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

MSD•Boston, MA

1d•$210,400 - $331,100•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 by applying deep therapeutic expertise to development planning and by promoting consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and decision-making across the portfolio. The role requires deep knowledge of gastrointestinal cancers, including disease biology, the current and emerging treatment landscape, relevant clinical endpoints, and scientific considerations that affect development strategy and study design. The Senior Director partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional teams on study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The position shapes Clinical Science practices across the portfolio, supports cross-asset integration of insights, and may directly manage and develop multiple Clinical Scientists. 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 role also contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, supports compliance and inspection readiness, and promotes continuous improvement in Clinical Science practices. The position is hybrid, based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 10% travel. Relocation is not offered. The role is regular employment, and eligible candidates may receive an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. The listed base salary range for the primary location is $210,400 to $331,100.

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; alternatively, a preferably life-sciences Master’s degree with 12 or more years of such experience; or a preferably life-sciences Bachelor’s degree with 15 or more years of such experience.
Significant experience in Clinical Development, Clinical Science, clinical drug development, or a related pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry function.
Demonstrated Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets.
Deep gastrointestinal oncology therapeutic expertise, including disease biology, current and emerging treatments, 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 and 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 include Clinical Research Management, Clinical Sciences, Clinical Trial Planning, Life Science, Matrix Management, Oncology, People Leadership, Study Design, Therapeutic Knowledge, and Trial Design.

Nice To Haves

Preferred skills include Cross-Functional Teamwork, Development Strategy, and Functional Leadership.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the gastrointestinal oncology disease area, including multiple studies, programs, and assets.
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 study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
Lead standardization of Clinical Science approaches, medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables across the disease area.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work, while accommodating program-specific needs.
Advocate for visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other technologies that improve quality and efficiency.
Provide senior scientific guidance across assigned studies and programs and guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets.
Identify and evaluate clinical, scientific, and data-related issues and frame them 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 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 bodies and senior management.
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 their development through coaching, mentoring, and feedback.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working, and foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning and strategic decision-making forums, and facilitate alignment across studies, programs, and functions.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and stay current on relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.