Senior Director, Clinical Science, Breast Oncology (Hybrid)

MSD • Rahway, NJ

1d • 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 and development planning by applying deep expertise in breast cancer biology, treatment landscapes, clinically meaningful endpoints, and other scientific considerations that influence development strategy and study design.

The position partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional development teams on study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and broader program decisions. It helps shape Clinical Science practices across the breast cancer portfolio by standardizing scientific approaches, medical data review practices, and decision-making, while integrating insights across assets. The role may directly manage and develop Clinical Scientists and provides leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment.

The Senior Director collaborates with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partner functions. The role contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, maintains compliance with applicable requirements and company procedures, and promotes continuous improvement in Clinical Science quality and effectiveness.

Requirements

• Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD), or equivalent, with 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; OR a Master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 12+ years of such experience; OR a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 15+ years of such experience.
• Significant experience in Clinical Development, Clinical Science, clinical drug development, or a related function within 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 interpretation of oncology data.
• 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 within 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 experience, including management, coaching, and development of scientific staff.
• Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Clinical Research Management, Clinical Sciences, Clinical Trial Planning, People Leadership, Scientific Literacy, Study Design, Therapeutic Knowledge, and Trial Design skills.

Nice To Haves

• Cross-Functional Teamwork
• Leadership
• 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 therapeutic expertise to study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and development decisions.
• 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 as appropriate.
• Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
• Promote alignment on disease area considerations including endpoint interpretation, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
• Advocate for visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other technologies that improve quality and efficiency.
• Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets and identify clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
• Contribute scientific perspective to protocol development and 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 or therapeutic focus.
• Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings; prepare and present clinical and scientific content, cross-study insights, assessments, and key issues.
• Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.
• Directly manage and develop Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists as appropriate; set expectations and provide coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
• Foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
• Partner with key functions and represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums.
• Facilitate alignment across studies, programs, and functions and communicate clinical and scientific issues to stakeholders and leadership.
• Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and established 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.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, compassionate days, and sick days.
• Annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior