Director Biophysics

Job Description

Director (M3), MSB-Biophysics:

At our company, we are committed to improving the health and well-being of people around the world. As a leading global pharmaceutical company, we strive to make a difference through innovative research, discovery, and development of life-saving medications and vaccines. With over a century of experience and a steadfast dedication to scientific excellence, we have become a trusted name in the industry. Join our team and be a part of our mission to create a healthier future for all.

We are looking for an exceptional Director to spearhead our biophysics team within the Quantitative Biosciences (QB) Early Discovery department. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned expert in pharmacology and drug discovery, responsible for guiding and inspiring a talented local team of pharmacologists with expertise in biophysics and NMR spectroscopy. Facilitated through strong leadership, this role involves forging alliances with cross-functional collaborators, championing new technologies and interfacing with our global pharmacology network. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in evolving our Early Discovery organization into an industry leader. If you are a dynamic collaborator with an unwavering passion for making a positive impact on global health, we want you to join us in our mission to save and improve lives.

In this role you will:

• Lead and manage a team of biophysicists, NMR spectroscopists & pharmacologists, providing guidance, mentorship, accountability, and professional development opportunities.

• Oversee the design, development and execution of biophysical assays supporting all stages of drug discovery with an emphasis on screening, hit validation & hit-to-lead activities.

• Implement an integrated biophysical characterization of screening hits, tool molecules and early leads (inclusive of small molecules, peptides and proteins) by deploying an array of orthogonal techniques.

• Implement data capture strategies and workflows consistent with FAIR principles and machine-learning.

• Participate in operations, strategy advancement and talent development for the department as a member of the leadership team.

• Stay abreast of advancements in the field & drive innovation through technology development, external collaboration & long-range capability planning.

• Contribute to a high-performance culture of inclusion, collaboration, engagement and self-accountability.

• Promote the external reputation of our department through publications and participating in external symposia (co-organizing, chairing & presenting).

• Represent the QB/Pharmacology function at program team meetings, due diligence exercises and cross-functional teams as needed.

• Ensure compliance with company established practices and procedures, including laboratory notebooks, computer files, quality and regulatory guidelines, and safety standards.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Post-graduate degree in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Pharmacology or another related field with 10+ years of relevant industry experience: Ph.D. (10+ years), M.Sc. (12+ years) or B.Sc. (15+ years).

Required Experience and Skills:

• Strong leadership, management and mentoring skills, with an ability to lead through others, drive performance, make tough decisions, and foster a culture of collaboration and engagement.

• Broad in-depth knowledge of biophysical techniques integral to drug discovery such as SPR, calorimetry, spectroscopy, NMR, thermal shift assays and strong knowledge relating binding kinetics and thermodynamics to their impact on drug action.

• Proven track record of understanding complex biological mechanisms using a wide array of pharmacological techniques.

• Track record of successfully advancing hits from screening campaigns into lead optimization and early clinical development.

• Strong external reputation as evidenced through high-impact publications, presentations, and scientific community engagement.

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with a proven track-record of maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Expertise in biochemistry, enzymology and/or protein production (cloning, expression & purification) is advantageous.

• Prior experience with affinity-based screening approaches (FBLD, mRNA-display, DNA encoded libraries, affinity-selection mass spectrometry) is beneficial.

• Data capture workflow implementation experience consistent with ML principles is preferred.

• Experience in outsourcing and managing external collaborations (including CROs) is advantageous.

• Prior experience leading cross-functional teams in an early drug discovery setting is desirable.

• Prior experience implementing novel technologies to impact early drug discovery is beneficial.

Required Skills Keywords:

• Biophysics, NMR, SPR, kinetics, screening, affinity, people management, pharmacology, lead identification, in vitro assays, drug discovery

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Drug Development Research, External Collaboration, Innovation, Mentorship, People Leadership, Professional Networking

Preferred Skills:

Biochemical Assays, Cell Biology, Collaboration, Drug Discovery Process, Lead Optimization, Membrane Proteins, Protein Interactions, Protein Purifications, Small Molecules

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

03/19/2026

*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.