AVP, Head of General & Specialty Medicine Clinical Science

MSD

Global leader overseeing Clinical Scientists in General & Specialty Medicine. Driving scientific standards and partnering with Clinical Directors across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities.

Posted 5/8/2026full-timeRahway • Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $342,800 - $539,600 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as the global head of the General & Specialty Medicine Clinical Scientist function
Define and maintain clear role delineation between Clinical Scientists and Clinical Directors
Establish expectations for scientific rigor, judgment, and decision making
Optimize organizational design, role clarity, and resourcing for Clinical Scientists
Own the clinical scientist framework for General & Specialty Medicine studies
Ensure consistency and quality of CS contributions
Provide senior scientific input into data interpretation
Act as a senior scientific partner to Therapeutic Area Heads and Clinical Development leadership
Ensure robust performance management, coaching, and career development processes

Requirements

What you’ll need

PhD, PharmD, MD or DO strongly preferred
10-15 years of relevant experience in any areas covered by General & Specialty Medicine (Immunology, Cardiometabolic, Respiratory, Neuroscience, Metabolism)
Significant experience (>10 years) in General & Specialty Medicine clinical development within a global pharmaceutical or biotech organization
Expertise with medical monitoring
Demonstrated leadership of clinical science teams in a matrixed, portfolio-based environment
Deep understanding of trial design, regulatory expectations, and medical oversight across development phases, particularly for phase 3 studies
Experience supporting regulatory interactions, inspections, and high stakes development decisions
US and global filing experience

Benefits

Comp & perks

medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
retirement benefits, including 401(k)
paid holidays
vacation
compassionate and sick days

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

clinical developmentmedical monitoringtrial designregulatory expectationsmedical oversightphase 3 studiesregulatory interactionsinspectionsdata interpretationperformance management

Soft Skills

leadershipcoachingdecision makingorganizational designrole clarityscientific rigorcareer developmentcollaborationcommunicationstrategic thinking

Certifications

PhDPharmDMDDO