What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director Data Science position at SoTalent?
Director, Real-World Evidence Data Sciences Lead
📍 Boston, MA (Hybrid)
🕒 Full-time
💼 Director / Data Science / RWE
Role Overview
Senior data science leadership role responsible for enterprise Real-World Evidence (RWE) data strategy, overseeing the acquisition, quality, curation, and application of large-scale observational data (claims, registries, labs, EHR/EMR). The role enables high-impact insights across R&D, early development, clinical programs, and marketed products, supporting evidence generation for serious and unmet diseases.
This position sits within a Real-World Data Center of Excellence, driving standardization, scalability, and innovation in how RWD is sourced, governed, and used across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
RWE Strategy & Leadership
- Define and execute enterprise RWE data strategies aligned to research, clinical, and commercial needs
- Act as a subject-matter leader on observational studies, regulatory expectations, and evolving FDA RWE guidance
- Lead transparency, education, and enablement of RWD use across global teams
Data Acquisition, Quality & Governance
- Oversee acquisition and management of external observational data sources (claims, registries, labs, EHR/EMR)
- Define and maintain data transfer, quality control, and curation pipelines ensuring data is fit-for-purpose
- Ensure consistency of quality standards across diverse data types and vendors
Advanced Analytics & Innovation
- Conduct and guide feasibility, exploratory, and applied RWE analyses supporting epidemiology, biomarkers, translational science, value & access, and safety
- Leverage advanced analytics, automation, and Gen-AI / agentic AI to accelerate insight generation
- Partner with data visualization and analytics teams to enable scalable, compliant analytics delivery
Cross-Functional & External Collaboration
- Partner closely with epidemiologists, biostatisticians, translational scientists, and clinical teams
- Manage strategic relationships with external data vendors, RWE innovators, and regulators
- Influence enterprise systems, tools, and processes that impact global RWD usage
Required Experience & Skills
- Advanced degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Life Sciences, Epidemiology, Bioinformatics, or similar
- 5–8 years’ experience in RWE or observational data ingestion, curation, and analysis
- Deep understanding of drug development and the role of RWE across the lifecycle
- Strong experience with data pipelines, analytics tools, and scripting (e.g., Python, R, Unix)
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in global environments
Why This Role
- Enterprise-level influence on RWE strategy and data innovation
- High visibility across research, development, and regulatory stakeholders
- Opportunity to shape how real-world data accelerates science and patient impact