Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis

MSD; Argentina; On-site; ARS 318,662,000 - 501,469,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision healthcare

Other insurance benefits

Retirement benefits (401k)

Paid holidays

Vacation

Compassionate and sick days

Job summary

MSD is seeking a Senior Director of Clinical Science in the Atherosclerosis portfolio to provide strategic leadership across multiple studies and assets, guiding development plans and establishing scientific standards. You will partner with Section Heads and cross-functional teams to shape study design, data interpretation, and decision-making, while coaching Clinical Scientists in a matrix environment.

This role requires deep therapeutic expertise, effective communication, and a proven ability

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in Clinical Development/Science within pharma or biotech.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the disease area and multiple studies.
• Contribute to development opportunities, portfolio risks, and data-driven decisions.
• Partner with Section Heads and cross-functional leaders to align Clinical Science activities with program goals.
• Apply expertise in therapeutic focus, endpoints, and treatment landscape to inform study planning and interpretation.
• Support cross-study integration of insights to inform development decisions.

Skills

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

Trial Design

Education

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (PhD/PharmD)

Master’s degree in life sciences

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences

Job description

Job Description

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis is responsible for providing strategic Clinical Science leadership, with accountability spanning multiple studies, programs, and assets. Reporting to the Executive Director, this 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 decision-making across the portfolio.

The individual in this role is expected to bring deep knowledge of Atherosclerosis, including disease biology, current and emerging treatment landscape, relevant clinical endpoints, and key scientific considerations that influence development strategy and study design. The Senior Director partners closely with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross‑functional development team members to support study planning, data interpretation, issue resolution, and broader program decisions across assigned studies and programs.

This role has a strong strategic orientation and is expected to shape how Clinical Science work is performed across the Atherosclerosis portfolio, including standardization of practices, alignment of scientific approaches, and integration of insights across assets. The Senior Director may have responsibility for direct management and development of multiple Clinical Scientists and is expected to provide leadership, coaching, and clear direction within a matrix environment.

The role requires close collaboration with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other key partner functions, as well as contribution to governance discussions and senior leadership reviews.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the disease area, including multiple studies, programs, and assets.
• Contribute to disease area strategy by providing Clinical Science input on development opportunities, scientific considerations, portfolio risks, and implications of emerging internal and external data.
• Partner with Section Heads, Asset Leads, Program Development Team Leads, and cross‑functional leaders to support alignment of Clinical Science activities with broader program and disease area objectives.
• Apply expert knowledge of therapeutic focus, disease biology, treatment landscape, and clinically meaningful endpoints to inform study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
• Support cross‑study and cross‑asset integration of scientific insights to inform development decisions.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Core Leadership Skills

• Sets clear direction aligned with business and organizational priorities.
• Demonstrates strong scientific and strategic judgment in complex and ambiguous situations.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships across functions and levels.
• Develops people through coaching, feedback, and support for growth.
• Creates an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued.
• Drives accountability and high standards for quality and performance.
• Communicates clearly and effectively with team members, cross‑functional partners, and senior leaders.
• Leads through influence in a matrix environment and helps teams align around shared goals.
• Encourages continuous improvement, learning, and thoughtful challenge.
• Balances enterprise thinking with practical decision‑making and timely action.

Education

• Advanced scientific or healthcare degree required (e.g., PhD, PharmD), or equivalent, and 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience preferred. -OR-
• Master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, and 12+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience -OR-
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, and 15+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience.

Experience

• Significant experience in Clinical Development, Clinical Science, clinical drug development, or a related function within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Demonstrated experience providing Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets.
• Deep therapeutic area expertise, including strong understanding of disease biology, current and emerging treatment landscape, clinically relevant endpoints, and key 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.
• Demonstrated 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.

clinicaltrialjobs

clinicalsci2026

Required Skills

• 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
• Trial Design

Preferred Skills

• Data Interpretations
• Next Generation Science Standards
• Study Design

US And Puerto Rico Residents Only

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

The primary location for this posting is: USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Salary

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $210,400.00 - $331,100.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision healthcare
• Other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• Paid holidays
• Vacation
• Compassionate and sick days

Additional location(s):

Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Not Applicable

Shift

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Job Posting End Date

A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.