Executive Director, Technical Product Management

Our company is seeking an Executive Director to lead the Value Team responsible for the Development Data Platform & Services — the backbone of our company's modern clinical, safety, regulatory, and quality data ecosystem.

This leader will own three integrated product lines: Core Data Platform, Data Processing Services, and Platform Services, collectively enabling data-driven Clinical Trial development at global scale. The role combines enterprise technology leadership with deep data platform expertise to deliver trusted, governed, and AI-ready data products across our Research and Development (R&D) Division.

Scope of Responsibility - Three Product Lines:

• Core Data Platform — End-to-end data lifecycle management: ingestion (Clinical, Safety, Regulatory, External Partners, Self-Serve), Data HUB (Raw/ Curated), Data Model/Domain (Clinical Operational, Patient, Analytics, Master & Reference), and Data Products (SDTM, ADaM, Operational Reports). Governed access via the Data Integration & Access Layer (DIAL) serving Databricks, Domino, visualization tools, and citizen application developers.

• Data Processing Services — Managed services for core clinical data operations: Encoding, Database Lock, Masking & Blinding, SDTM Mapping/Generation, P21 Validation, and extensible service framework.

• Platform Services — Shared foundational capabilities including Centralized Clinical Trial Metadata Repository (MDR), Unified UI, and OneTouchID (identity governance and management Engine) enabling consistency and governance across the platform.

Education Requirement:

• Bachelor's Degree

Leadership Requirements:

• Enterprise Technology Leadership: 15+ years of progressive IT leadership; 5+ years at the Director/Executive Director level managing large-scale data platform programs in a regulated industry.

• People & Organization: Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, and retain globally distributed technical talent. Experience leading large teams across multiple geographies and cultures. (Multi Team Leader Experience)

• Strategy & Value Delivery: Track record of translating business strategy into platform roadmaps, articulating ROI to C-suite and Board-level stakeholders and delivering measurable outcomes.

• Stakeholder Management: Skilled at navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments spanning IT, R&D, Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and external partners (CROs, technology vendors).

• Product Operating Model: Experience operating under a product-led or value-stream organizational model; ability to prioritize backlogs, manage platform OKRs, and balance innovation with operational excellence.

• Program Governance: Strong command of portfolio management, risk mitigation, vendor governance, and compliance in GxP or other regulated environments.

• Change Leadership: Proven ability to lead organizational transformation — migrating from legacy systems to modern cloud-native data platforms while maintaining continuity of critical operations.

Technical Acumen and Experience:

• Modern Data Management: Deep expertise in data product thinking, data mesh/fabric architectures, data governance, metadata management, and data quality at enterprise scale.

• Data Platform Engineering: Hands-on background or strong oversight experience in building and operating cloud-native data platforms — ingest, transform, model, serve — supporting both application consumers and analytical users.

• AI/ML Enablement: Experience enabling AI/ML workloads on a shared platform — supporting federated learning, model development (Domino Data Lab, Databricks ML), and ML-driven applications embedded in business workflows.

• APIs & Data Access Patterns: Familiarity with data integration patterns, API-based data access, DIAL-style access layers, and serving data to downstream consumers ranging from BI tools to citizen developers.

• Data Security & Compliance: Experience with data masking, access control, audit logging, and GxP/regulatory compliance (21 CFR Part 11, GDPR, ICH guidelines).

• Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS (preferred), cloud data architecture, IaC principles, and operating at enterprise cloud scale.

• Technology Experience — Strong Plus: Databricks · Immuta (data access governance) · Domino Data Lab · AWS (S3, Glue, Lake Formation, SageMaker) · Reference & Master Data Management platforms · Machine Learning / MLOps frameworks

• Domain Experience — Strong Plus: Clinical Data (CDISC, SDTM, ADaM, P21) · Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance · Regulatory Submissions · Pharmaceutical Quality Systems · Pharma R&D / Drug Development lifecycle

What success looks like:

• Platform adopted as the standard for all new clinical development programs, with measurable increases in data velocity and quality.

• AI/ML capabilities embedded into the platform, accelerating SDTM automation, data profiling, and predictive insights for clinical operations.

• A high-performing globally engaged team that operates with product discipline, clear ownership, and a culture of continuous improvement.

• Trusted partner relationships with Clinical, Safety, Regulatory, and Quality stakeholders who view the platform as a competitive advantage.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Asset Management, Benefits Management, Management System Development, Product Management, Product Strategies, Requirements Management, Software Product Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our 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.

As 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. As a 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:

We 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.

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$231,900.00 - $365,000.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

We 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 .

You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.