Job Description

The Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics (QP2) Department of our Company’s Research Laboratories is seeking a curious and collaborative Director to support our rapidly expanding ophthalmology pipeline. This position can be located in West Point, PA, Rahway, NJ, San Francisco or Boston.

As a director, you will serve as an expert QP2 representative on cross-functional teams of experienced scientists to discover and advance the clinical development of novel therapeutic agents for ophthalmologic disorders. You will work on the discovery and development of small molecules, biologics and non-traditional therapeutics like peptides, novel biological The Director is a skilled quantitative drug developer, with a strong, integrated understanding of the strategic elements of drug discovery and development. The Director should demonstrate outstanding leadership and communication skills and should work independently with minimal supervision. Within QP2, you have a unique opportunity to accelerate your professional career as a quantitative drug developer taking advantage of our end-to-end pipeline support in one of the world’s most research-intensive biopharmaceutical companies.

Responsibilities:

• Develop model-based strategies (translational PK/PD strategies, mechanistic model, POPPK/PD, clinical trial simulations, etc.) for quantitative analyses, within and across development programs and/or departments, to inform and optimize drug discovery and all phases of drug development including, but not limited to dose selection, clinical trial design, and go/no-go decisions.

• Represent QP2 on ophthalmology discovery, early clinical development and late clinical development teams, leveraging quantitative approaches to drive streamlined development of programs within our growing ophthalmology portfolio.

• Collaborate with other functional areas, as well as with external vendors and partners, creating an aligned, quantitative and model-informed regulatory framework to impact strategies and decisions of drug discovery and development teams.

• Collaborate with other functional areas, as well as with external vendors and partners, on activities related to study design, protocol development, study execution, reporting and interpretation of data.

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of global regulatory expectations and shape, present and defend regulatory documents and submissions.

• Work closely with pharmacometrics team members and provides input related to analysis and reporting of modeling activities.

• Mentor or supervise early career scientists to grow their skill sets to perform project related duties.

Required:

• (a Ph.D. or equivalent degree with at least seven years of experience) OR (a PharmD or equivalent degree with at least nine years of experience) OR (an MS or equivalent degree with at least 11 years of experience), where “experience” means having a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar role in pharmaceutical drug development, regulatory agency, or academia.

• Educational background in biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacometrics, chemical/biomedical engineering, or a related field.

• An exemplary record of increasing responsibility, independence, and demonstrated impact in driving drug development decisions through application of model-based approaches in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Direct experience in regulatory interactions.

• Proficiency in written and verbal communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and problem scoping and planning.

• Demonstrated ability to participate in and to lead an interdisciplinary team, and to oversee the work of other scientists.

• Knowledge in modeling of complex therapeutics.

• Flexibility to react rapidly to changing situations/environment.

• Knowledge in ophthalmology and/or cardiometabolic clinical drug development programs

• Knowledge in modeling of complex ophthalmology therapeutics.

Preferred:

• Ability to influence regulatory strategies including independently formulating registration packages to support global filings, a strong understanding of clinical pharmacology studies to support intrinsic/extrinsic factors, ability to independently author, defend regulatory filings.

• Experience in performing population PK/PKPD analyses using standard pharmacometrics software (e.g. NONMEM, Monolix, Phoenix, etc.)

• Expert skills in experimental design, mathematical problem solving, critical data analysis/interpretation, and statistics.

• Scientific understanding of biopharmaceutical and ADME properties of small molecules and/or biologics

• Experience with modeling programing language(s) (e.g. R, NONMEM, R, Phoenix, or other similar packages)

Your role at our Company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our Company, we’re inventing for life. 

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers’ Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
 

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

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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 Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

$181,600.00 - $285,800.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Required Skills:

Business Intelligence (BI), Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

03/15/2025

*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.