Job Description

Our Quantitative Sciences team use big data to analyze the safety and efficacy claims of our potential medical breakthroughs. We review the quality and reliability of clinical studies using deep scientific knowledge, statistical analysis and high-quality data to support decision making in clinical trials.

This position supports statistical programming analysis and reporting activities for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) dossiers.

In this role, the senior statistical programmer will support the development of scientifically based arguments aiming to provide fair accessibility to our company’s drugs and vaccines making a real difference in patient’s lives. The senior statistical programmer contributes to the definition and implementation of strategic solutions utilizing SAS and R programming to create analysis datasets, tables, listing and figures from clinical trial data. The senior statistical programmer is a key collaborator with HTA statisticians and other project stakeholders in ensuring that project plans are executed efficiently with timely and high-quality deliverables. For assigned projects, the position serves as the statistical programming point of contact and knowledge holder. The senior statistical programmer may lead and mentor the statistical programming project team members as well as perform direct programming and validation activities following departmental SOPs.

Responsibilities:

• Programmatically develop, validate and maintain analysis and reporting deliverables for HTA dossiers.

• Ensure proper project planning; provide statistical programming project leadership to key project dimensions.

• Assure deliverable quality and compliance with departmental SOPs and good programming practices.

• Collaborate effectively with project team members; be a valued part of project teams.

• Membership on departmental strategic initiative teams.

Your Profile:

Education and Minimum Requirement:

BA/BS in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering or related analytical field plus 5-9 years programming experience in programming languages like SAS and/or R.

MS in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering or related analytical field plus 3-7 year in SAS and/or R programming experience.

Department Required Skills and Experience:

• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate and collaborate effectively.

• Effective English 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:

• Significant expertise in SAS and clinical trial programming including data steps, procedures, SAS/MACRO, SAS/GRAPH; systems and database expertise.

• Ability to learn new program techniques and data structures quickly and effectively; capacity to seamlessly assimilate to new projects.

• Basic understanding of statistics, clinical and data management concepts as applied to drug/vaccine development within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Ability to comprehend analysis plans which may describe HTA research and statistical programming methodology to be programmed; an understanding of statistical terminology and concepts.

• An interest to advance career by investing in development activities and taking on tasks with increasing levels of challenge and responsibility.

• Knowledge in CDISC SDTM and ADaM standards.

• Designs and develops complex programming algorithms.

• Experience ensuring process compliance and deliverable quality.

• Strategic thinking - ability to turn strategy into tactical activities; design of statistical databases with the end in mind that optimize analysis and reporting and leverage departmental standards and industry best-practices.

• Ability to anticipate stakeholder requirements.

• Team oriented with demonstrated history of teamwork and collaboration, enjoying diversity, respect and integrity.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience in supporting analysis and reporting deliverables for HTA dossiers.

• Unix operating system experience; Oracle SQL experience; systems and database experience.

• Demonstrated success in the assurance of deliverable quality and process compliance. Strong working knowledge of reporting processes (SOPs) and software development life cycle (SDLC).

• Experience assuring programming consistency across protocols and projects, directing the program development effort of other programmers; experience as a programming mentor.

• Experience developing and managing a project plan using Microsoft Project or similar package.

• Ability and interest to work across cultures and geographies.

• Active in professional societies.

• Experience in process improvement.

THE COMPANY

Our Company has had a presence in Switzerland since 1963. With a regional office and manufacturing/packaging facility, Lucerne is considered the center of operations. Approximately 1,000 people work collaboratively at the four Lucerne locations (Tribschenstrasse, Citybay, Schachen and Kriens). A fifth location has been established in Zurich, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of many of our company’s medicines and vaccines, which supports our mission to save and improve lives around the world.

We are proud to be certified as a “Top Employer Switzerland” and “Top Employer Europe” showing the company’s commitment to our employees and the community around us.

The recently opened new location in Zurich focuses on accelerating research, data and commercialization of our medicines and vaccines. The new office is staffed by teams working in strategic and operational roles in medical affairs, clinical development, access and marketing operations functions.

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Required Skills:

Clinical Information Systems, Clinical Testing, Communication, Computer Science, Data Management, Data Modeling, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Microsoft Project, Numerical Analysis, Oracle Database, Project Leadership, Project Management, Project Planning, Science, Social Collaboration, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Statistical Programming, Teamwork, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

08/29/2025

*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.