Associate Director, Study Data Services

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Associate Director, Study Data Services to lead a programming and reporting team responsible for delivering high-quality clinical data solutions. You will set goals, coach performance, and partner with leadership to manage risks and timelines.

The role emphasizes hands-on technical review, standardization of SOPs, scalable data models, and automation across EDC, RTSM, and eCOA/ePRO platforms, with a global, cross-functional scope.

Qualifications

• Expert-level proficiency in SQL, Python, SAS and R for clinical data tasks.
• Experience architecting data integration and reporting solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and deployment of clinical technology system solutions (EDC, RTSM, eCOA/ePRO).
• Provide technical oversight for programming, reporting, and data integration.
• Develop advanced reporting solutions with reusable components and access controls.
• Define and govern data integration architecture and transformations.
• Lead process improvements and align priorities across global teams.

Skills

SQL

Python

SAS

R

Leadership

Coaching

Job description

Job Description

Role Overview:

The Associate Director, Study Data Services leads and develops a programming and reporting team - set goals, assign work, coach performance, and manage recruiting/onboarding - while communicating status and risks to leadership and partners. Provide hands‑on technical review, solutioning support, enforce SOPs/standards, manage workload and prioritization, track quality and timelines, and drive best practices (code review, reusable components, test automation) and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

Programming and reporting:

• Lead design and deployment of clinical technology system solutions (e.g., for EDC [Electronic Data Capture], RTSM [Randomization and Trial Supply Management], and eCOA/ePRO [electronic Clinical Outcomes Assessment/ electronic Patient‑Reported Outcomes]) using programming frameworks and automation tools.
• Provide technical oversight for clinical programming, reporting, and data integration across portfolios.
• Recommend and implement tools to streamline design, build, and validation processes.
• Apply data literacy to design transformation strategies for actionable insights.
• Develop advanced reporting solutions (dashboards, listings, visual analytics) with reusable components and role‑based access.

Data Engineering:

• Define and govern integration architecture, including data sources and transformation workflows.
• Ensure consistent implementation of enterprise standards and reusable assets.
• Monitor and troubleshoot data ingestion and consumption for reliability.
• Automate and strengthen data engineering processes to reduce risk and improve efficiency.
• Develop robust data models, semantic layers, and curated datasets; enforce quality checks.

Process:

• Drive process optimization by identifying gaps and implementing improvements.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities, roadmaps, and ways of working for assigned domains.
• Lead testing strategies for solutions; automate validation and ensure traceability.
• Contribute to resource planning and workload distribution across global teams.
• Set documentation and audit standards; ensure compliance through rigorous change management.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration, meetings, and enterprise‑level improvement programs.
• Influence adoption of data standards, tools, and automation for better delivery and decision‑making.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentoring to build capabilities and foster a culture of quality and collaboration.
• Support release management across environments; align stakeholders, lead UAT (User Acceptance Training), and improve reporting standards.
• Partner across teams to turn data and technical findings into clear, actionable recommendations
• Act as a reliable partner to GDMS and other cross‑functional teams, actively seeking input, aligning on priorities, and closing feedback loops to drive high‑quality, coordinated delivery.

People management:

• Align teams around a clear direction; set clear objectives aligned to organizational goals; assign work and set priorities accounting for work‑life balance sustainability.
• Conduct regular check‑ins and annual reviews; coach for performance; provide recognition.
• Develop career plans; create growth opportunities and promotion cases; ensure appropriate training and mentoring.
• Coordinate on‑shore/off‑shore and contingent resources; ensure role clarity and effective handoffs.
• Manage an operating budget and optimize spend against priorities.
• Inspires and ensures that team leaders are effectively supporting and empowering their individual leaders.

Technical skills:

• Expert‑level proficiency in different technology languages (e.g., SQL, Python, SAS, and R) for implementing clinical data collectors, integrations, transformations, visualizations
• Evidence of experience in architecting and interoperability of EDC platforms, data integration environments, clinical operations systems, and cloud computing platforms
• Proficiency with key data‑management and/or clinical operations tools and platforms (e.g., systems for data capture, review, visualization, reconciliation, and reporting), with the ability to help select, configure, or optimize solutions.
• Broad understanding of the data‑management technology ecosystem (e.g., data capture, review, reconciliation, reporting, analytics, and enabling …) and how components fit together across the end‑to‑end process.
• Experience leveraging automation, scripting…
• Ability to interpret operational …
• Strong understanding of common clinical and regulatory …
• Strong understanding of validation, system lifecycle, data‑privacy, and Syste