Data Architecture Associate Director

Job 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 work–life 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, and 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, clinical 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** * Bachelor of Arts / Sciences with a minimum of 8 years' experience in clinical data programming, data engineering, or related data-management/clinical operations functions, including a minimum of 2 years of people management experience. or * Advanced Degree (master's or doctorate) with a minimum of 4 years' experience in clinical data programming, data engineering, or related data-management/clinical operations functions, including a minimum of 2 years of people management experience. * Demonstrated deep SME skills in clinical development. * Advanced English level: Proficient in English **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 Thinking **Preferred Skills:** Current Employees apply [HERE](https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$6687.htmld) Current Contingent Workers apply [HERE](https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$4020.htmld) **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:** No relocation **VISA Sponsorship:** No **Travel Requirements:** No Travel Required **Flexible Work Arrangements:** Hybrid **Shift:** Not Indicated **Valid Driving License:** No **Hazardous Material(s):** N/A **Job Posting End Date:** 08/26/2026 **\*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.**