Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis

MSD•Boston, MA

3d•$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, development planning, and consistent scientific standards, medical data review practices, and decision-making across the portfolio. It requires deep expertise in Atherosclerosis, including disease biology, treatment landscapes, clinical endpoints, and scientific considerations that shape development strategy and study design. The role partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross-functional development teams to support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and broader program decisions. It leads standardization and integration of Clinical Science practices and insights across the portfolio, contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews, and may directly manage and develop multiple Clinical Scientists. The position collaborates closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partner functions. The Senior Director is expected to provide strategic scientific guidance, support portfolio and governance decisions, build team capabilities, and ensure Clinical Science work follows applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures. The role is based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, has a first-shift schedule, requires 25% travel, and lists domestic relocation. The position is regular, and visa sponsorship is not available.

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 expertise in Atherosclerosis, including disease biology, 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.
Ability to set direction, exercise scientific and strategic judgment, build collaborative relationships, promote inclusion, drive accountability and quality, communicate effectively, lead through influence, encourage continuous improvement, and balance enterprise thinking with timely 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.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the disease area, including multiple studies, programs, and assets.
Contribute Clinical Science perspectives to disease-area strategy, development opportunities, portfolio risks, and assessment 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, and issue resolution; integrate scientific insights across studies and assets.
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 on 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 frame clinical, scientific, and data-related issues for cross-functional and governance discussions.
Contribute scientific input 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, 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.
Manage, coach, mentor, and develop Directors, Principal Scientists, and Clinical Scientists, as appropriate; set expectations and foster accountability, inclusion, learning, and performance.
Represent Clinical Science in cross-functional planning and decision-making; facilitate alignment and communicate issues to stakeholders and leadership.
Ensure compliance 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.