Senior Director, Clinical Science, Gastrointestinal (GI) Oncology (Hybrid)

MSD•Rahway, NJ

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Gastrointestinal (GI) 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 GI cancers, including disease biology, the treatment landscape, clinically relevant endpoints, and scientific considerations that influence development strategy and study design. The role partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional colleagues to support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. It helps shape Clinical Science practices across the GI cancers portfolio by promoting consistent scientific standards, medical data review, and decision-making, and by integrating insights across assets. The role may directly manage and develop multiple 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 functions. The position contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, supports compliance with applicable requirements and company procedures, and identifies opportunities to improve the quality and effectiveness of Clinical Science work. The position is hybrid, based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 10% travel. Relocation is not offered and visa sponsorship is not available.

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 relevant experience; OR a bachelor's degree, preferably in life sciences, with 15 or more years of relevant 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 expertise, including understanding of 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 experience, including management, coaching, and development of scientific staff.

Nice To Haves

Cross-functional teamwork.
Development strategy experience.
Functional leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets within the GI oncology disease area.
Contribute Clinical Science input to disease area strategy, development opportunities, portfolio risks, and interpretation of emerging internal and external 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 inform study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and development decisions.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
Standardize Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables, while accommodating program-specific needs.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
Promote consistent consideration of endpoints, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues across assets.
Advocate for innovative approaches such as visual analytics, centralized data review, and AI-enabled workflows to improve quality and efficiency.
Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets and frame clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
Contribute scientific input 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 or therapeutic focus.
Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings; prepare and present scientific content, assessments, and cross-study insights as appropriate.
Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.
Directly manage Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists as appropriate; set expectations and support staff development through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
Foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning and strategic decision-making, and facilitate alignment and clear communication among studies, programs, functions, 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.