Science & Research Jobs in San José, Costa Rica (Now Hiring) — 39 open

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:

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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.