Senior Director, Clinical Science, Infectious Disease, Hybrid

MSD•Rahway, NJ

15h•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, applying deep Infectious Disease expertise to guide scientific approaches, support consistent medical data review and decision-making, and integrate insights across the portfolio. The position partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional colleagues on study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and broader program decisions. It may directly manage and develop multiple Clinical Scientists and provides leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The role also contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, and works closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other functions. The role promotes consistent Clinical Science practices across the Infectious Disease portfolio, including scientific standards, data review, interpretation, and deliverables. It supports study and development planning, scientific assessments, governance materials, regulatory compliance, inspection readiness, and continuous improvement. The position is hybrid and based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 25% travel. Domestic relocation is available; visa sponsorship is not.

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; or a bachelor's degree, preferably in life sciences, with 15+ years.
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 Infectious Disease therapeutic expertise, including knowledge of disease biology, current and emerging treatments, 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 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 experience, including management, coaching, and development of scientific staff.
Skills in 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

Data Interpretations.
Next Generation Science Standards.
Study Design.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets within the disease area.
Contribute Clinical Science input to disease area strategy, development opportunities, portfolio risks, and implications 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 expertise in disease biology, the treatment landscape, and clinically meaningful endpoints to inform study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
Lead efforts to standardize Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
Promote alignment on disease area considerations such as endpoint interpretation, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
Advocate for visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other approaches or technologies that improve quality and efficiency.
Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets, and identify and frame important clinical, scientific, and data-related issues.
Contribute scientific input to protocol development and 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 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, and feedback.
Foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and established procedures; support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of Clinical Science work and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.