Job Description
This role provides strategic leadership and scientific oversight to part of the cardiometabolic (CMD) therapeutic area (TA) portfolio in the department of Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics (QP2). The Team Leader (Senior Director) is responsible for application of cutting-edge quantitative pharmacology and pharmacometrics strategies to propel the internal portfolio forward leveraging the full strength of the QP2 department. The CMD TA Team Leader will be tasked with overseeing a team of QP2 scientists, providing guidance in personnel management, scientific strategy, and operational execution, in addition to serving as QP2 lead on assigned projects. Reporting directly to the QP2 CMD Head and serving as their delegate when needed, the individual will collaborate closely with the QP2 CMD leadership team and broader organization to ensure consistent, high-value quantitative pharmacology contributions throughout the CMD portfolio from discovery through life cycle management. This role is also part of the extended QP2 leadership team and expected to bring leadership and active contributions to one or more business or talent facing workstreams. Senior Directors are recognized as scientific thought leaders that develop and implement translational PK/PD strategies, characterize clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and shape regulatory strategy, dose selection and go/no-go decisions.
Responsibilities
Leading a team of up to 4 QP2 scientists including people management, scientific and operational oversight, under the direction of the Executive Director of QP2- CMD
Leveraging end-to-end drug discovery/development and disease area expertise to independently provide day-to-day scientific oversight to individual contributors
Setting priorities for direct reports and driving performance management, hiring and retention, staff development and training, and input into calibration and talent management processes
Serving as an expert representative for QP2 on discovery and drug development teams and engaging in cross-functional and governance discussions, including business development and licensing evaluations
Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of global regulatory expectations for small molecules and biologics, contributing to cross-functional regulatory strategy, authoring regulatory documents (INDs, CSRs, CTDs)
Developing and applying mechanistic, disease progression and comparator modeling platforms to help drive portfolio decisions
In partnership with Executive Director of CMD, identify resource needs and contributes to resource allocation internally.
Serve as QP2 lead on assigned projects
Required:
Ph.D./PharmD or equivalent degree with at least 10 years of experience where “experience” means having a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar role in pharmaceutical drug development or regulatory.
Educational background in biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacometrics, chemical/biomedical engineering, mathematics, statistics/biostatistics, computational biology/chemistry, or a related field
Extensive experience in developing quantitative strategies for impacting pipeline decisions, and drug development expertise
Demonstrated ability to lead an interdisciplinary team or taskforce, and/or to oversee the work of others
Record of ability to operate in an inclusive and high-performance work environment applying enterprise ways of working principles including fostering collaboration and driving results, while managing ambiguity
Relevant regulatory and quantitative pharmacology experience
Proficiency in written and verbal communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and problem scoping and planning
Preferred:
CMD Therapeutic area or disease knowledge
Expert skills in performing population PK/PKPD analyses using standard pharmacometrics software (e.g. NONMEM, R, Monolix, Phoenix, etc.)
Scientific understanding of biopharmaceutical and ADME properties across modalities
Record of applying models to inform decisions
Ability to influence regulatory strategies including prior experience independently authoring and defending regulatory filings for marketing authorization (NDA/MAA)
Recognized leader in the field of quantitative pharmacology with a track record of sustained external visibility through publications, presentations and/or involvement in professional organizations
The remote position is only applicable for those that are not within commutable distance to primary sites noted in posting. If commutable, the position will be hybrid. Please note that standard commute is (less than) <50 miles."
#QP2
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Required Skills:
Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Dose Response Analysis, Drug Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacometrics, Product Approvals, Regulatory Strategies, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Leadership, Team ManagementPreferred Skills:
CardiometabolicCurrent Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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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
$210,400.00 - $331,100.00This 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
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Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
YesTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
n/aJob Posting End Date:
02/7/2026*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.