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New · posted Nov 10

Merck · Pharmaceuticals

Executive Director, Clinical Science, Immunology

Rahway, NJ
Hybrid
Full-time
Director

EmploymentFull-time

FunctionClinical Development

DeadlineCloses Dec 1, 2026

The role

Brief Description of Position

The Executive Director, Clinical Science is a senior leader within Non-Oncology Clinical Development responsible for providing strategic, scientific, operational, and people leadership across a portfolio of immunology programs spanning multiple stages of development. Reporting to the Head of Clinical Science Non-Oncology, this role serves as a member of the Clinical Science Leadership Team and plays a key role in shaping the strategic direction, operational effectiveness, and long-term growth of the Clinical Science organization.

The Executive Director leads a large organization of Clinical Scientists supporting immunology development programs and is accountable for portfolio delivery, organizational performance, talent development, capability building, and continuous improvement. This leader ensures the highest standards of scientific rigor, patient focus, quality, and regulatory readiness while driving consistency and excellence across Clinical Science activities.

The role champions innovation and modern ways of working by advancing the adoption of digital capabilities, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and data-driven approaches that enhance decision-making, improve efficiency, and strengthen study oversight across the portfolio. The Executive Director fosters a culture of learning, inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement while developing future leaders and building organizational capability to meet evolving business needs.

Success in this role requires strong enterprise leadership and effective collaboration across Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics and Data Management, Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and other key partner functions. The Executive Director influences across organizational boundaries to align priorities, integrate diverse perspectives, and enable successful execution of oncology development strategies.

What you need

Two ways to qualify

PhD
+ 10+ years of experience
Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD) with at least 10 years of drug development experience; OR
or
Master’s
+ 15+ years of experience
Master’s degree, preferably in a life sciences-related field, with at least 15 years of drug development experience.

Education

Required Skills

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

Experience

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 immunology development strongly preferred.

Travel Requirements

25%

Preferred Skillsnice to have

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Essential Leadership Skills

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 named in this posting

What you'll do

Portfolio Leadership

Holds accountability for portfolio delivery from the Clinical Science perspective, including prioritization, resource alignment, and support for key development milestones across studies, programs, and assets.
Provide strategic oversight for a portfolio of immunology assets across multiple stages of development.
Partner withthe Immunology Therapeutic Area Head 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.

Clinical Science Excellence

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.

Innovation, AI, and Digital Transformation

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.

People Leadership and Talent Development

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.

Organizational Leadership

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.

Pay and benefits

$256,000 – $403,000 a year

Employer provided

How this compares

Additional location(s) Compensation Information

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

Medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k) retirement benefits
Paid holidays
Vacation
Sick days
Annual bonus and long-term incentive

Where you'll work

Rahway, NJHybridOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)

More jobs in Rahway, NJ

Working conditions

Extent of Travel

0-25%

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Not Indicated

Hazardous Material(s)

n/a

Location

UG/RY/Boston/South San Francisco

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Job Posting End Date

12/1/2026

*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.

Equal opportunity, accessibility and legal noticesMerck's statements, word for word

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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

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

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

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. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Job intelligence

The context around this role

Live data · November 10, 2026

Salary intelligence

How the pay compares

This role's midpoint is 10% above the US median for Clinical Development roles at this level.

This roleEmployer provided

Director roles in New Jersey28 roles publishing pay

Director roles in the US220 roles publishing pay

Annual base pay
Annual base pay	Low	Median	High
This role	$256,000	—	$403,000
New Jersey (middle half)	$270,500	$303,750	$329,500
All US (middle half)	$255,000	$300,000	$335,500

This role: Merck's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Clinical Development roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, November 10, 2026. Nothing is estimated.

Career trajectory

Where this role sits in Clinical Development

The general path across 289 open Clinical Development roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not Merck's own promotion track.

Earlier
Associate & Specialist
Often: 2027 Summer Intern Clinical Science, Medical Monitoring & Health Economics · Clinical Research Scientist
5 open
Earlier
Senior & Principal
Often: Clinical Scientist · Senior Clinical Scientist
$181K median25 open
One step back
Manager
Often: Senior Manager, Clinical Scientist, Hematology · Clinical Development Scientist, Senior Manager
$199K median13 open
This role
Director
Often: Senior Director, Clinical Development · Director, Clinical Development
$300K median228 open
Next step
VP & Executive
Often: Vice President, Clinical Development · Associate Vice President
$400K median18 open

Skills DNA

What this role leans on

How many of the posting's 50 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.

Collaboration and leadership17
Clinical trial conduct5
Documentation and SOPs3
Regulatory submissions3
Quality systems and risk2
Data and digital systems2
GMP and compliance1

Regulatory intelligence

The rules, regulations and standards behind this role

The regulations, guidance and standards that govern Clinical Development work in pharmaceuticals, each linked to the agency or standards body that publishes it.