Senior Director, Clinical Science, Thoracic Oncology (Hybrid)

Merck•Boston, MA

4d•$210,400 - $331,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Thoracic Oncology 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 consistency in scientific standards, medical data review practices, and portfolio decision-making. It requires deep expertise in Thoracic Oncology, including disease biology, the treatment landscape, clinically relevant 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 support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The role shapes Clinical Science practices across the portfolio by promoting standardization, aligning scientific approaches, and integrating 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 works closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partner functions. It also contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, supports compliance and inspection readiness, and identifies opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality and effectiveness. The role is hybrid, based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 10% travel. The posting lists a base salary range of $210,400–$331,100 for the primary location; the successful candidate may also be eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

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 preferably life-sciences master’s degree with 12+ years of such experience; OR a preferably life-sciences bachelor’s degree with 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 therapeutic-area 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 oncology data interpretation.
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.
Strong scientific and strategic judgment in complex or ambiguous situations; ability to set direction, build collaborative relationships, communicate clearly, promote inclusion, drive accountability, and lead through influence.
Required skills listed include biotechnology, budget management, client relationship building, clinical development, clinical research and research management, Clinical Sciences, clinical trial planning, ethical standards, financial acumen, high-performance team building, internal validation, life science, matrix leadership and management, medical sciences, new technology integration, oncology, patient safety, people leadership, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical quality assurance, pharmaceutical research, and pharmaceutics.

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 inform study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and development decisions.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to support development decisions.
Standardize Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, interpretation principles, and key deliverables, as appropriate.
Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
Promote alignment across assets on endpoints, 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.
Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets, and identify clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
Contribute scientific perspective 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 Clinical Science perspectives and prepare scientific content for portfolio discussions, governance reviews, program reviews, and senior leadership meetings.
Present cross-study insights, scientific assessments, and key issues to cross-functional leaders and governance bodies, as appropriate.
Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.
Manage and develop Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists, as appropriate, by setting expectations and providing coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
Promote consistency in role expectations and ways of working, and foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums; facilitate alignment and clear communication across teams.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and established procedures; support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
Identify improvement opportunities and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.