Job Description

Join our cutting-edge Clinical Research team that is dedicated to enhancing global healthcare through groundbreaking research and innovation. As the Executive Director of Clinical Research, you will spearhead Clinical Operations in South Africa and the Sub-Saharan Cluster, overseeing the execution of all clinical trials within the region. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the clinical research landscape, representing our Clinical Operations in front of Regulators, Research Institutions, and Industry Associations.

You will be a core member of the EMEA Clinical Operations leadership team, contributing to regional strategy development and representing the cluster and the region at internal forums. As a leader, you will establish an empowering, compliant, collaborative, and innovation-focused work environment and manage a team of Directors and Associate Directors to ensure trial quality and audit/inspection responses. Additionally, you will serve as the key contact point for managing clinical trial execution across different phases within the cluster, having multiple interactions with various global departments and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the South African and Sub-Saharan Cluster Clinical Trial Operations leadership team, leading strategic development to deliver clinical trials as per our growing global clinical research pipeline requirement.
  
• Be the strategic country and cluster representative for initiatives at all levels of the organization.
  
• Build and lead the team to effectively manage resources, ensuring appropriately skilled and high performing teams to effectively deliver the study portfolio across our therapy areas to achieve on our objectives.
  
• Lead the strategic development and management of institutional & investigator relationships in conjunction with our company’s research division’s Therapy Areas.
  
• Work with our regional and global colleagues, developing and executing the Clinical Trial Operations strategy for South Africa and cluster - such as Industry associations.
  
• Ensure compliance, quality, and timeline objectives for all trials executed in the cluster, collaborating within a matrix organization to deliver objectives and manage clinical audits.
  
• Work with Functional Service Providers to ensure adequate resourcing for internal clinical trial portfolios and support the development and management of Investigator and operational relationships.
  
• Hold a complete understanding of regulatory requirements, possess excellent communication skills and high emotional intelligence, and provide proven success in people management and leadership.
  
• Recruit, hire, proactively manage and develop talent – in addition to creating an empowering, compliant, collaborative, and innovation-focused work environment.
  

Location: Midrand, Johannesburg (Hybrid working model)

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science or equivalent healthcare experience is required, advanced degree, (e.g., MD, Ph D, Pharm D, MS, MBA) is preferred.
  
• Significant experience in Clinical Trials.
  
• Proven leadership experience, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotech company.
  
• A complete understanding of ICH GCP and Global/Regional/Local regulatory requirements is required.
  
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to collaborate with different stakeholders in a matrix organization.
  
• Strategic thinking, management expertise.
  
• Excellent communication skills and high emotional intelligence.
  
• Proven success in people management and leadership.
  

At our company, we value diversity, inclusion, and innovation, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage respectful challenges to each other’s thinking and believe that breakthrough innovation occurs when diverse ideas come together. We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to bringing together diverse, talented, and committed individuals.

If you are passionate about driving clinical research and leading high-performing teams in a dynamic environment, we invite you to join our team and contribute to our mission of advancing global healthcare through groundbreaking research and innovation.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:
10/13/2024

• A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
  

Requisition ID:R314750