Strategic Director — Thoracic Oncology Clinical Science

Merck; Boston (MA); Sur place; USD 260 000 - 330 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Merck in the United States seeks a Senior Director, Clinical Science, Thoracic Oncology to lead strategic Clinical Science across multiple studies and assets. You will set scientific standards, guide development plans, and ensure data-driven decision-making within the portfolio.

Responsibilities include standardizing approaches, advancing innovative workflows (visual analytics and AI-enabled data review), and providing senior scientific guidance to study teams and governance forums.

Qualifications

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

Responsabilités

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Connaissances

Strategic leadership

Scientific judgment

Cross-functional collaboration

People development

Communication

Matrix leadership

Continuous improvement

Formation

PhD/PharmD + 8+ yrs

Master’s in life sciences +12+ yrs

Bachelor’s in life sciences

Description du poste

Merck in the United States seeks a Senior Director, Clinical Science, Thoracic Oncology to lead strategic Clinical Science across multiple studies and assets. You will set scientific standards, guide development plans, and ensure data-driven decision-making within the portfolio.

Responsibilities include standardizing approaches, advancing innovative workflows (visual analytics and AI-enabled data review), and providing senior scientific guidance to study teams and governance forums.