Senior Director, R&D Data Science & Digital Health, Real-World Evidence (RWE), Across Therapeutic Areas

Role Summary

Senior Director, R&D Data Science & Digital Health, Real-World Evidence (RWE), Across Therapeutic Areas. Lead strategy and execution of RWE initiatives across therapeutic areas, shaping the future of RWE at the organization. Collaborate with senior R&D and commercial leaders to build an integrated, agile RWE ecosystem and advance regulatory-grade evidence generation. Location: Flexible – Titusville, NJ; Raritan, NJ; Spring House, PA; Cambridge, MA; or San Diego, CA.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Ecosystem Building: Define and execute the RWE initiatives across therapeutic areas, ensuring alignment with long-term organizational goals.
• Lead cross-functional RWE committees and foster high-impact partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Shape and elevate the enterprise-wide RWE ecosystem through innovation, governance, and capability building.
• Regulatory Policy & Scientific Influence: Serve as a strategic advisor on regulatory-grade evidence generation and policy shaping.
• Lead preparation and presentation of scientific data packages for regulatory submissions and agency interactions.
• Represent J&J in external forums to influence RWE standards and regulatory expectations.
• Scientific Leadership & Methodological Excellence: Chair the Methodology Review Board (MRB) and oversee a portfolio of high-impact RWE projects.
• Establish best practices for novel study designs and implementation.
• Promote continuous learning and innovation in emerging RWE methodologies and technologies.
• Develop frameworks and tools to scale evidence generation and accelerate delivery.
• Champion a culture of scientific rigor, collaboration, and execution excellence.

Qualifications

• Required: Ph.D. or Master’s in epidemiology, biostatistics, outcomes research, health policy, or related field.
• Required: 10+ years of relevant experience in biopharma, RWE consulting, or healthcare industries.
• Required: 7+ years of experience as a people manager.
• Required: Proven expertise in data extraction, cleaning, and analysis; strong grasp of advanced statistical methods.
• Required: Experience with diverse data sources (EHR, claims, registries, trial data, digital health).
• Required: Strong communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Required: Proven leadership and influencing capabilities, with a track record of inspiring teams and driving cross-functional alignment.
• Required: Highly motivated and intellectually curious, with strong executional rigor and a passion for solving complex challenges.
• Required: Proficiency in R, Python, or SQL.
• Preferred: Expertise in regulatory-grade evidence generation and regulatory engagement.
• Preferred: Strong leadership in cross-functional initiatives and ability to influence without authority.
• Preferred: Subject matter expertise in key therapeutic areas including Oncology, Immunology, Neuroscience.
• Preferred: Experience in matrixed organizations and global stakeholder engagement.