Sr. Director, Clinical Research

Relocation Assistance Offered Globally

Job Number #173817 - Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name! Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet.

Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let’s build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Senior Director, Global Oral Care Claims Support and Clinical Research Innovation

The Senior Director will lead Colgate-Palmolive’s global clinical research strategy and execution in oral health. Leading a team with a strong emphasis on innovation, executing clinical studies with scientific rigor, building strategic partnerships, and driving cross‑functional and external collaboration. This role will oversee global clinical programs that support key business priorities across major markets (including China). This candidate will represent Colgate-Palmolive in select international forums, influencing industry standards and aligning the company’s clinical research initiatives with the future of dentistry.

The ideal candidate is an internationally renowned expert in oral health and dental clinical research, with substantial industry and/or academic experience, a proven track record of leading clinical programs, and demonstrated strength in people leadership and collaborative partnerships.

• Lead the design, execution, and interpretation of global clinical oral health studies, including large, complex, multi‑center programs to support claims and public health initiatives.
• Provide oversight and leadership direction to internal clinical operations and Dental Health Units in LATAM, Europe and India.
• Provide strategic scientific guidance to support oral care product innovation, development of new clinical indications, claims development, and regulatory submissions.
• Explore novel clinical measurements (e.g., digital biomarkers, advanced imaging, or molecular diagnostics) to differentiate Colgate-Palmolive’s portfolio of oral health products and devices.
• Build and maintain high‑value partnerships with global clinical research organizations (CROs), academic institutions, industrial partners, and tech innovators to expand clinical research capabilities.
• Maintain and enhance the organization’s scientific leadership and reputation in dental, oral, and craniofacial research.
• Ensure that all clinical research adheres to the highest standards of scientific rigor, ethics, quality, and compliance.
• Develop new clinical indices and biochemical assessments and apply a broad range of established dental assessment indices (e.g., caries, plaque, gingivitis, periodontology, sensitivity, whitening, calculus, oral malodor, anti‑bacterial or others) to design, evaluate, and differentiate clinical programs and product performance that are superior to existing products.

• Support innovation in oral care product development, by clinically validating the performance of new technologies and formulations.
• Contribute to Colgate’s intellectual property portfolio (e.g., patents, scientific disclosures) and support patent strategy in collaboration with Legal and other functions.
• Publish research findings in high impact, peer‑reviewed journals.
• Represent Colgate-Palmolive at major international dental and scientific meetings (e.g.,…