Senior Scientist, Clinical Research

MSD

Early Clinical Scientist coordinating early phase clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry. Oversees trial design, data validity, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Posted 8/3/2026full-timeBoston • California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $117,000 - $184,200 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in managing early phase clinical trials, ensuring compliance with GCP and ICH guidelines, and effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives. Proficient in scientific writing and regulatory submissions, with a strong ability to assess clinical safety and manage complex operations under tight timelines.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Clinical Trial ManagementGCP ComplianceICH Guidelines KnowledgeScientific WritingCross-Functional Collaboration

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Clinical Trial DesignData InterpretationRisk ManagementStudy MonitoringOperational Document Development

Soft Skills

Team ManagementProblem SolvingEffective Communication

Industry Keywords

Clinical ResearchPharmaceuticalBiotechRegulatory SubmissionTherapeutic Areas

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Google Cloud Platform

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

The Early Clinical Scientist (ECS) coordinates the design, planning and execution of early phase clinical trials with the Clinical Director, and internal/external team members.
Oversees trials within and/or across program(s)/therapeutic areas and ensures excellence in execution/compliance to support study objectives and data validity.
Manages internal/external team performance to achieve project objectives and resolves project performance issues if they arise.
Ensures appropriate clinical safety assessment and risk management of compounds.
Conducts real-time oversight of ongoing trials to identify and mitigate patient, study design, data or study conduct issues.
Reviews and interprets clinical trial data.
May conduct on-site study monitoring, including site training & supervision of complex, novel endpoint/biomarker collection processes.
Applies thorough knowledge of GCP, ICH guidelines and regulatory requirements for clinical development.
Represents Early Stage Development on cross-functional teams to develop and/or improve internal job aids/SOP/clinical development procedures.
Identifies and communicates best practices within the organization.
Promotes departmental adaptation of new procedures.
Co-authors clinical sections of protocols, clinical investigator brochures, clinical study reports, Worldwide Marketing Application/Common Technical Document (WMA/CTD) subsections, and regulatory agency update and safety reports, as well as clinical development plans, publications, and abstracts.
Ensures documents are completed in accordance with applicable standards.
Develops study operational documents with input from team members (e.g. site monitoring plan, study operations manual, informed consent, etc.).
Manages trial and program projects including team activities (i.e. meetings, document/collaborative workspace management, etc.), provides risk assessment and contingency planning, under accelerated timelines.

Requirements

What you’ll need

At least 3 years experience in an operational clinical scientist or study manager role in clinical research at a pharmaceutical or biotech company.
Understanding of clinical research development process from program planning to regulatory submission
Able to quickly develop a working scientific knowledge of different therapeutic areas
Ability to manage complex operations and projects under accelerated timelines
Scientific, medical and/or safety writing and reporting (at least one is required)
Ability to partner effectively with internal and external teams to achieve results
Knowledge of GCP, ICH guidelines and regulatory requirements

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