Senior Director, Clinical Science, Pulmonary Hypertension and Cardiovascular, Hybrid

MSD•Boston, MA

2d•$210,400 - $331,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Pulmonary Hypertension and Cardiovascular 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, scientific standards, medical data review practices, and portfolio decision-making. It requires deep expertise in Pulmonary Hypertension and Cardiovascular disease, including disease biology, treatment landscapes, clinical endpoints, and scientific considerations that affect development strategy and study design. The Senior Director partners with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, cross-functional development teams, and other functions to support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and program decisions. The role shapes Clinical Science practices across the portfolio through standardization, alignment of scientific approaches, and integration of insights across assets. It may include direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists, along with coaching and direction in a matrix environment. The position collaborates closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other partners, and contributes to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews. The role is based in a hybrid work arrangement, with the primary location in Rahway, New Jersey, and requires 25% travel.

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 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 experience, including management, coaching, and development of scientific staff.
Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD) or equivalent, and 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience; OR a master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, and 12+ years of such experience; OR a bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, and 15+ years of such experience.
Leadership skills including setting direction, exercising scientific and strategic judgment, building collaborative relationships, developing people, fostering inclusion and accountability, communicating effectively, leading through influence, driving continuous improvement, and balancing enterprise priorities with practical decision-making.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience or knowledge in data interpretations.
Preferred knowledge or experience in next generation science standards.
Preferred experience or knowledge in 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 inform study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and development decisions.
Integrate scientific insights across studies and assets to inform development decisions.
Lead standardization of Clinical Science approaches, including medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and deliverables.
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 innovative approaches and technologies, including visual analytics, centralized data review, and AI-enabled workflows.
Guide clinical data interpretation across studies, cohorts, and assets, and 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 protocols, 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 scientific content and 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 and support staff development 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, represent Clinical Science in planning and decision-making forums, and facilitate alignment across studies, programs, and functions.
Ensure Clinical Science activities comply with regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures; support inspection readiness and documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve Clinical Science quality, consistency, and effectiveness, and maintain awareness of relevant scientific, clinical, and regulatory developments.