Senior Director, Clinical Science, Genitourinary (GU) Oncology (Hybrid)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Annual bonus and long‑term incentive

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, invites applications for Senior Director, Clinical Science in GU Oncology. You will shape strategy, drive clinical science processes, and guide multiple studies across the portfolio, leveraging deep disease biology knowledge and expert trial design.

The role requires leadership experience, strong collaboration across functions, and the ability to align scientific approaches with program goals in a complex matrix environment.

Qualifications

• Advanced scientific or healthcare degree required with substantial pharma/clinical drug development experience.
• Significant experience providing Clinical Science leadership across multiple studies, programs, or assets.
• Excellent communication, influence, and executive presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the GU oncology portfolio, spanning multiple studies and assets.
• Lead standardization of Clinical Science approaches and promote data review and AI-enabled workflows.
• Mentor and develop Clinical Scientists; collaborate with cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.

Skills

Clinical Development

Clinical Research

Clinical Research Management

Clinical Sciences

Clinical Trial Planning

Oncology

People Leadership

Study Design

Therapeutic Knowledge

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 Role Summary

The Senior Director, Clinical Science, Genitourinary (GU) Oncology 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 Genitourinary (GU) Cancers, 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 Genitourinary (GU) Cancers 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. 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.

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 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, with 8+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience preferred OR Master’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 12+ years of pharmaceutical, clinical drug development, and/or medical field experience OR Bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences, with 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

• Clinical Development
• Clinical Research
• Clinical Research Management
• Clinical Sciences
• Clinical Trial Planning
• Oncology
• People Leadership
• Study Design
• Therapeutic Knowledge
• Trial Design

Preferred Skills

• Leadership
• Oncology Trials
• People Management

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.
• The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

Salary

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

Location

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

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

Employment Status

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): n/a

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.

Recruitment Policy

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement

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.

Job Posting End

Job Posting End Date: 11/4/2026 *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.

About the Company

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.