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Senior Principal Scientist, Clinical Research, GI

MSD
United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 12 Jun 2026
💰 $444,200/yr($282,200/yr$444,200/yr)

About the role

Job Description

The Senior Director (Sr. Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for the planning and directing of clinical research activities involving new or marketed Oncology medicines. Our Company's Oncology medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Senior Director will manage the entire cycle of clinical development, including study design, placement, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.

Specifically, the Senior Director may be responsible for:

  • Evaluating pre-clinical and translational work for the purpose of generating early clinical development plan and Investigational New Drug applications
  • Developing of clinical development strategies for investigational or marketed Oncology drugs
  • Planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings) based on these clinical development strategies
  • Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed Oncology drugs
  • Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication; and
  • Participation in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds.

In executing these duties, the Senior Director may:

  • Supervise the activities of Clinical Scientists in the execution of clinical studies
  • Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects; and
  • Assist the Executive Director in ensuring that appropriate corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our Company's and competitors' drugs and internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to their areas of responsibility.

The Senior Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:

  • Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within their area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies
  • Identification of scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our Company's investigational and marketed drugs
  • Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in their particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our Company's drugs
  • Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain their competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in their area of responsibility.

To accomplish these goals, the Senior Director may:

  • Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences
  • Facilitating collaborations with external researchers around the world
  • Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects.

Required

  • M.D or M.D./Ph.D.
  • Minimum 2 years of clinical medicine experience in adult or pediatric oncology and/or hematology
  • Minimum 1 year of drug-development/pharmaceutical industry experience or biomedical research experience in academia/fellowship
  • Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as the ability to function in a large cross-functional team environment are essential.

 

Preferred

  • Successful completion of an ACGME-medical oncology, combined medical oncology/hematology or pediatric hematology fellowship 
  • Board Certified in adult or pediatric oncology (and/or hematology)
  • A proven track record in clinical academic medicine with a focus on adult GI medical oncology, proficient in the GI oncology treatment landscape with academic publication experience 

Required Skills:

Clinical Judgment, Clinical Medicine, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Development, Clinical Trials, Data Analysis, Drug Development, Gastrointestinal Cancer, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Intellectual Curiosity, Mentorship

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed

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Company

MSD

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