Senior Director, Epidemiology

Summary of Role:

The Senior Director, Epidemiology is a leader who shapes evidence generation strategy across therapeutic areas while driving technical excellence and cross-functional collaboration. This role combines deep epidemiologic expertise with executive presence, leading teams to deliver innovative real world evidence that advises critical business decisions throughout the product lifecycle, with an emphasis on applications in Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Safety.  As a key member of the Epidemiology and Real World Science Department leadership team, you will influence both internal strategy and external scientific discourse while building and developing high-performing teams. 

Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership & Execution 

• Develop and implement comprehensive epidemiology strategic plans aligned with corporate objectives across assigned therapeutic areas 

• Advise the planning, prioritization, and execution of epidemiology deliverables including systematic literature reviews, real world data analyses, and observational studies/disease registries 

• Optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency, ensuring deliverables meet quality, budget, and timeline requirements while incorporating innovative methodologies 

• Collaborate with the department head on department-level strategic planning, including workforce planning, external resource evaluation, and real world data source assessment 

• Navigate organizational ambiguities and policy complexities to ensure successful execution of critical initiatives 

• Identify process gaps and lead the development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures and Process Guides 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Serve as the epidemiology lead on cross-functional therapeutic area teams, partnering with Clinical Development, Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial/Marketing, and HEOR 

• Engage proactively with senior and executive leadership to integrate epidemiologic evidence into strategic decision-making throughout the product lifecycle 

• Break down functional silos through influence, conflict resolution, and negotiation to achieve shared objectives 

• Represent the department in high-level corporate meetings and critical initiatives 

• Lead or contribute to R&D and corporate process improvement initiatives, finding opportunities to enhance efficiency and impact 

• Assess and address diverse team member needs, translating sophisticated epidemiologic concepts for varied audiences 

• Provide executive-level presentations and recommendations that shape business strategy 

Technical Excellence & Innovation 

• Serve as a recognized technical authority in epidemiologic methods, including observational study design, causal inference, safety signal quantification, and disease epidemiology 

• Apply sophisticated analytical approaches using SAS, R, Python, or other statistical software to extract meaningful insights from sophisticated real world data sources 

• Ensure all epidemiology deliverables reflect current standard processes and methodological advancements in pharmacoepidemiology 

• Provide experienced technical guidance and scientific rigor across systematic literature reviews, database studies, and registry analyses 

• Contribute epidemiologic expertise to study protocols, case report forms (CRFs), clinical conference materials, and regulatory documents 

• Author and review scientific manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations based on observational study data, maintaining high publication standards 

• Work with authors, referees, and in-house reviewers to ensure scientific quality and accuracy 

• Stay current with emerging methodologies and data sources, recommending innovations that advance departmental capabilities 

Leadership & People Development 

• Provide direct line management and leadership for Epidemiologists within assigned therapeutic areas, fostering a culture of scientific excellence and collaboration 

• Mentor team members in epidemiologic methods, critical thinking, and professional development, supporting their growth as technical authorities and leaders 

• Actively teach and mentor colleagues both within and outside the department, contributing to organizational capability building 

• Lead vendor and contractor relationships, ensuring external partners deliver high-quality work aligned with strategic objectives 

• Champion professional development for self and direct reports, creating opportunities for skill enhanceme