Senior Manager, Statistical Programming - Job ID: 2068

Ascendis Pharma; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company match

Medical, dental, and vision plans

AD&D insurance

Disability benefits

Pet Insurance

Job summary

Ascendis Pharma is seeking a Senior Statistical Programming Lead based in Palo Alto, CA (or remote). You will oversee all programming deliverables for clinical trials, lead SDTM/ADaM data work, and contribute to reusable macro development and tool creation to support efficient study execution.

The role requires deep CDISC expertise, strong leadership and communication to collaborate with Biostatistics, Data Management, and Medical Writing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field with 10+ years of programming experience in pharma/biotech.
• Master’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience also acceptable.
• Proven lead programmer experience on clinical trials and complex projects.
• Expert knowledge of CDISC SDTM/ADaM standards and regulatory requirements.
• SAS programming proficiency with reusable macros development.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Statistical Programming Lead for clinical trials and deliver programming from start to submission.
• Represent programming in cross-functional study team meetings and plan timelines.
• Develop, validate and maintain SDTM/ADaM datasets per CDISC standards.
• Generate tables, listings and figures (TLFs) for CSR, ISS/ISE and regulatory submissions.
• Support statisticians with planned and ad hoc analyses.
• Develop reusable macros, templates and spec tools to improve efficiency.

Skills

SAS programming

CDISC SDTM/ADaM

Leadership

Team collaboration

Communication skills

R

Python

Git

VB

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Statistics/Mathematics/Computer Science

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

SAS

R

Python

Git

VB

Job description

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology.

Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.

Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.

Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

The Senior Manager, Statistical Programming, will be expected to provide timely and strategic programming support to clinical study teams in alignment with project goals. This role combines hands-on programming responsibilities with leadership in study execution and tool development.

The successful candidate will serve as the Statistical Programming Lead for one or more clinical trials, taking responsibility for all programming deliverables from study start through regulatory submission. In addition, this person will support the development and maintenance of departmental programming tools, such as standard macros and specification templates of SDTM and ADaM used across clinical studies.

This position requires expertise in CDISC standards (SDTM, ADaM), strong communication and leadership skills, and a deep understanding of clinical trial data and analysis workflows.

This position is based in Palo Alto, CA or may be remote.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Statistical Programming Lead for clinical trials, overseeing all programming deliverables from study start to submission.

• Represent Statistical Programming in cross‑functional study team meetings and contribute to project planning and timelines.
• Develop, validate, and maintain SDTM and ADaM datasets, following CDISC standards and study specifications.
• Generate or validate tables, listings, and figures (TLFs) for clinical study reports, ISS/ISE, and regulatory submissions.
• Support statisticians with planned and ad hoc analyses.
• Develop and maintain reusable macros, templates, and specification tools to support consistent and efficient programming practices across studies.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams including Biostatistics, Data Management, and Medical Writing to ensure high‑quality deliverables.
• Ensure programming activities meet project timelines and quality expectations, following internal SOPs and industry best practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field with at least 10 years of programming experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry; or a Master’s degree with at least 7 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience as a lead programmer for clinical trials and complex technical projects.
• Excellent knowledge of CDISC standards, including SDTM and ADaM.
• Understanding of the clinical drug development process and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in SAS programming, including the ability to develop and validate reusable macros.
• Familiarity with other programming languages or tools (e.g., R, Python, Git, VB) is a plus.
• Experience contributing to departmental tools (e.g., macro libraries, specification templates, or automation tools) is preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.
• Self‑motivated and detail‑oriented, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to shifting priorities under tight deadlines.

The estimated salary range for this position is $170-180K/year. Actual salary determination is dependent on a variety of factors some of which include: experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus or an incentive compensation plan (eligibility varies based on role and position level), discretionary stock‑based long‑term incentives, paid time off, and a comprehensive benefits package.

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Company‑offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Company‑provided short and long‑term disability benefits
• Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Saving Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various incentive compensation plans
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents