Senior Director, Clinical Science, Genitourinary (GU) Oncology (Hybrid)

MSD•Boston, MA

1d•$210,400 - $331,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Genitourinary (GU) 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, applying deep expertise in GU cancers to guide scientific approaches and promote consistency in scientific standards, medical data review, and decision-making across the portfolio. 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 shapes Clinical Science practices across the GU cancers portfolio by standardizing approaches, aligning scientific practices, and integrating insights across assets. The Senior Director may directly manage and develop multiple Clinical Scientists, providing 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 functions. It contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, supports compliance and inspection readiness, and identifies opportunities to improve the quality and effectiveness of Clinical Science work. The role is hybrid, based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 10% travel. Relocation is not offered.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD or 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 in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
Demonstrated Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets.
Deep GU 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 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 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 listed: Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Clinical Research Management, Clinical Sciences, Clinical Trial Planning, Oncology, People Leadership, Study Design, Therapeutic Knowledge, and Trial Design.

Nice To Haves

Preferred skills listed: Leadership, Oncology Trials, and People Management.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets in 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 GU disease expertise to study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution; integrate scientific insights across studies and assets.
Lead standardization of Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, deliverables, and portfolio standards.
Promote alignment across assets on disease area considerations, endpoints, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
Advocate for innovative approaches such as visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other technologies that improve quality and efficiency.
Provide scientific guidance across assigned studies and programs, interpreting clinical data to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and program implications.
Contribute scientific perspectives to protocols, amendments, study design, endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, biomarker strategy, and development planning.
Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource for the disease area across study teams and partner functions.
Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings; prepare and present scientific content and assessments as appropriate.
Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.
Manage Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists as appropriate; set expectations and support staff development through coaching, mentoring, and feedback.
Promote accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning and strategic decision-making, facilitating alignment and clear communication of clinical and scientific issues.
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 maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.