discoveries with real-world clinical outcomes.
• Champion translational approaches that connect bench optics data to clinically measurable endpoints, ensuring meaningful application in clinical trial design.
• Partner with data science and clinical operations to implement innovative methodologies, imaging technologies, and psychophysical testing paradigms.
• Lead and mentor a team of 2–3 vision science experts, fostering collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.
• Promote cross-pollination of best practices, methodologies, and scientific insights across technology platforms including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, diagnostics, and emerging optical systems.
• Build organizational capability in vision science, ensuring consistent scientific rigor and strategic alignment across programs.
• Serve as a key liaison between basic optics R&D teams and clinical operational teams, ensuring seamless translation of upstream research into clinical execution downstream.
• Translate complex optical and vision performance data into actionable insights that guide clinical study design and product strategy.
• Ensure continuity and communication across early-stage research and late-stage development activities.
• Provide scientific/vision science leadership and technical evaluation for external innovation opportunities, including partnerships, licensing, and acquisition assessments.
• Represent the company at key scientific meetings, advisory boards, and collaborative forums within the vision science and ophthalmology communities.
• Contribute to due diligence processes, offering expert assessments of clinical data, endpoints, and translational potential of external technologies.

What You'll Bring To Alcon:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +18 yrs; Assoc.+14 yrs; M.S.+7 yrs; PhD+6 yrs)
• The ability to fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English
• 10 Years of Relevant Experience
• 6 Years of Demonstrated Leadership

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D., O.D., M.D., or equivalent advanced degree in Vision Science, Ophthalmology, Optics, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.
• Proven experience translating preclinical or bench-based findings into clinical applications or endpoints.

How You Can Thrive  at Alcon:

• Join Alcon’s mission to provide outstanding, innovative products and solutions to improve sight, improve lives, and grow your career!
• Alcon provides robust benefits package including health, life, retirement, flexible time off, and much more!
• Travel Requirements: up to 10%
• Relocation - Yes
• Sponsorship - Yes

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Total Rewards

Alcon’s Total Rewards programs are designed to align to incentives with business goals, encourage the right values and behaviors, and deliver long-term value.  The first layer of our rewards program is compensation.  We offer a combination of fixed pay and variable pay, which includes short-term incentives, and long-term incentives for eligible population.  Our benefits program provides security for life events through life and disability insurance, supports savings for retirement, promotes good health and well-being and supports associates and their families during times of illness.  To learn more about Alcon’s Corporate Social Responsibility including our Total Rewards, click here

  

Pay Range

$178,400.00 - $267,600.00

  

Pay Frequency

Annual

  

Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.