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About the Role

The Executive Director, Clinical Science is a senior leader responsible for providing strategic, scientific, operational, and people leadership across a portfolio of infectious diseases and vaccines programs. This role serves as a member of the Clinical Science Leadership Team, shaping the strategic direction and growth of the Clinical Science organization. The Executive Director leads a large organization of Clinical Scientists, ensuring the highest standards of scientific rigor, patient focus, quality, and regulatory readiness while championing innovation and modern ways of working.

Responsibilities

Holds accountability for portfolio delivery from the Clinical Science perspective, including prioritization, resource alignment, and support for key development milestones.
Provide strategic oversight for a portfolio of infectious diseases and vaccines assets across multiple stages of development.
Partner with ID and Vaccines Therapeutic Area Heads and leaders across Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, and Medical Affairs to drive development strategy execution and delivery of key portfolio milestones.
Ensure Clinical Science contributions support development plans, regulatory submissions, health authority interactions, and lifecycle management activities.
Apply Clinical Science expertise to inform therapeutic area and portfolio strategy across evolving science, treatment trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory considerations.
Optimize allocation of Clinical Science resources and associated budgets across a complex and evolving portfolio to align with business priorities and organizational objectives.
Serve as a senior escalation point for scientific, and resource-related issues, enabling effective and timely resolution.
Establish and sustain high standards for scientific rigor, clinical science quality, medical data review, study oversight, and regulatory readiness across the portfolio.
Drive consistency in clinical science practices, study execution, and data interpretation across therapeutic areas and development programs.
Foster a culture of proactive risk identification, mitigation, inspection readiness, and continuous quality improvement.
Advance innovative approaches to medical data review, signal detection, study oversight, and evidence-based decision-making that enhance development outcomes.
Champion adoption of AI-enabled, digital, and technology-driven capabilities that enhance Clinical Science productivity, quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Contribute to identifying opportunities to leverage advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, and digital solutions to improve decision-making, strengthen study oversight, and streamline workflows.
Drive modernization of clinical data review through innovative approaches that enhance insight generation and support timely, informed decisions.
Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, continuous learning, and responsible implementation of emerging technologies.
Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to define, develop, and implement scalable capabilities that support future organizational needs and long-term business success.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Clinical Science organization.
Build organizational capability through talent planning, succession management, leadership development, and career growth strategies.
Create an inclusive environment that promotes engagement, psychological safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
Develop future leaders by mentoring Clinical Scientists, strengthening scientific, strategic, and leadership capabilities across the organization.
Ensure leaders are equipped to provide effective coaching, feedback, performance development, and career support for their teams.
Contribute to the development and execution of Clinical Science strategy, priorities, and long-term organizational objectives.
Lead initiatives related to organizational design, workforce planning, and resource optimization to support evolving portfolio and business needs.
Develop and implement scalable operating models that balance portfolio execution, organizational effectiveness, employee development, and talent retention.
Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve efficiency, effectiveness, innovation, and organizational health.
Represent Clinical Science in governance forums, leadership discussions, and strategic planning activities.
Shape functional and enterprise priorities through leadership engagement, cross-functional partnerships, and influence across organizational boundaries.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree required (PhD, PharmD) + at least 10 years of drug development experience desired
Significant experience in drug development with demonstrated success across multiple phases of clinical development.
Deep expertise in Clinical Science, Clinical Development, and execution of global clinical programs.
Experience supporting regulatory submissions, health authority interactions, and late-stage development activities.
Proven leadership experience managing in large, matrixed organizations through multiple levels of management.
Demonstrated success developing talent, building leadership capability, and creating high-performing teams.
Familiarity with, or interest in emerging AI, advanced analytics, and digital capabilities applicable to clinical development.
Experience in infectious diseases and/or vaccine development strongly preferred.
Generate and consider options for action to achieve a long-range goal; develop decision criteria considering factors, such as cost, benefits, risks, timing and buy-in; select the strategy most likely to succeed.
Identify the key tasks and resources needed to achieve strategic objectives.
Offer a broad organizational perspective that goes beyond the goals of one’s immediate business unit or work role; question assumptions about existing relationships; demonstrate flexibility when forming and adjusting partnerships to achieve broader goals; show willingness to work across current boundaries.
Ensure that those responsible for implementing a strategic initiative have role clarity and accountability for required actions and outputs, as well as the direction and authority to act in a way consistent with organizational values.
Leverage environmental supports and remove development barriers; advocate for individual to higher levels of management to create development opportunities; provide guidance and positive models; seek suggestions for improving performance; collaboratively create development plans that include activities targeted to specific goals.
Create momentum by taking immediate action and encouraging others to take action to improve organizational culture, processes or products/services; offer resources and direction to support implementation; break down cultural and operational barriers to change; recognize and reward those who contribute to change efforts.

Skills

Advanced Analytics
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Clinical Development
Clinical Sciences
Cross-Functional Leadership
Drug Development
Executive Leadership
Global Clinical Studies
Infectious Disease
Innovation
Matrix Leadership
Regulatory Submissions
Strategic Leadership
Talent Development

Location

UG/RY/Boston/South San Francisco

Work Type

Hybrid
Domestic Relocation

Experience Level

Senior Leader
10+ years of drug development experience

Education Level

Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (PhD, PharmD)

Salary/Compensations

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

Benefits

Annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable
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

About the Company

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.
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.

Equal 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.
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