Merck & Co, Inc

Senior Director, Clinical Data Intelligence & Medical Monitoring Innovation

Merck & Co, Inc • $210K — $331K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Doctoral degree (PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) with 8 years of relevant experience, or a Master's with 12 years, or a Bachelor's with 15 years, all including significant time in clinical development.
  • Minimum of 5 years as a Clinical Scientist in a pharmaceutical environment.
  • Expertise in medical data review and monitoring, with a strong grasp of drug development processes.
  • Master-level experience with visual analytics platforms like Spotfire or Tableau.
  • Proven ability to mentor and teach complex technological systems to others.
  • Experience in cross-functional collaboration to enhance business processes and technology.

Responsibilities

  • Lead digital and AI initiatives to enhance clinical data review and medical monitoring.
  • Identify opportunities for visual analytics and automation to improve patient safety and operational efficiency.
  • Collaborate with Clinical Science leadership to address process gaps and user needs.
  • Drive the implementation of modern data review capabilities for timely safety signal identification.
  • Support the transition to interactive, risk-based monitoring approaches.
  • Represent Clinical Development in cross-functional tech initiatives, ensuring alignment with scientific needs.
  • Oversee the adoption of new tools and capabilities, tracking stakeholder engagement and effectiveness.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive training and development programs to support career growth.
  • Opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and influence.
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and innovative practices in clinical development.
  • Supportive work environment fostering scientific curiosity and technical excellence.
Full Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Director, Clinical Data Intelligence & Medical Monitoring Innovation is responsible for leading business-facing digital and visual analytics, and AI-driven initiatives that modernize clinical data review and medical monitoring within Clinical Development.


Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Head of Clinical Development Learning & Center of Excellence (CoE), this role serves as the strategic bridge between advanced technological capabilities and clinical practice across all therapeutic areas. The primary mission of this role is to drive organizational change management to modernize how study teams review data, monitor patient safety, identify clinical signals, and make real-time decisions using visual analytics and AI-enabled technologies.


This role partners closely with the Heads of Clinical Science (Oncology and Non-Oncology), Clinical TA Leadership, and other key functions such as Data Management, Biostatistics, Statistical Programming, Digital, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Information Technology to define business needs, set priorities, and support delivery of solutions that are practical, compliant, and scalable.


In this capacity, the individual represents Clinical Development in cross-functional forums, collaborating with digital and IT partners to ensure that technical and AI-driven solutions are aligned with the workflows and scientific needs of clinical scientists and clinical directors.


The ideal candidate is an expert, former Clinical Scientist with a minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in clinical trial design, clinical data review, medical monitoring and execution, combined with deep technical expertise in data visualization, technological innovation and AI, and a passion for teaching these capabilities to others. The successful candidate will be expected to identify opportunities to improve current processes, translate user needs into clear requirements, support implementation of new capabilities, and drive adoption across Clinical Development.



Key Responsibilities:


Business Leadership


  • Serve as the Clinical Development business lead for digital, analytics, and AI-enabled capabilities that support clinical data review and medical monitoring.
  • Identify and prioritize opportunities where visual analytics, automation, AI, and related digital capabilities can improve patient safety oversight, scientific quality, operational efficiency, and decision-making.
  • Partner with Clinical Science leadership and study teams to understand process gaps, user needs, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Ensure proposed solutions address clear business problems and provide measurable benefit to study teams.


Clinical Data Review and Medical Monitoring


  • Lead efforts to improve how clinical data are reviewed, with a focus on usability, consistency, quality, and timeliness.
  • Drive implementation of modern visual analytics and data review capabilities to support earlier identification of safety signals, efficacy trends, protocol deviations, data quality issues, and operational risks.

  • Work with Clinical Scientists, Clinical Directors, and study teams to identify opportunities to improve medical monitoring workflows and supporting tools.
  • Support the transition from static reports and manual review processes to more interactive and risk-based approaches where appropriate.
  • Help define use cases for visual analytics, automated workflows, and other capabilities that support earlier identification of safety issues, efficacy trends, protocol deviations, operational issues, and data quality concerns.
  • Ensure solutions support appropriate medical and scientific review and are fit for use in a regulated environment.

Partnership with Head of Clinical Development Learning


  • Partner with the Senior Director, Head of Clinical Development Learning to ensure new tools, analytics capabilities, and digital ways of working are supported by appropriate training, communication, and change enablement.
  • Provide clear guidance on what users need to understand and be able to do in order to effectively adopt new capabilities.
  • Collaborate on change management strategies that support sustained adoption, including input on timing, sequencing, user readiness, and communication of new capabilities.

  • Support the Center of Excellence team with subject matter content, demonstrations, and technical context needed to develop effective training and learning materials.
  • Ensure implementation plans for new capabilities account for organizational readiness and are coordinated with learning and adoption activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration


  • Represent Clinical Interests: Act as a key partner representing Clinical Development workflows and scientific requirements in cross-functional technological, digital, or AI-driven initiatives.
  • Promote User-Centric Design: Partner with enterprise IT and Digital organizations to ensure tools are fit for clinical purpose, user-friendly, and streamlined to support efficient clinical workflows.
  • Cross-Functional Influence: Partner with senior leaders in Data Management, Biostatistics, Statistical Programming, Digital, IT, and AI/Data Science to align technical roadmaps with Clinical Development’s operational and scientific reality. Support prioritization and trade-off discussions across functions to align resources and delivery plans.

Implementation and Adoption


  • Support implementation of new tools and capabilities across Clinical Development.
  • Develop plans for stakeholder engagement, communications, training, and adoption tracking.
  • Work with end users to gather feedback, assess effectiveness, and identify opportunities for refinement.
  • Promote consistent use of approved tools and processes across studies and programs.
  • Share lessons learned and leading practices across teams to improve consistency and efficiency.


Governance and Continuous Improvement


  • Support appropriate governance, validation, documentation, and oversight for new capabilities, including AI-enabled solutions where applicable.
  • Monitor external developments in clinical data review, medical monitoring, analytics, and AI to inform future planning.
  • Establish and track measures of success related to adoption, quality, efficiency, and user experience.
  • Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and help build longer-term plans for capability development within Clinical Development.



People Management & Team Leadership


  • Direct the Innovation Team: Provide strategic direction, line management, coaching, and professional development for direct reports.
  • Resource Allocation: Oversee the team’s project portfolio, aligning innovation efforts with therapeutic area clinical pipelines and CoE strategic priorities.
  • Cultivate Technical Excellence: Foster a high-performing culture of scientific curiosity, technical expertise, and collaborative problem-solving within the team.

Essential Leadership Skills


  • Identifies emerging opportunities and translates innovative ideas, analytics, and AI-enabled capabilities into practical solutions that improve patient safety oversight, scientific quality, and operational effectiveness.
  • Aligns digital and analytics priorities with Clinical Development objectives, balancing long-term capability building with near-term business needs and measurable outcomes.
  • Builds strong cross-functional relationships and effectively influences stakeholders across Clinical Development, Data Management, Biostatistics, Statistical Programming, Digital, Data Science, AI, IT, and Quality to achieve shared objectives.
  • Leads adoption of new capabilities and ways of working by creating alignment, overcoming resistance, and fostering sustained organizational change across Clinical Development.
  • Promotes a culture of continuous improvement by advancing new approaches to clinical data review, medical monitoring, visual analytics, automation, and digital enablement.
  • Drives execution with clear accountability, ensuring that capabilities are implemented effectively, governance requirements are met, and business value is realized.



Educational Requirements:


Required (one of the following combinations):


  • Doctoral degree (PhD, PharmD, or equivalent scientific/ clinical degree) plus 8 years of combined relevant experience, of which at least 5 years must be within pharmaceutical or clinical development environments.

OR    

  • Master's degree in Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Data Science, Health Sciences, or related clinical/scientific field plus 12 years of combined relevant experience, of which at least 8 years must be within pharmaceutical or clinical development environments.

OR

  • Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Data Science, Health Sciences, or related clinical/scientific field plus 15 years of combined relevant experience, of which at least 10 years must be within pharmaceutical or clinical development environments.



Required Experience:


  • Minimum of 5 years of direct, hands-on experience working as a Clinical Scientist within a clinical development or pharmaceutical environment is strictly required.
  • Deep technical expertise in medical data review, medical monitoring, and end-to-end drug development processes.
  • Master-level experience with visual analytics platforms (e.g., Spotfire, elluminate, Tableau, or similar clinical data-review environments).
  • Strong technical familiarity with clinical trial data, medical monitoring workflows, and AI/machine learning concepts applied to clinical datasets.
  • Proven experience in teaching, mentoring, or coaching others to adopt complex technological or analytical systems.
  • Experience working with cross-functional teams to define, develop, and implement business process or technology improvements.
  • Experience translating business needs into requirements for digital, analytics, or IT teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a matrix environment and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
  • Experience leading or supporting implementation and adoption of new tools, capabilities, or ways of working.
  • Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and executive influence skills.

Required Skills:

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Clinical Data Review, Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Drug Development, Line Management, Machine Learning (ML), Medical Data Analysis, Medical Monitoring, TIBCO Spotfire, Visual Analytics

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply

Current Contingent Workers apply

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

The salary range for this role is

$210,400.00 - $331,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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

About Merck & Co, Inc

Schering-Plough Corporation is a major U.S.-based manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. It operates in three segments: Prescription Pharmaceuticals, Animal Health, and Consumer Health Care. Schering-Plough develops products targeting on allergy, cancer, hepatitis, cardiovascular, central nervous system, respiratory system, and more.  It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. Schering-Plough manufactured several pharmaceutical drugs, the most well-known of which were the allergy drugs Claritin and Clarinex, an anti-cholesterol drug Vytorin, and a brain tumor drug Temodar. It also developed drugs targeting on central nervous system and the respiratory system. Schering Plough also owned and operated the major foot care brand name Dr. Scholl's and the skin care line Coppertone. These also became a part of the new company. Schering-Plough was a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), a membership which is also maintained by the new Merck.

Merck & Co, Inc Careers

Join the visionary team at Merck & Co, Inc, a global leader in healthcare dedicated to advancing the world of medicine. As part of our professional community, you'll find dynamic job opportunities that foster innovation and leadership across various fields. Merck & Co, Inc is not just a company; it's a place where you can make a difference.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck & Co, Inc, we are committed to improving global health through groundbreaking research and innovative healthcare solutions. Our team is at the forefront of developing new therapies and vaccines that significantly impact public health worldwide. By joining us, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry, using your skills to contribute to projects that save and improve lives around the globe.

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Whether you're seeking an internship, a graduate opportunity, or a professional position, Merck & Co, Inc offers a range of career paths in environments that promote rapid professional growth and development. Explore job opportunities in research, digital transformation, manufacturing, and more, all while benefiting from a culture that supports diversity and inclusion.

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Merck & Co, Inc is an ideal environment for those who lead with curiosity and the drive to innovate. Our leadership is committed to fostering a culture where inventive thinking and collaboration are encouraged, making it a perfect place for professionals who seek to make an impact through their work.

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With Merck & Co, Inc, you are not just getting a job; you're gaining access to unparalleled career development opportunities. Enhance your skills through diverse training programs, workshops, and continuous learning courses designed to help you grow at every stage of your career.

Benefits and Culture

We understand that our employees are our greatest asset, which is why we offer competitive benefits designed to support the health and well-being of you and your family. From comprehensive health care coverage and retirement plans to flexible working conditions and wellness programs, our benefits package is designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members.

Join Our Team

Ready to advance your career at Merck & Co, Inc? Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that's dedicated to making a difference.

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Learn more about Merck & Co, Inc
Size
68,000 employees
Market Cap
$282.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$7 billion
Founded
1668
5 Year Trend
+4.1%
Revenue
$47.9 billion
NASDAQ

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