Senior Director, Clinical Science, Vaccines, Hybrid

MSD • Rahway, NJ

1d • 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, applying deep expertise in vaccines, disease biology, treatment landscapes, clinical endpoints, and other scientific considerations. The Senior Director partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional teams to guide study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and broader program decisions.

The role shapes Clinical Science practices across the vaccine portfolio by promoting scientific consistency, standardizing medical data review and interpretation practices, and integrating insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, 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 functions, and contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews.

The Senior Director also supports portfolio and governance decisions, protocol and study design planning, endpoint and eligibility considerations, biomarker strategy discussions, compliance, inspection readiness, and continuous improvement. The position is based in Rahway, New Jersey, with a hybrid work arrangement and 25% travel.

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 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.
• Leadership capabilities including strategic judgment, setting direction, building collaborative relationships, developing people, fostering inclusion, driving accountability, communicating effectively, leading through influence, and promoting continuous improvement.
• Skills listed include 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, and Vaccinations.

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 to disease area strategy by assessing development opportunities, scientific considerations, portfolio risks, and emerging internal and external 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, and issue resolution.
• Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
• Standardize Clinical Science approaches, medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables where appropriate.
• Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
• Promote alignment on disease area considerations, including 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.
• Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets, identifying trends, opportunities, risks, and program implications.
• 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 development planning.
• Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource for the disease area or therapeutic focus.
• Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings; prepare and present clinical and scientific content as appropriate.
• Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.
• Manage Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists, as appropriate, and set expectations for scientific quality, strategic thinking, collaboration, and communication.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Clinical Science talent and promote accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and team performance.
• Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums.
• Facilitate alignment across studies, programs, and functions and communicate clinical and scientific issues to stakeholders and leaders.
• Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures, and support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, while monitoring relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare and other insurance benefits for employees and families.
• Retirement benefits, including a 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, compassionate days, and sick days.
• Eligibility for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior