Senior Director, Clinical Science, Breast Oncology (Hybrid)

MSD•Boston, MA

2d•$210,400 - $331,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Breast Oncology provides strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets. Reporting to the Executive Director, the role contributes to disease area strategy, development planning, scientific standards, medical data review practices, and portfolio-level decision-making. It requires deep knowledge of breast cancer biology, the treatment landscape, clinically relevant endpoints, and scientific considerations affecting development strategy and study design. The Senior Director partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional development teams to support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The role shapes Clinical Science practices across the breast cancer portfolio through standardization, scientific alignment, and integration of insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, with leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The position collaborates closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partner functions. It also contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. The role supports compliance with regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures, and promotes inspection readiness and continuous improvement. The position is hybrid, with a primary location in Rahway, New Jersey. Travel requirements are 10%. The role offers a base salary range of $210,400 to $331,100 for the primary location, with eligibility for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. Employment status is regular, and relocation is not offered.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD or PharmD), or equivalent, with 8 or more years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; OR a master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 12 or more years of such experience; OR a bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 15 or more years of such experience.
Significant experience in Clinical Development, Clinical Science, clinical drug development, or a related function in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
Demonstrated Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets.
Deep therapeutic-area expertise, including disease biology, current and emerging treatment landscape, clinically relevant endpoints, and scientific considerations affecting development.
Strong understanding of clinical trial design, clinical development strategy, clinical data review, and oncology data interpretation.
Experience contributing to disease area strategy, portfolio discussions, or cross-program planning.
Experience contributing to regulatory submissions, safety reviews, or health authority interactions.
Experience working effectively in cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.
Ability to integrate information across studies and programs to support scientific and business decisions.
Excellent communication, influence, and executive presentation skills.
Demonstrated people leadership, including management, coaching, and development of scientific staff.
Required skills listed: Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Clinical Research Management, Clinical Sciences, Clinical Trial Planning, People Leadership, Scientific Literacy, Study Design, Therapeutic Knowledge, and Trial Design.

Nice To Haves

Preferred skills listed: Cross-Functional Teamwork, Leadership, and Oncology.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets within the disease area.
Contribute Clinical Science input to disease area strategy, development opportunities, scientific considerations, portfolio risks, and implications of emerging data.
Partner with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional leaders to align Clinical Science activities with program and disease area objectives.
Apply expertise in disease biology, treatment landscape, and clinically meaningful endpoints to inform study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
Standardize Clinical Science approaches, medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables across the disease area, as appropriate.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work within the portfolio.
Promote consistency across studies while accommodating program-specific needs, and align assets on endpoint interpretation, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
Advocate for visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other approaches that improve quality and efficiency.
Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets to clarify trends, opportunities, risks, and program implications.
Identify and frame clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
Contribute scientific perspective to protocols, amendments, study design, endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, biomarker strategy, and other development planning.
Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource for the disease area across study teams and partner functions.
Contribute Clinical Science perspectives to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings.
Prepare and present clinical and scientific content, cross-study insights, assessments, and key issues for governance, program reviews, senior management, and cross-functional leaders.
Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.
Manage Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists, as appropriate; set expectations for scientific quality, strategic thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Develop Clinical Science talent through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities; foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and team performance.
Partner with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other functions.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making; facilitate alignment and clear communication of scientific issues.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.