Senior Director of Clinical Science, Lung, Head & Neck

MSD

. Provide strategic scientific leadership across programs, assets, or disease areas .

Posted 10/27/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $210,400 - $331,100 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates advanced expertise in clinical development planning, regulatory interactions, and strategic scientific leadership. Proven ability to integrate complex clinical data and emerging science into actionable development strategies while fostering talent and organizational capabilities.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Clinical Development PlanningRegulatory KnowledgeClinical Data InterpretationScientific LeadershipDigital And AI-Enabled Approaches

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Clinical DevelopmentEvidence-Generation StrategyMedical MonitoringClinical Data ReviewRisk ManagementAudit ReadinessTherapeutic-Area ExpertiseStrategic JudgmentGovernance StrategyPublication Strategy

Soft Skills

Stakeholder AlignmentMentoringCoachingCommunication SkillsLeadership

Certifications & Qualifications

PhDPharmDMaster's Degree

Industry Keywords

PharmaceuticalClinical Drug DevelopmentHealth Authority InteractionsClinical Science StandardsEmerging Science

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide strategic scientific leadership across programs, assets, or disease areas
Shape Clinical Development Plans and set strategic direction for study design
Oversee medical monitoring and medical data review approaches
Guide interpretation of complex clinical data across programs
Integrate clinical evidence, therapeutic-area science, external data, and competitive insights into development strategy
Provide oversight and clinical guidance for regulatory documents, Health Authority interactions, and major development activities
Shape governance strategy and communicate scientific development opportunities to senior leaders
Shape publication and external engagement strategies
Develop strategic relationships with investigators and key opinion leaders
Provide oversight of clinical/scientific quality, risk management, and audit and inspection readiness
Shape digital and AI-enabled Clinical Science approaches and drive scalable adoption
Establish Clinical Science standards, leading practices, and ways of working
Develop Clinical Science talent and organizational capabilities through leadership, coaching, mentoring, and sponsorship
May lead a large Clinical Science team

Requirements

What you’ll need

Advanced healthcare or scientific degree (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
Deep clinical development expertise and knowledge of regulatory and competitive landscapes
Deep therapeutic-area expertise and knowledge of emerging science
Demonstrated clinical/scientific leadership across programs, assets, or disease areas
Expertise in clinical development planning, evidence-generation strategy, and clinical data interpretation
Ability to align priorities, stakeholders, and cross-functional activities
Exceptional scientific and strategic judgment in complex and ambiguous situations
Strong clinical/scientific communication skills
Ability to establish Clinical Science standards and innovative ways of working
Expertise in clinical data and monitoring insights, including digital and AI-enabled approaches
Ability to develop talent, mentor colleagues, and build organizational capabilities
Current employees and current contingent workers have separate application instructions
US and Puerto Rico residents only
No visa sponsorship
Travel requirement of 10%

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual bonus
Long-term incentive, if applicable
Medical, dental, and vision healthcare
Other insurance benefits for employee and family
Retirement benefits, including 401(k)
Paid holidays
Vacation
Compassionate days
Sick days
Hybrid work arrangement