{"id":2559430,"url":"https://alion.io/job/merck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid","title":"Director, Study Data Services (Hybrid)","company":{"id":3768,"name":"Merck & Co.","domain":"msd.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/msd","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":123,"ghost_share":0.008,"stale_share":0.122,"repost_share":0.089,"time_to_fill_p50_days":15,"computed_at":"2026-10-26T05:57:25Z"}},"role":"Leadership","role_family":"Leadership","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Rahway, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":173200,"max":272600,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":272600},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AWS Glue","optional":false},{"name":"Azure Data Factory","optional":false},{"name":"Databricks","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"SAS","optional":false},{"name":"SQL","optional":false}],"status":"closed","first_seen_at":"2026-10-14T20:13:10Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-23T16:23:50Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":"2026-10-23T16:23:50Z","days_open":8,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":8},"description":"Job Description\nThe Director, Study Data Services (M-track) leads programming and reporting strategy and delivery across therapeutic areas underneath leadership, ensuring scalable standards, audit-ready execution, and regulatory-compliant outcomes across complex studies and initiatives. This role builds critical programming capabilities and drives automation and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, quality, and data integrity. The Director also manages service provider partnerships and develops high-performing teams through clear direction, coaching, and change leadership.\nResponsibilities\nProgramming and reporting:\nWork with leadership to define and execute the long-term programming and reporting strategy for data integration, reporting, automation, and analytics enablement across therapeutic areas.\nEstablish and continuously improve programming and reporting standards, frameworks, and operating models anticipating compliance and operational risks to drive scalability, consistency, and strategic\noutcomes.\nManage service provider partnerships, ensuring adherence to enterprise processes, audit readiness, and quality benchmarks.\nOversee programming and reporting delivery across multiple, highly complex studies / projects; ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and full regulatory compliance.\nProvide deep subject matter expertise on programming and reporting strategies, data engineering, and data flow across clinical data systems on more complex studies / protocols or special projects.\nWork with DI&A leadership to help them set strategy for programming and reporting capabilities to be built by DI&A.\nCollaborate with senior leadership on long-term capacity planning and competency growth strategies for Data Architects.\nData Engineering:\nOwn development of critical capabilities (tools, processes, skills) aligned to industry best practices.\nChampion adoption of automation, continuous improvement, and metadata-driven development to enhance productivity and data integrity.\nDrive initiatives that leverage emerging technologies (AI/ML, advanced analytics, data virtualization) to enhance data review and reporting efficiency.\nProcess:\nActively work to solve unique operational challenges with broad organizational impact through direct engagement, facilitation, mentoring, and expert problem-solving techniques.\nEvaluate and implement process/technology improvements that enhance scalability, standardization, and quality; support evolving operating model adoption.\nPartner across teams to translate data and complex technical insights into strategic, actionable outcomes\nAct as a reliable partner to GDMS and other cross-functional teams, actively seeking input, aligning priorities, and closing feedback loops to drive high-quality, coordinated delivery.\nPeople management:\nAlign teams around a clear direction; set clear objectives aligned to organizational goals; assign work and set priorities accounting for work-life balance sustainability.\nConduct regular check-ins and annual reviews; coach for performance; provide recognition.\nDevelop career plans; create growth opportunities and promotion cases; ensure appropriate training and mentoring.\nLead recruiting and hiring and oversee performance management activities, including management of sensitive employee-relations matters in partnership with HR.\nCoordinate on-shore/off-shore and contingent resources; ensure role clarity and effective handoffs.\nManage an operating budget and optimize spend against priorities.\nInspire and ensure that team leaders are effectively supporting and empowering their team.\nTechnical skills\nExpert-level proficiency in different programming languages (e.g., Python, R, SAS, SQL) for implementing clinical data collectors, integrations, transformations, visualizations.\nExpert knowledge of standards and enterprise data management principles, with the ability to set standards for integration, reuse, and scalability.\nExpert in the interoperability of EDC platforms, data integration environments, clinical operations systems, and cloud computing platforms.\nExperience designing or managing cloud-based pipelines (e.g., Azure Data Factory, AWS Glue, Databricks).\nDemonstrated success in managing outsourced programming operations and global delivery partners.\nDeep understanding of end-to-end data management governance, clinical operations, operational metrics, and quality frameworks.\nProven track record implementing risk-based and digital data practices across multiple regions.\nAdvanced use of analytical and forecasting tools to inform capacity and operational decisions.\nOversee regional risk, escalation, and capacity management processes; ensure compliance with local business and labor regulations.\nOperating knowledge of SDLC/CSV, data privacy, and inspection-readiness requirements to govern change at enterprise scale.\nDeep knowledge of drug discovery process, FDA regulations, GxP / ICH guidelines.\nAbility to connect business outcomes to technical deliverables.\nSoft skills:\nStrategic leadership skills with the ability to align diverse, multi-country/cross-functional teams and stakeholders around shared objectives.\nDistill complex issues into decision-ready narratives; frame options, risks, and recommendations to influence senior decisions.\nExceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence across functions and seniority levels.\nResilient and adaptable, with a balance of strategic vision and operational execution.\nChange leadership, influencing across executive stakeholders.\nAbility to integrate business, operational, and people dimension into decision-making.\nAlign senior stakeholders on objectives, interfaces, and responsibilities; enforce clean handoffs and resolves conflicts.\nAbility to coordinate decisions across regions / time zones; use asynchronous mechanisms to maintain momentum.\nDrive adoption of standardized methods/ways of working; mobilize cross-functional champions and measures uptake.\nEngage service providers, leadership, and industry forums; represent team professionally and credibly under pressure; maintain resilience and composure.\nAbility to define and execute organizational strategy for operations across regions.\nDemonstrated success managing large, diverse, and geographically distributed teams.\nStrong understanding of operational, financial, and compliance dimensions of global data delivery.\nCapable of leading transformation initiatives and fostering innovation across complex organizations.\nExcellent communicator with the ability to translate technical and operational priorities into clear, actionable direction.\nLead through influence across functions/geographies; mentor global cohorts; provide structured feedback.\nEnterprise Leadership Skills:\nStrategic Planning| Plan strategically by gathering information and identifying key issues, dependencies, and relationships critical to achieving long-range goals; commit to a course of action after developing and evaluating alternatives based on facts, available resources, constraints, and organizational values.\nNetworking and Partnerships | Cultivate networks and partnerships by initiating and maintaining strategic relationships with stakeholders and potential partners inside and outside the organization who provide the information, ideas, expertise, and influence needed to deepen understanding of business issues and achieve business goals.\nChange Catalyst| Lead change by driving the organizational and cultural shifts needed to achieve strategic priorities; catalyze new approaches to improve results by evolving culture, systems, and services; help others overcome resistance and adopt change.\nQualifications & experience:\nBachelor's Degree with a minimum of 10 years’ experience working in clinical data programming, data engineering, or related data-management/clinical operations functions, as well as:\n3 years of people management experience.\nDemonstrated deep subject matter expertise in clinical development.\nOR\nAdvanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) with a minimum of 8 years’ experience working in clinical data programming, data engineering, or related data-management/clinical operations functions, as well as:\n3 years of people management experience.\nDemonstrated deep subject matter expertise in clinical development.\nRequired Skills:\nClinical Data Management, Data Integrity, Data Management, Decision Making, Good Clinical Data Management Practice (GCDMP), Organizational Leadership, People Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking, Team LeadershipPreferred Skills:\nEnterprise Leadership, Leadership, Strategic VisionCurrent Employees apply HERE\nCurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE\nUS and Puerto Rico Residents Only:\nOur company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.\nAs an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Asa federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:\nEEOC Know Your Rights\nEEOC GINA Supplement\nWe are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.\nLearn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts\nThe primary location for this posting is:\nUSA - New Jersey - RahwayWhere required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.\nThe salary range for the primary location of this role is:\n$173,200.00 - $272,600.00This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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, if applicable.\nWe offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.\nAdditional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.\nAdditional location(s) Compensation Information:\nSan Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance\nLos Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consis...","description_format":"text","description_chars":13236,"description_truncated":true,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Growth opportunities"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"},{"name":"Puerto Rico","iso":"PR","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Veterinary Medicine","Vaccines","Biologics & Biosimilars","Oncology Therapeutics"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-14T20:13:10Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-10-23T16:23:50Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":null,"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":272600,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/merck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/merck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-26T18:37:41Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":24951,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3768},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3768"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fmerck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fmerck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fmerck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/merck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fmerck-co-director-study-data-services-hybrid"}]}