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Senior Scientist Statistical Programming (m/f/d) - Job Opportunity at MSD

Zürich, Switzerland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: August 15, 2025
Hybrid
CHF 110,000 - 140,000 per year (USD 120,000 - 153,000), reflecting Switzerland's premium market rates for pharmaceutical professionals, MSD's position as a top-tier employer, and the specialized nature of HTA statistical programming which commands higher compensation than traditional clinical programming roles.

Benefits

Hybrid work arrangements providing flexibility to balance office collaboration with remote productivity
Professional development opportunities through departmental strategic initiatives and mentoring responsibilities
International exposure with ability to work across cultures and geographies
Comprehensive career advancement pathway with increasing levels of challenge and responsibility
Top Employer Switzerland and Top Employer Europe certification indicating superior workplace standards

Key Responsibilities

Drive programmatic development, validation and maintenance of analysis and reporting deliverables for Health Technology Assessment dossiers that directly impact patient access to life-saving medications
Lead statistical programming project initiatives ensuring proper planning and execution of key project dimensions that support critical business decisions
Ensure deliverable quality and compliance with departmental SOPs and good programming practices to maintain regulatory standards and scientific integrity
Serve as the primary statistical programming point of contact and knowledge holder for assigned projects, acting as the technical authority
Mentor and lead statistical programming project team members while performing direct programming and validation activities
Collaborate strategically with HTA statisticians and project stakeholders to execute project plans efficiently with high-quality deliverables
Contribute to strategic solutions utilizing SAS and R programming to create analysis datasets, tables, listings and figures from clinical trial data
Participate in departmental strategic initiative teams to shape the future direction of statistical programming capabilities

Requirements

Education

BA/BS in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering or related analytical field, or MS in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Life Sciences, Engineering or related analytical field

Experience

5-9 years programming experience with BA/BS, or 3-7 years with MS degree

Required Skills

SAS programming including data steps, procedures, SAS/MACRO, SAS/GRAPH R programming Clinical trial programming CDISC SDTM and ADaM standards Statistical analysis and reporting Oracle SQL Unix operating system Microsoft Project Systems and database expertise Effective interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate and collaborate Effective English written, oral, and presentation skills Project leadership and independent task completion Strategic thinking and tactical implementation Process compliance and deliverable quality assurance
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Industry Trends

The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing unprecedented growth in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) requirements as global healthcare systems demand more rigorous evidence for drug reimbursement decisions. This trend is driving significant demand for statistical programmers who can navigate complex regulatory landscapes and demonstrate real-world evidence of drug efficacy and safety. Clinical data standards, particularly CDISC SDTM and ADaM, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and mandatory across global markets, creating a specialized niche for professionals who can implement these standards while maintaining data integrity and regulatory compliance. The integration of big data analytics and real-world evidence in pharmaceutical research is transforming how companies approach clinical trial design and post-market surveillance, requiring statistical programmers who can bridge traditional clinical programming with advanced analytics capabilities. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly establishing regional hubs in key European markets like Switzerland to accelerate drug development and commercialization, creating concentrated demand for senior-level statistical programming talent in these strategic locations.

Role Significance

Typically leads teams of 3-6 junior to mid-level statistical programmers across multiple concurrent projects, while collaborating with cross-functional teams of 15-20 professionals including biostatisticians, clinical data managers, regulatory affairs specialists, and medical writers.
This is a high-impact senior individual contributor role with significant leadership responsibilities. The position sits at the intersection of technical expertise and strategic business impact, serving as both a technical authority and project leader. The role's influence extends beyond immediate deliverables to shape departmental strategic initiatives and mentor future talent, indicating substantial organizational trust and responsibility.

Key Projects

Development of comprehensive HTA dossiers for new drug applications requiring complex statistical modeling and real-world evidence synthesis Implementation of CDISC standards across multiple therapeutic areas and global regulatory submissions Creation of automated programming solutions and reusable code libraries to enhance departmental efficiency and consistency Cross-functional collaboration on late-stage clinical trials requiring sophisticated statistical analysis and regulatory-grade documentation

Success Factors

Mastery of both technical programming skills and regulatory science knowledge, as the role requires translating complex clinical data into compelling evidence narratives that influence healthcare policy and patient access decisions Strong project leadership capabilities combined with collaborative skills, as success depends on coordinating multiple stakeholders while maintaining technical excellence and meeting critical regulatory timelines Adaptability and continuous learning mindset, given the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape and increasing sophistication of statistical methods in pharmaceutical research Strategic thinking ability to anticipate stakeholder needs and design solutions that optimize both immediate project outcomes and long-term departmental capabilities

Market Demand

Very High - The combination of regulatory complexity in HTA submissions, shortage of experienced CDISC-compliant programmers, and Switzerland's position as a European pharmaceutical hub creates exceptional demand for this skill set.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

SAS programming expertise is absolutely essential as it remains the gold standard for pharmaceutical statistical programming, with advanced capabilities in data steps, procedures, macros, and graphics being non-negotiable for regulatory submissions and complex clinical data analysis CDISC SDTM and ADaM standards knowledge is critical because these are mandatory requirements for global regulatory submissions, and expertise in these standards directly impacts the company's ability to bring new treatments to market efficiently Clinical trial programming experience is fundamental as it provides the domain knowledge necessary to understand the scientific context behind statistical analyses and ensure that programming solutions align with clinical research objectives and regulatory requirements Project leadership skills are vital because this role serves as the primary technical point of contact for multiple concurrent projects, requiring the ability to coordinate resources, manage timelines, and ensure quality deliverables under regulatory pressure

Beneficial Skills

R programming capabilities enhance analytical flexibility and enable integration with modern statistical methodologies and visualization techniques that complement traditional SAS-based workflows Unix/Oracle SQL experience provides valuable system-level skills that improve efficiency in data processing and enable direct database interactions, particularly important for large-scale clinical data management HTA-specific experience offers significant competitive advantage as this specialized knowledge directly impacts the role's primary focus and represents a growing area of pharmaceutical importance Process improvement experience demonstrates strategic thinking and continuous improvement mindset that aligns with MSD's culture of innovation and operational excellence

Unique Aspects

Focus on Health Technology Assessment dossiers represents a specialized and high-value niche within statistical programming, directly impacting patient access to medications through reimbursement decisions
Opportunity to work on scientifically-based arguments that influence healthcare policy and improve global patient outcomes
Access to cutting-edge quantitative sciences initiatives that leverage big data for medical breakthrough analysis
Strategic location in Switzerland providing exposure to European regulatory environments and international collaboration opportunities
Role combines technical excellence with meaningful societal impact through improved patient access to life-saving treatments

Career Growth

Progression to Principal level typically occurs within 2-3 years with strong performance, while management roles generally require 4-6 years of demonstrated leadership success and strategic impact.

Potential Next Roles

Principal Statistical Programmer with expanded therapeutic area responsibility and departmental leadership duties Statistical Programming Manager overseeing multiple therapeutic areas and leading larger programming teams Director of Statistical Programming with strategic oversight of global programming operations Biostatistics leadership roles leveraging the strong statistical foundation and regulatory expertise Regulatory Affairs senior positions focusing on statistical and data strategy for global submissions

Company Overview

MSD

MSD, known as Merck & Co. in the United States, is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies with a robust pipeline of innovative medicines and vaccines. The company has maintained a strong presence in Switzerland since 1963 and has recently expanded its Zurich operations to accelerate research, development, and commercialization activities across Europe.

MSD ranks among the top 5 global pharmaceutical companies by revenue and maintains a leadership position in multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, vaccines, and infectious diseases. The company's significant investment in Swiss operations demonstrates its commitment to European markets and regulatory excellence.
Switzerland serves as MSD's European hub with over 1,000 employees across five locations, positioning the country as a strategic center for the company's European operations. The recent Zurich expansion specifically targets accelerated drug development and commercialization, indicating strong growth trajectory and career opportunities.
MSD's certification as both "Top Employer Switzerland" and "Top Employer Europe" reflects a culture that prioritizes employee development, diversity, and inclusion. The company emphasizes collaborative problem-solving, respectful challenge of ideas, and bringing together diverse perspectives to drive breakthrough innovation.
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