Assoc. Dir., Data Architect Manager
Job Summary
Job Description
Brief Description
The Associate Director leads and develops a programming and reporting team - set goals assign work coach performance and manage recruiting/onboarding - while communicating status and risks to leadership and partners. Provide hands-on technical review solutioning support enforce SOPs/standards manage workload and prioritization track quality and timelines and drive best practices (code review reusable components test automation) and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
Programming and reporting
- Lead design and deployment of clinical technology system solutions (e.g. for EDC RTSM and eCOA/ePRO) using programming frameworks and automation tools.
- Provide technical oversight for clinical programming reporting and data integration across portfolios.
- Recommend and implement tools to streamline design build and validation processes.
- Apply data literacy to design transformation strategies for actionable insights.
- Develop advanced reporting solutions (dashboards listings visual analytics) with reusable components and role-based access.
Data Engineering
- Define and govern integration architecture including data sources and transformation workflows.
- Ensure consistent implementation of enterprise standards and reusable assets.
- Monitor and troubleshoot data ingestion and consumption for reliability.
- Automate and strengthen data engineering processes to reduce risk and improve efficiency.
- Develop robust data models semantic layers and curated datasets; enforce quality checks.
Process
- Drive process optimization by identifying gaps and implementing improvements.
- Translate strategy into clear priorities roadmaps and ways of working for assigned domains.
- Lead testing strategies for solutions; automate validation and ensure traceability.
- Contribute to resource planning and workload distribution across global teams.
- Set documentation and audit standards; ensure compliance through rigorous change management.
- Lead cross-functional collaboration meetings and enterprise-level improvement programs.
- Influence adoption of data standards tools and automation for better delivery and decision-making.
- Provide leadership coaching and mentoring to build capabilities and foster a culture of quality and collaboration.
- Support release management across environments; align stakeholders lead UAT and improve reporting standards.
- Partner across teams to turn data and technical findings into clear actionable recommendations
- Act as a reliable partner to GDMS and other cross-functional teams actively seeking input aligning on priorities and closing feedback loops to drive high-quality coordinated delivery.
People management
- Set clear objectives aligned to organizational goals; assign work and set priorities.
- Conduct regular check-ins and annual reviews; coach for performance; provide recognition.
- Help develop career plans; create growth opportunities and promotion cases; ensure appropriate training and mentoring.
- Support recruiting and hiring; manage sensitive employee-relations matters (including separations) in partnership with HR.
- Balance workloads to support value-added work and worklife sustainability; anticipate obstacles and adjust plans.
- Coordinate contingent resources across geographies; ensure role clarity and effective handoffs.
- Support management of an operating budget and optimize spend against priorities.
- Align teams around a clear direction; facilitate team/functional meetings.
- Embrace Enterprise Leadership Skills principles and serve as a role model to their team
- Drive enterprise leadership skills in the team
- Champions organizational change; drives adoption of new operating models and digital capabilities across global functions
- Support staff in the resolution of operational challenges through direct engagement facilitation mentoring and strong problem-solving techniques.
Technical Skills
- Expert-level proficiency in different technology languages (e.g. SQL Python SAS and R) for implementing clinical data collectors integrations transformations visualizations
- Evidence of experience in architecting and interoperability of EDC platforms data integration environments clinical operations systems and cloud computing platforms
- Proficiency with key data-management and/or clinical operations tools and platforms (e.g. systems for data capture review visualization reconciliation and reporting) with the ability to help select configure or optimize solutions.
- Broad understanding of the data-management technology ecosystem (e.g. data capture review reconciliation reporting analytics and enabling tools) and how components fit together across the end-to-end process.
- Experience leveraging automation scripting or digital solutions to streamline data-management activities and reduce manual effort.
- Ability to interpret operational and quality metrics use analytical/forecasting tools for capacity and scenario planning and translate insights into clear decisions and actions.
- Strong understanding of common clinical and regulatory data standards clinilcal operational data models metadata management and controlled terminologies (e.g. MedDRA WHODrug) to ensure consistency and submission readiness.
- Strong understanding of validation system lifecycle data-privacy and System Development Lifecycle Management activities
- Strong understanding of drug discovery process FDA regulations GxP / ICH guidelines
- Ability to connect business outcomes to technical deliverables
Soft Skills
- Strong ability to lead teams in a matrixed global organization while ensuring delivery excellence through effective problem-solving techniques
- Demonstrated success in coaching developing and performance-managing high-performing individuals
- Builds strong partnerships across technical business and quality functions to enhance collaboration and deliver integrated outcomes
- Balances business needs resource capacity and compliance requirements to make sound operational decisions
- Capable of leading teams through process and organizational transformation with empathy and clarity
Education
- With Bachelor of Arts / Sciences: Minimum of 8 years experience working in in clinical data programming data engineering or related data-management/clinical operations functions. Minimum of 2 years people mgmt. experience. Demonstrated deep SME skills in clinical development.
or
- With Advanced Degree (masters or doctorate): Minimum of 4 years experience working in clinical data programming data engineering or related data-management/clinical operations functions. Minimum of 2 years people mgmt. experience. Demonstrated deep SME skills in clinical development.
- English level: Proficient
Required Skills:
Adaptability Clinical Data Management Clinical Trials Data Analysis Data Extraction Data Integration Data Validation Decision Making Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Interpersonal Relationships People Leadership Pharmacovigilance PL/SQL (Programming Language) Regulatory Compliance Strategic ThinkingPreferred Skills:
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Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
No relocationVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
No Travel RequiredFlexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
NAJob Posting End Date:
09/30/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more