Senior Director, Clinical Science, Atherosclerosis

MSD; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 210,000 - 331,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, USA seeks a Senior Director, Clinical Science in Atherosclerosis. You will provide strategic scientific leadership across multiple studies, guide development planning, and promote standardized scientific practices within a complex portfolio.

Lead and coach Clinical Scientists, collaborate with Regulatory Affairs Biostatistics and Translational Medicine, and drive decision-making through rigorous clinical data interpretation and governance.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree with 8+ years pharma/clinical development experience preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership in Clinical Science across multiple studies or assets.
• Deep therapeutic expertise in atherosclerosis and related endpoints.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across studies, programs and assets.
• Standardize Clinical Science approaches and data review practices across the portfolio.
• Lead scientific guidance on protocol development, endpoint selection and biomarker strategy.
• Manage and develop Clinical Scientists in a matrix environment, with coaching and direction.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in Clinical Operations Regulatory Affairs Biostatistics and Medical Affairs.

Skills

Atherosclerosis

Clinical Development

Clinical Sciences

Medical Monitoring

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (PhD/PharmD)

Master’s degree in life sciences

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences

Tools

Data interpretation

Study design

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

Disease Area and Clinical Science Strategy

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.

Standardization and Scientific Consistency

Lead efforts to standardize Clinical Science approaches across the disease area, including medical data review practices, data interpretation principles, and key deliverables, as appropriate. Promote consistency in how Clinical Science activities are conducted across studies and programs while allowing for program‑specific needs. Help establish and maintain standards, expectations, and leading practices for Clinical Science work within the portfolio. Support alignment across assets on important disease area considerations, including endpoint interpretation, patient population considerations, safety topics and emerging scientific issues. Advocate for implementation of innovative approaches, including visual analytics, centralized data review, AI‑enabled workflows and other technologies that improve quality and efficiency.

Strategic Scientific Leadership

Provide senior scientific guidance across assigned studies and programs to support high‑quality and consistent Clinical Science input. Guide interpretation of clinical data across studies, cohorts, and assets to support broader understanding of trends opportunities, risks and program implications. Support identification and evaluation of important clinical, scientific and data‑related issues and help ensure they are appropriately framed for cross‑functional and governance discussions. Contribute scientific perspective to protocol development, protocol amendments, study design considerations, endpoint selection, eligibility criteria, biomarker strategy discussions and other development planning activities. Serve as a Clinical Science subject matter resource for their disease area or therapeutic focus across study teams and partner functions.

Portfolio and Governance Contribution

Contribute Clinical Science perspective to portfolio discussions governance reviews and senior leadership meetings within their disease area. Support preparation of clinical and scientific content for governance discussions, program reviews and senior management communications. Present cross‑study insights, scientific assessments and key issues to cross‑functional leaders and governance bodies, as appropriate. Help ensure that portfolio and governance discussions are informed by sound scientific judgment and clinically meaningful interpretation of available data. Translate portfolio priorities into Clinical Science strategies, capabilities, and resource plans.

People Leadership and Capability Building

Provide direct management for Directors, Principal Scientists and Clinical Scientists, as appropriate. Set clear expectations for scientific quality, strategic thinking, collaboration and effective communication. Support development of Clinical Science talent through coaching, mentoring, feedback and creation of development opportunities. Promote consistency in role expectations and ways of working across Clinical Scientists supporting the lung portfolio. Foster a culture of accountability inclusion continuous learning and strong team performance.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

Partner closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs and other key partner functions. Represent Clinical Science in cross‑functional planning program discussions and strategic decision‑making forums. Facilitate alignment across studies programs and functions to support consistent scientific approaches and effective portfolio execution. Support clear communication of clinical and scientific issues to relevant stakeholders and leadership teams.

Compliance and Continuous Improvement

Ensure Clinical Science activities are conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, company policies and established procedures. Support inspection readiness and appropriate documentation of Clinical Science contributions, as applicable. Identify opportunities to improve the quality, consistency and effectiveness of Clinical Science work across their disease area. Maintain awareness of relevant scientific clinical and regulatory developments in their disease area or therapeutic focus to inform disease area strategy and Clinical Science practices.

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.
• Master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, and 12+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development and/or medical field experience.
• 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.

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

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas broad experiences backgrounds and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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

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. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical dental vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family) retirement benefits including 401(k) paid holidays vacation and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

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.

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.

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities.

All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre‑existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place introductions are position specific. Please no phone calls or emails.

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: 10/31/2026 *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.

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