Senior Director, Clinical Science, Infectious Disease, Hybrid

Merck•Boston, MA

1d•$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, and consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and decision-making across the portfolio. The position applies deep Infectious Disease expertise—including disease biology, treatment landscapes, clinical endpoints, and scientific considerations affecting development strategy and study design—to inform study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The Senior Director collaborates with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional development partners, and contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. The role shapes Clinical Science practices across the Infectious Disease portfolio by promoting standardization, scientific alignment, and integration of insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, with responsibility for leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The position partners closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other functions. The role is based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with hybrid work arrangements and 25% travel. It is a regular position with domestic relocation available and no visa sponsorship. The position offers a base salary range of $210,400 to $331,100 for the primary location, eligibility for an annual bonus and long-term incentive if applicable, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD or PharmD), or equivalent, and 8 or more years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; or a preferably life sciences Master’s degree and 12 or more years of such experience; or a preferably life sciences Bachelor’s degree 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 treatment landscapes, 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 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 interpretation skills.
Next Generation Science Standards.
Study design.

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 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, data interpretation principles, and deliverables, while accounting for program-specific needs.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
Promote alignment on disease area considerations, including endpoint interpretation, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
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 protocols, amendments, study design, endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, biomarker strategy, and other development planning activities.
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 leaders.
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 talent development through coaching, mentoring, and feedback.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working across Clinical Scientists supporting the portfolio; foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making, and facilitate alignment across studies, programs, and functions.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and stay informed of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.