Senior Director, Clinical Science, Infectious Disease, Hybrid

MSD•Boston, MA

4d•$210,400 - $331,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Infectious Disease 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, promoting consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and decision-making throughout the portfolio. The position applies deep Infectious Disease expertise—including disease biology, the treatment landscape, clinically meaningful endpoints, and other scientific considerations—to guide study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. It partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional colleagues, and helps integrate scientific insights across studies and assets. The Senior Director shapes Clinical Science practices across the Infectious Disease portfolio, including standardization of approaches and alignment of scientific work. The role may directly manage multiple Clinical Scientists and provides leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. It collaborates with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partner functions, and contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. The position supports compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; inspection readiness and documentation; and continuous improvement in Clinical Science quality and effectiveness. The posting lists a hybrid work arrangement, a 25% travel requirement, and a first-shift/day schedule. The primary location is Rahway, New Jersey.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (for example, PhD or PharmD), or equivalent, and 8 or more years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; OR a master's degree, preferably in life sciences, and 12 or more years of such experience; OR a bachelor's degree, preferably in life sciences, and 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 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 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.
Skills listed as required: Clinical Development, Clinical Research Management, Clinical Sciences, Data Quality, Ethical Standards, High Performance Team Building, Infectious Disease, Matrix Leadership, Matrix Management, Medical Monitoring, New Technology Integration, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Regulatory Compliance, Therapeutic Knowledge, and Trial Design.

Nice To Haves

Preferred skills listed: Data Interpretations, Next Generation Science Standards, and Study Design.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the Infectious Disease area, spanning multiple studies, programs, and assets.
Contribute Clinical Science perspectives to disease area strategy, development opportunities, portfolio risks, and assessments 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 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 accounting for program-specific needs.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
Promote alignment across assets on disease area considerations, including endpoints, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
Advocate for visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other technologies to improve quality and efficiency.
Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and program implications.
Identify 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 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 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, feedback, and development opportunities.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working, accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums, facilitating alignment and clear communication.
Ensure Clinical Science work follows 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.