AVP, Head of Infectious Disease & Vaccines Clinical Science

MSD

Global leader for Infectious Disease & Vaccines Clinical Science, ensuring quality oversight and strategic leadership. Partnering with cross-functional teams in clinical development to advance programs.

Posted 5/20/2026full-timeMassachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $342,800 - $539,600 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serves as the global head of the Infectious Disease & Vaccines Clinical Scientist function.
Define and maintain clear role delineation between Clinical Scientists and Clinical Directors.
Establish expectations for scientific rigor, judgment, and decision making appropriate to phase, modality, and risk.
Continually optimize organizational design, role clarity, and resourcing for Clinical Scientists aligned with portfolio priorities.
Own the clinical scientist framework for Infectious Disease & Vaccines studies.
Provide senior scientific input into data interpretation for clinical outcomes, safety signal evaluation, and benefit risk assessments.
Act as a senior scientific partner to Therapeutic Area Heads and Clinical Development leadership.
Represent the Clinical Scientist function in governance forums and review committees.
Partner closely with Clinical Trial Operations teams ensuring seamless work between clinical and operations.
Ensure robust performance management, coaching, and career development processes are implemented by CS people leaders.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Significant experience (>10 years) in Infectious Disease & Vaccines 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.
Experience working with multiple asset modalities.
Deep understanding of trial design, regulatory expectations, and medical oversight across development phases, with particular focus for phase 3 studies.
Experience supporting regulatory interactions, inspections, and high stakes development decisions.
US and global filing experience.
Experience upleveling skills; talent assessment and organizational growth.
Experience in building an organization preferred.
Experience leading CS within a clinical team organization preferred.

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 oversightdata interpretationsafety signal evaluationbenefit risk assessmentsportfolio managementclinical trial operations

Soft Skills

leadershipcoachingcareer developmentorganizational growthrole claritydecision makingscientific rigorcollaborationperformance managementcommunication