Sr. Scientist, Statistical Programming (Hybrid) Full-time

Senior Statistical Programmer, Submission Data Standards Quality Management

In BARDS (Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences), a distinguished department within our renowned Research and Development division, quantitative scientists, in partnership with other subject matter experts, apply state-of-the art scientific methodologies and tools to enable the discovery, development, regulatory approval, manufacturing, and marketing of medical drugs and vaccines for the benefit of patients and global human health.

The Senior Statistical Programmer, Submission Data Standards Quality Management (SDS QM), provides oversight and quality management of submission data standard deliverables for world-wide regulatory application submissions of drug and vaccine clinical development projects. Accountability predominantly includes submission data standards planning activities, coaching and consulting with project teams, outreach to external vendors and partners, and keeping current with industry submission data standards including SDTM, ADaM, clinical site data for CDER inspection planning, etc.

The incumbent will be responsible for continuous improvement of our electronic submission process and providing tools and templates to support delivery focusing on traceability, quality assurance, data conformance and data fitness. The position is a key collaborator with statistical programming, statistics, regulatory and other project stakeholders.

Primary activities include:

• PreNDA and PreBLA meeting preparation, study data standards plan, preparing questions for FDA e-data mailboxes (CBER/CDER), attendance at meetings with regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, PMDA)
• Guiding project teams preparing submission deliverables including use of Pinnacle 21 Enterprise
• Up-versioning activities to specific versions of SDTM
• Participation in industry teams and conferences on best practices
• Membership on departmental strategic initiative project teams

Education and minimum requirement:

• BA/BS in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering or related field plus 5-9 years SAS programming experience in a clinical trial environment
• MS in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering or related field plus 3-7 years SAS programming experience in a clinical trial environment

Department required skills and experience:

• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate and collaborate effectively
• Effective written, oral, and presentation skills
• Effective knowledge and experience in developing analysis and reporting deliverables for R&D projects (data, analyses, tables, graphics, listings)
• A project leader; completes tasks independently at a project level; Ability to collaborate with key stakeholders

Position specific required skills and experience:

• US and/or worldwide drug or vaccine regulatory application submission experience including the development of electronic submission deliverables.
• In-depth knowledge of and direct experience implementing industry clinical data standards (e.g., Controlled Terminologies, CDISC CDASH, SDTM, ADaM, and HL7) and submission deliverables (e.g., SDRG, ADRG, Define.xml).
• Proficiency in diverse data collection methods, including eCRF, IRT, and central lab data
• Demonstrated success in the assurance of deliverable quality and process compliance.
• Excels in technical writing, able to convert complex ideas and information into simple readable form
• Solid project management skills
• Strategic thinking – ability to turn strategy into tactical activities
• Ability to anticipate stakeholder requirements

Preferred skills and experience:

• Strong working knowledge of reporting processes (SOPs) and software development life-cycle (SDLC)
• Experience assuring consistency across protocols and projects
• Ability and interest to work across cultures and geographies
• Knowledge of clinical data metadata & information management platforms and systems.
• Experience using SAS, R, and Python to generate data-driven insights
• Ability to complete statistical programming deliverables through the use of global outsource partner programming staff
• Experience developing and managing a project plans in Microsoft Project or similar tools
• Active participation in professional societies
• Experience leading or contributing to process improvement initiatives

Required skills: Biostatistics, Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Standards, Clinical SAS Programming, Clinical Trials, Communication, External Partners, External Stakeholders, Interpersonal Relationships, Project Management, SAS Language, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Statistical Programming

Preferred skills: Leadership, Python (Programming Language), R Programming, Structured Query Language (SQL), Timeline Management

Salary range: $117,000.00 – $184,200.00

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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 02/13/2026

*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.