Senior Director, Clinical Science, Infectious Disease, Hybrid

MSD • Boston, MA

7d • $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, development planning, consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and portfolio decision-making. It requires deep expertise in infectious disease biology, treatment landscapes, clinical endpoints, and scientific considerations affecting development and study design.

The Senior Director partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional teams to plan studies, interpret data, resolve issues, and inform program decisions. The position shapes Clinical Science practices across the infectious disease portfolio by promoting standardization and integration of insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, with leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment.

The role collaborates with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other functions, and contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. The position is hybrid, based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 25% travel and a first-shift schedule.

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 pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry function.
• Demonstrated Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets.
• Deep infectious disease expertise, including disease biology, current and emerging treatment landscapes, clinically relevant endpoints, and development considerations.
• 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.
• People leadership experience, including management, coaching, and development of scientific staff.
• Required skills: 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: Data Interpretations, Next Generation Science Standards, and Study Design.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets.
• Contribute scientific input to disease area strategy, development opportunities, portfolio risks, and evaluation of emerging internal and external data.
• Align Clinical Science activities with program and disease area objectives in partnership with cross-functional leaders.
• Apply therapeutic expertise to study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
• Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
• Standardize Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, interpretation principles, deliverables, and portfolio standards.
• Promote consistency across studies and programs while accounting for program-specific needs.
• Support alignment on endpoint interpretation, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
• Advocate for visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other quality- and efficiency-improving technologies.
• Guide clinical data interpretation across studies, cohorts, and assets, and frame important issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
• Contribute scientific perspective to protocol development and amendments, study design, endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, biomarker strategy, and development planning.
• Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource across study teams and partner functions.
• Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings; prepare and present clinical and scientific content and cross-study insights.
• 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 consistent role expectations, accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
• Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning and strategic decision-making, facilitating alignment across studies, programs, and functions.
• Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and documentation.
• Identify improvements to Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and stay aware of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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