Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis

Merck•Boston, MA

7d•$210,400 - $331,100

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis 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 guide Clinical Science approaches, support development planning, and promote consistency in scientific standards, medical data review practices, and portfolio decision-making. The position requires deep knowledge of atherosclerosis, including disease biology, current and emerging treatments, relevant clinical endpoints, and scientific considerations affecting development strategy and study design. The Senior Director 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 role also shapes Clinical Science practices across the portfolio, including standardization, alignment of scientific approaches, and integration of insights across assets. The Senior Director may directly manage and develop multiple Clinical Scientists, providing leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The role collaborates closely 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 role requires significant experience in Clinical Development, Clinical Science, clinical drug development, or a related pharmaceutical or biotechnology function; demonstrated leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets; therapeutic expertise; and experience with clinical trial design, development strategy, data review, and interpretation. The posting gives alternative education and experience pathways: an advanced scientific or healthcare degree (such as PhD or PharmD) or equivalent with 8+ years of relevant experience preferred; a master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 12+ years; or a bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 15+ years. The position is based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with 25% travel. Relocation is domestic, and visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

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 atherosclerosis therapeutic 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 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 and 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.
Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD), or equivalent, with 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience preferred; OR a master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 12+ years of such experience; OR a bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 15+ years of such experience.
Leadership capabilities include setting clear direction, exercising scientific and strategic judgment, building collaborative relationships, developing people, fostering inclusion and accountability, communicating effectively, leading through influence, encouraging continuous improvement, and balancing enterprise thinking with practical decisions.
Required skills listed: Atherosclerosis, 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 Trial Design.

Nice To Haves

Preferred skills listed: Data Interpretations, Next Generation Science Standards, and Study Design.
Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD), or equivalent, with 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience is described as preferred.

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 inform development decisions.
Standardize Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables, as appropriate.
Promote consistent Clinical Science practices while accommodating program-specific needs, and help establish portfolio standards and leading practices.
Support alignment on endpoint interpretation, 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 protocol development and amendments, study design, endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, biomarker strategy, and development planning.
Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource across study teams and partner functions.
Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, senior leadership meetings, and program reviews; prepare and present clinical and scientific content 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 develop talent through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
Promote consistent role expectations and ways of working across Clinical Scientists, and foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
Partner with relevant functions, represent Clinical Science in cross-functional forums, facilitate alignment, and communicate clinical and 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.
Identify improvements to the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of Clinical Science work, and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.