Senior Director, Clinical Science, Infectious Disease, Hybrid

MSD•Boston, MA

2d•$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 by applying deep therapeutic expertise to development planning and promoting consistency in scientific standards, medical data review, and portfolio decision-making. The role partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional teams to guide study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. It leads efforts to standardize Clinical Science practices and integrate scientific insights across assets, while contributing to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. The position may directly manage and develop multiple Clinical Scientists, providing leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The Senior Director collaborates closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other functions. The role supports regulatory compliance, inspection readiness, continuous improvement, and the adoption of innovative approaches such as visual analytics, centralized data review, and AI-enabled workflows. The position is hybrid, based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 25% travel. Domestic relocation is indicated; visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD or PharmD), or equivalent, and 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; OR a master's degree, preferably in life sciences, and 12+ years of such experience; OR a bachelor's degree, preferably in life sciences, and 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 Infectious Disease expertise, including disease biology, current and emerging treatment landscape, 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 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

Preferred skills include Data Interpretations, Next Generation Science Standards, and 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, 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, deliverables, and leading practices.
Promote alignment across assets on endpoints, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
Advocate for innovative approaches and technologies that improve Clinical Science quality and efficiency.
Provide senior scientific guidance and interpret clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets.
Identify and appropriately frame clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
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, senior leadership meetings, and related clinical and scientific communications.
Present cross-study insights, scientific assessments, and key issues to leaders and governance bodies 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 their development through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working across Clinical Scientists supporting the portfolio, and foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong performance.
Partner with and represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums.
Support communication and alignment on clinical and scientific issues across studies, programs, functions, and leadership teams.
Ensure Clinical Science work complies with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and documentation.
Identify improvements to the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of Clinical Science work and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.