Global Clinical Trial Operations Strategy Lead

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, seeks an Executive Director, Chief of Staff to partner with the SVP, Head of Global Clinical Trial Operations, translating priorities into focused execution and driving AI-enabled transformation.

The role requires expert strategic leadership, governance, and cross-functional collaboration to improve portfolio delivery, quality, inspection readiness, and global consistency across trial operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with more than 10 years of relevant clinical trial delivery experience.
• Master’s degree with more than 8 years of relevant clinical trial delivery experience.
• Ph.D. or doctorate with more than 6 years of relevant clinical trial delivery experience.
• Proven ability to influence and align senior leaders and cross-functional teams in a complex, regulated environment.
• Strong digital and AI leadership, applying AI, automation, and data-driven approaches to modernize trial delivery.

Responsibilities

• Translate enterprise and GCTO priorities into clear execution plans with measurable outcomes.
• Lead governance, barrier removal discussions, and decision forums; ensure clear ownership and follow-through.
• Surface issues and drive timely resolution of risks or decisions affecting portfolio execution.
• Drive modernization of clinical trial operations through simplification, AI-enabled capabilities, and data-driven insights.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communications

Digital AI acumen

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Program management

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree + >10 years

Master’s degree + >8 years

Ph.D. or doctorate + >6 years

Job description

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, seeks an Executive Director, Chief of Staff to partner with the SVP, Head of Global Clinical Trial Operations, translating priorities into focused execution and driving AI-enabled transformation.

The role requires expert strategic leadership, governance, and cross-functional collaboration to improve portfolio delivery, quality, inspection readiness, and global consistency across trial operations.