Senior Director, Clinical Science, Vaccines, Hybrid

MSD•Boston, MA

2d•$210,400 - $331,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Vaccines provides strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role contributes to disease area strategy by applying deep therapeutic expertise to development planning and by promoting consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and decision-making across the portfolio. The role applies expertise in vaccines, including disease biology, the treatment landscape, clinically meaningful endpoints, and other scientific considerations that influence development strategy and study design. It partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional development teams on study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The Senior Director also helps shape Clinical Science practices across the Vaccine portfolio through standardization, scientific alignment, and integration of insights across assets. Direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists may be included. 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, and contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. It may translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans, while ensuring work meets applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures. The role is based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with a hybrid work arrangement. The stated base salary range for that location is $210,400 to $331,100, and the successful candidate may be eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. The position has 25% travel requirements and a first/day shift.

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; alternatively, 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 pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry function.
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 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 within 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.
Ability to set clear direction aligned with organizational priorities and exercise sound scientific and strategic judgment in complex situations.
Ability to build collaborative relationships, create an inclusive environment, drive accountability and quality, and lead through influence in a matrix environment.
Ability to encourage continuous improvement and balance enterprise thinking with practical decision-making and timely action.
Required skills listed: Clinical Development, Clinical Research Management, Clinical Sciences, Data Quality, Ethical Standards, High Performance Team Building, Matrix Leadership, Matrix Management, Medical Monitoring, New Technology Integration, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Regulatory Compliance, Therapeutic Knowledge, Vaccinations.

Nice To Haves

Preferred skills listed: Data Interpretations, Next Generation Science Standards, Study Design.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets in the disease area.
Contribute scientific input to disease area strategy, development opportunities, portfolio risks, and interpretation 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.
Lead standardization of Clinical Science approaches, medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, deliverables, and leading practices as appropriate.
Promote consistent Clinical Science practices while accommodating program-specific needs, and align approaches to endpoints, patient populations, safety topics, and emerging scientific issues.
Advocate for innovative approaches such as visual analytics, centralized data review, AI-enabled workflows, and other technologies that improve quality and efficiency.
Provide senior scientific guidance and interpret clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets to identify trends, opportunities, risks, and program implications.
Identify and frame 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 other development planning.
Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource for the disease area or therapeutic focus.
Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, senior leadership meetings, and related clinical and scientific communications.
Present cross-study insights and scientific assessments to cross-functional leaders and governance bodies as appropriate.
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, feedback, and development opportunities.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working, and foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and team performance.
Partner with relevant functions and represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning and strategic decision-making forums.
Facilitate alignment and clear communication of scientific issues across studies, programs, functions, stakeholders, and leadership teams.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.