Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis

MSD • Rahway, NJ

1d

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 and development planning by applying deep therapeutic expertise and promoting consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and decision-making across the portfolio. The position requires strong knowledge of atherosclerosis, including disease biology, the treatment landscape, clinically meaningful endpoints, and scientific considerations relevant to development strategy 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 through standardization, scientific alignment, and integration of insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, with leadership, coaching, and direction in a matrix environment. The role also 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 role helps ensure Clinical Science work is scientifically sound, consistent, compliant with applicable requirements, and appropriately documented. It supports continuous improvement and the integration of innovative approaches and technologies into Clinical Science work.

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; alternatively, a preferably life-sciences Master’s degree and 12 or more years of relevant experience; or a preferably life-sciences Bachelor’s degree and 15 or more years of relevant 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 experience, 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 encouraging continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with data interpretation.
• Knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards.
• Experience with study design.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, and assets within 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 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 where appropriate.
• Establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work across the portfolio.
• Promote alignment on disease-area considerations such as endpoint interpretation, 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 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 activities.
• Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource for the disease area or therapeutic focus.
• Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, senior leadership meetings, program reviews, and senior management communications.
• 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; set expectations and provide coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development opportunities.
• Foster accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and strong team performance.
• Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning, program discussions, and strategic decision-making forums, facilitating alignment across studies, programs, and functions.
• Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and established procedures, and support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of Clinical Science work and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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