Senior Director, Clinical Science, Vaccines, Hybrid

Merck•Boston, MA

7d•$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. The role contributes to disease area strategy and development planning by applying deep vaccine therapeutic expertise and promoting consistency in scientific standards, medical data review, and decision-making across the portfolio. The Senior Director partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional development teams to support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The role shapes Clinical Science practices across the vaccine portfolio by standardizing approaches, aligning scientific methods, and integrating insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, along with leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The position collaborates 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 also supports compliance, inspection readiness, continuous improvement, and awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments. The role is based in Rahway, New Jersey, with a hybrid work arrangement and 25% travel. The listed salary range for the primary location is $210,400–$331,100, with eligibility for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. The position is regular employment, offers domestic relocation, and does not offer visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD or PharmD), or equivalent, with 8 or more years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; or a preferably life-sciences master’s degree with 12 or more years of such experience; or a preferably life-sciences bachelor’s degree with 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 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, lead through influence, and align teams around shared goals.
Ability to create an inclusive environment, drive accountability and high standards, and encourage continuous improvement and learning.
Ability to 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.
Master’s degree preferably in life sciences, where applicable to the education pathway.

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 expertise in disease biology, treatment landscape, and clinically meaningful endpoints to study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
Lead standardization of Clinical Science approaches, medical data review practices, data 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, identifying trends, opportunities, risks, and program implications.
Help identify and frame clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
Contribute scientific perspective to protocol development and 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 Clinical Science perspectives to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings.
Prepare clinical and scientific content for governance discussions, program reviews, and senior management communications; present cross-study insights and scientific assessments 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 for quality, strategic thinking, collaboration, and communication.
Develop Clinical Science talent through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working across Clinical Scientists supporting the lung portfolio.
Foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Partner with cross-functional functions and represent Clinical Science in planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums.
Facilitate alignment across studies, programs, and functions and communicate scientific issues to stakeholders and leadership.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures.
Support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation of Clinical Science contributions.
Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.