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Senior Director of Clinical Science - Hematology

Merck
August 19, 2026
Remote friendly (New Jersey, United States)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Senior Director, Clinical Science – Hematology

Responsibilities
- Provide strategic Clinical Science leadership across the hematology disease area (multiple studies, programs, and assets).
- Contribute Clinical Science input to disease area strategy, including development opportunities, scientific considerations, portfolio risks, and implications of emerging internal/external data.
- Partner with Section Heads, Asset Leads, and Program Development Team Leads to align Clinical Science activities with program and disease area objectives.
- Apply expert knowledge of hematologic cancers (disease biology, treatment landscape, clinically meaningful endpoints) to inform study planning, data interpretation, and issue resolution.
- Standardize Clinical Science approaches across hematology, including medical data review practices, interpretation principles, and key deliverables.
- Support scientific consistency while allowing program-specific needs; establish leading practices.
- Provide senior scientific guidance, interpret clinical data across studies/cohorts/assets, and frame key issues for cross-functional/governance discussions.
- Contribute to protocol development/amendments, study design, endpoint/eligibility/biomarker strategy discussions.
- Contribute to portfolio discussions, governance reviews, and senior leadership meetings; prepare and present scientific content and cross-study insights.
- Provide people leadership (as appropriate): manage Directors/Principal Scientists/Clinical Scientists; coach, mentor, set expectations, and foster accountability and inclusion.
- Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics/Data Management, Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Translational Medicine, Medical Affairs, and others.
- Ensure activities meet applicable regulatory requirements and company procedures; support inspection readiness and continuous improvement.

Qualifications
- Advanced scientific/healthcare degree required (PhD, PharmD) + at least 7 years hematological oncology drug development OR Master’s in life sciences + 12 years.

Required Skills/Experience
- Clinical Development/Clinical Science leadership in oncology/related function (pharma/biotech).
- Deep expertise in hematologic cancers; strong clinical trial design, clinical development strategy, and clinical data review/interpretation.
- Experience integrating information across studies/programs; regulatory submission/safety review/health authority interaction experience.
- Cross-functional collaboration in a matrix environment; strong communication, influence, executive presentation, and people leadership.

Travel: 0–25%.