Executive Director, Clinical Science, Immunology

Merck•Boston, MA

1d•$255,800 - $402,700•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Clinical Science is a senior leader within Non-Oncology Clinical Development, providing strategic, scientific, operational, and people leadership across a portfolio of immunology programs at multiple stages of development. Reporting to the Head of Clinical Science Non-Oncology, the role is a member of the Clinical Science Leadership Team and helps shape the Clinical Science organization’s strategic direction, operational effectiveness, and long-term growth. The Executive Director leads a large organization of Clinical Scientists and is accountable for portfolio delivery, organizational performance, talent development, capability building, and continuous improvement. The role ensures scientific rigor, patient focus, quality, and regulatory readiness across Clinical Science activities, while promoting consistency and excellence throughout the portfolio. The role champions modern ways of working, including the adoption of digital capabilities, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and data-driven approaches to improve decision-making, efficiency, and study oversight. It fosters a culture of learning, inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement, and develops future leaders and organizational capabilities to meet changing business needs. Success requires enterprise leadership and collaboration with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partner functions. The Executive Director influences across organizational boundaries to align priorities, integrate perspectives, and support successful execution of development strategies.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD) and at least 10 years of drug development experience, or a master’s degree, preferably in a life sciences-related field, and at least 15 years of drug development experience.
Significant drug development experience with demonstrated success across multiple phases of clinical development.
Deep expertise in Clinical Science, Clinical Development, and execution of global clinical programs.
Experience supporting regulatory submissions, health authority interactions, and late-stage development activities.
Proven leadership experience managing in large, matrixed organizations through multiple levels of management.
Demonstrated success developing talent, building leadership capability, and creating high-performing teams.
Familiarity with, or interest in, emerging AI, advanced analytics, and digital capabilities applicable to clinical development.
Ability to develop strategic options and decision criteria that consider factors such as cost, benefits, risks, timing, and stakeholder buy-in.
Ability to identify the key tasks and resources needed to achieve strategic objectives.
Ability to take a broad organizational perspective, adapt partnerships, and work across organizational boundaries.
Ability to establish role clarity, accountability, direction, and authority for those implementing strategic initiatives.
Ability to support individual development by removing barriers, creating opportunities, providing guidance, seeking performance-improvement suggestions, and collaboratively developing targeted plans.
Ability to build momentum for organizational change, support implementation, remove barriers, and recognize contributions.
Required skills include advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), clinical development, clinical sciences, cross-functional leadership, drug development, executive leadership, global clinical studies, immunology, innovation, matrix leadership, regulatory submissions, strategic leadership, and talent development.

Nice To Haves

Experience in immunology development is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight for a portfolio of immunology assets across multiple stages of development.
Own portfolio delivery from the Clinical Science perspective, including prioritization, resource alignment, and support for development milestones across studies, programs, and assets.
Partner with the Immunology Therapeutic Area Head and cross-functional leaders to execute development strategies and deliver portfolio milestones.
Ensure Clinical Science contributions support development plans, regulatory submissions, health authority interactions, and lifecycle management activities.
Apply Clinical Science expertise to inform therapeutic area and portfolio strategy, taking account of evolving science, treatment trends, the competitive landscape, and regulatory considerations.
Optimize Clinical Science resource and budget allocation across the portfolio in line with business priorities and organizational objectives.
Serve as a senior escalation point for scientific and resource-related issues and enable timely resolution.
Establish and sustain high standards for scientific rigor, clinical science quality, medical data review, study oversight, and regulatory readiness.
Drive consistency in Clinical Science practices, study execution, and data interpretation across programs.
Promote proactive risk identification, mitigation, inspection readiness, and continuous quality improvement.
Advance approaches to medical data review, signal detection, study oversight, and evidence-based decision-making.
Champion AI-enabled, digital, and technology-driven capabilities that improve Clinical Science productivity, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Identify opportunities to use advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, and digital solutions to improve decisions, study oversight, and workflows.
Modernize clinical data review to enhance insight generation and support timely, informed decisions.
Promote innovation, experimentation, continuous learning, and responsible use of emerging technologies.
Work with cross-functional stakeholders to define, develop, and implement scalable capabilities for future organizational needs and long-term business success.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Clinical Science organization.
Build organizational capability through talent planning, succession management, leadership development, and career growth strategies.
Create an inclusive environment that promotes engagement, psychological safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
Mentor Clinical Scientists and strengthen scientific, strategic, and leadership capabilities across the organization.
Ensure leaders provide effective coaching, feedback, performance development, and career support for their teams.
Contribute to Clinical Science strategy, priorities, and long-term organizational objectives.
Lead organizational design, workforce planning, and resource optimization initiatives to address evolving portfolio and business needs.
Develop and implement scalable operating models balancing portfolio execution, organizational effectiveness, employee development, and talent retention.
Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve efficiency, effectiveness, innovation, and organizational health.
Represent Clinical Science in governance forums, leadership discussions, and strategic planning activities.
Shape functional and enterprise priorities through leadership engagement, cross-functional partnerships, and influence across organizational boundaries.