Director, Data Science - Hybrid

MSD•Cambridge, MA

1d•$190,800 - $300,300•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Data Science (R-track) provides strategic leadership and governance for analytics and data enablement across multiple therapeutic areas. The role defines and oversees enterprise-wide data and analytics strategies, ensuring high-quality automation, methodological consistency, and alignment with clinical and digital health objectives. The Director establishes governance frameworks, drives cross-functional collaboration, and advances innovation in analytical methodologies, tools, and automation. The position leads therapeutic-area analytics strategy and governance, oversees automated pipelines and analytics standards, and promotes AI/ML, predictive analytics, and other emerging technologies. It also develops analytics capabilities, mentors team members, partners with clinical, data management, and IT teams, and drives adoption of new operating models and digital capabilities across global functions. The role is based in North Wales, Pennsylvania, with a hybrid work arrangement and first-shift schedule. Travel requirements are 25%. The position is regular employment, with no relocation offered and no visa sponsorship. The salary range for the primary location is $190,800–$300,300, with eligibility for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Pharmacy, Nursing, Biological Sciences, or a healthcare-related discipline, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience; alternatively, an advanced degree in one of these fields plus at least 8 years of relevant experience.
Demonstrated ability to work with large datasets and transform them into actionable insights, with deep subject-matter expertise in a relevant discipline.
People management skills.
Programming and/or analysis experience, which may include SQL, Python, R, or Databricks.
Expert knowledge of statistics, data visualization, organizational skills, time management, and database concepts.
Expert knowledge of analytics governance frameworks, data strategy implementation, and cross-functional data integration techniques.
Expert knowledge of advanced data analytics, automation, and AI/ML evaluation applied to clinical and digital health data.
Expert experience designing and overseeing automated analytics pipelines, data architectures, and metadata-driven workflows.
Expert command of programming languages and analytics tools such as Python, R, and SQL, as well as data visualization and monitoring platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, and Spotfire.
Expert knowledge of clinical and real-world data standards such as CDISC and SDTM, and regulatory requirements such as GxP and 21 CFR Part 11.
Expert experience driving enterprise-scale data transformation initiatives and enabling scalable, technology-driven analytics ecosystems.
Ability to distill complex issues into decision-ready narratives, frame options and risks, and make recommendations that influence senior decisions.
Proficiency in driving adoption of standardized methods and ways of working, mobilizing cross-functional champions, and measuring uptake.
Ability to align senior stakeholders on objectives, interfaces, and responsibilities while ensuring clean handoffs and resolving conflicts.
Resilience and adaptability, balancing strategic vision with operational execution.
Ability to integrate business, operational, and people dimensions into decision-making.
Business savviness to anticipate business and regulatory issues and connect technical expertise to organizational and industry context.
Influence and leadership skills to lead large teams or projects and align leaders, peers, and cross-functional partners on decisions and strategic direction.
Change leadership skills to drive organizational and cultural improvements, collaborate to make change successful, and help others overcome resistance.
Valid driving license.

Nice To Haves

Clinical Operations.
Data Analysis.
Data Analytics.
Machine Learning.

Responsibilities

Lead development and execution of therapeutic-area data enablement and analytics strategies aligned with organizational goals.
Guide the creation of analytics KPIs and dashboards to monitor data performance, quality, and operational efficiency across therapeutic areas.
Advise executive leadership, governance boards, and cross-functional leaders by translating analytical insights into strategic business decisions.
Maintain accountability for the design, performance, and integrity of automated data and analytics pipelines, ensuring scalability and regulatory compliance.
Oversee analytics governance to ensure consistent standards, metrics, and quality controls across programs and platforms.
Drive adoption of emerging technologies, including AI/ML, advanced data visualization, and predictive analytics, and promote continuous improvement in analytical efficiency and value generation.
Define and enforce best practices for dataset design, feature engineering, and analytical evaluation to ensure comparability and reproducibility across studies.
Lead and mentor analytics team members, fostering innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
Strengthen organizational analytics maturity through targeted capability development and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Partner with clinical, data management, and IT teams to establish cohesive, interoperable analytics processes that deliver business and scientific outcomes.
Champion organizational change and drive adoption of new operating models and digital capabilities across global functions.
Coordinate decisions across regions and time zones, using asynchronous mechanisms to maintain momentum.
Engage vendor forums and represent the team professionally and credibly.