US Regional Medical Scientific Director - Thoracic Oncology

Job Description

Our Medical Affairs team advances patient care by engaging in scientific exchange with external medical experts and industry leaders ensuring the scientific value of our products is understood. We connect, communicate and train internal employees to ensure a thorough understanding of the science behind the medicine and review further unmet medical needs to support collaboration to further differentiate our portfolio.

The Oncology Regional Medical Scientific Director, RMSD, is a credentialed (i.e., MD, PhD, or PharmD) therapeutic and disease expert who engages in scientific exchange with leaders in the external medical and scientific community. Scientific exchange does not include promotional claims about any drug, vaccine or biologic product. The Regional Medical Scientific Director provide to Scientific Leaders (SLs) balanced, factual, scientific information about non-product areas of interest to the company. The Regional Medical Scientific Director provides research support to our Investigator-Sponsored and Company-Sponsored Trials to enhance the understanding of the scientific foundations and goals of the study, support patient enrollment and retention efforts for a given study or address Investigator questions. The Regional Medical Scientific Director also respond to scientific questions from SLs, including questions about company products.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop professional relationships and communicate with national and regional scientific leaders to ensure access to medical and scientific information on areas of therapeutic interest and company products.
• Conduct peer to peer scientific discussions and maintain a reliable presence with those scientific leaders to ensure they have a medical contact within the company.
• Upon request from Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), support Company-Sponsored Trials to enhance the understanding of scientific foundations and goals of the study, support patient enrollment and retention efforts or address investigator questions.
• May initiate discussion with potential investigators to determine the level of interest and qualifications for a specific compound or trial.
• Recommend potential study sites to Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO)/Clinical Research.
• Address requests from investigators for information regarding participation in our Research and Development Division's studies.
• Address scientific questions.
• Studies to enhance the understanding of the scientific foundations and goals of the study, support patient enrollment and retention efforts or address investigator questions.
• Investigator-Sponsored upon request from Global Center for Scientific Affairs (GCSA), support company
• Share the company's "˜areas of interest' and discuss study concepts to assess scientific merit and alignment with the company's research strategies.
• Respond to unsolicited requests for assistance from potential investigators in submitting research proposals by providing internal guidelines or technical and scientific advice.
• Education and training to maintain current knowledge and understanding of dynamic scientific and clinical environment in the company's areas of interest.
• Direct scientific leader inquiries on issues outside of RMSD scope of responsibilities (e.g., grants) to appropriate company resources consistent with applicable policies.
• When requested by our Research and Development Division, serve as a resource for the identification of potential investigators for consideration for participating in phase II-IV clinical development programs
• In response to unsolicited requests from scientific leaders, provide areas of interest and general high-level information regarding the company Investigator Study Program process.
• Serve as a role model for other field medical team members, including on-boarding and/or therapeutic training partner.
• Attend scientific and medical meetings.

Required Location:

• This role covers the greater Los Angeles area.
• Candidates must reside within the territory.
• Ability for travel up to 50% within the territory

Education Minimum Requirement

• PhD, Pharm.D, MD, DNP

Required Experience and Skills

• Clinical (patient care) or deep research experience in assigned therapeutic area(s) beyond that obtained in the terminal degree program.
• A minimum of 3 years' experience and proven therapeutic competence in the oncology.
• Capable of conducting doctoral level discussions with key external stakeholders
• Strong focus on scientific education and dialogue
• Business and market knowledge, including quality management.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and networking skills
• Must possess a thorough understanding of the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other ethical guidelines, laws, and regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and its customers.
• Must be able to organize, prioritize, and work effectively in a constantly changing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access).

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Field-based medical experience
• Clinical research experience
• Demonstrated record of scientific/medical publication

#eligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Cancer Research, Clinical Oncology, Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, Medical Offices, Medical Oncology, Oncology, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Professional Networking, Scientific Research

Preferred Skills:

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

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - California - Los Angeles

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$210,400.00 - $331,100.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/14/2026

*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.