Executive Director, Scientific Affairs

Job Description

New hires in office-based roles in the US & Puerto Rico will be required, subject to applicable law, to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement that can be accommodated without an undue burden to the operation. However, subject to applicable law, employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as employees in health services, customer facing commercial, or research based roles, will be required to be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Our Medical Affairs team advances patient care by engaging in scientific exchange with external medical experts and industry professionals ensuring the scientific value of our products is realized. We engage and train internal employees to ensure that they thoroughly comprehend the science behind the medicine and review further unmet medical needs to bolster collaboration and further differentiate our portfolio.

Our Development team ensure production can be scaled up whilst remaining stable, effective, deliverable and safe. Following formulation, cutting edge computer modelling techniques are used to simulate outcomes and, if successful, PKPD and toxicity studies bring the science one step closer to giving hope to patients.

The Executive Director Scientific Affairs (EDSA) will focus on efforts to maximize meaningful bi-directional scientific exchange by incorporating external scientific input into our Company's Research labs strategy to impact how our company discovers, develops, and commercializes new drugs in oncology. They will join the relevant Research & Development division's late- stage Product Development teams in Hematology/ Oncology, help oversee a large investigator- initiated studies program in oncology and help to lead a Global Scientific Affairs team, focusing on external scientific congress planning and support. As needed, the EDSA will also provide coordination and integration with Target and Discovery Research in oncology.

The position will include responsibility for both internal and external commitments:

External Responsibilities

• Drive a credible and informed scientific dialogue with global Scientific Leaders in Oncology (responsible for relationships with key global Scientific Leaders across all regions relevant to the Oncology strategic priorities, both US and Ex-US)

• Partner with current EDSAs, and colleagues in Research & Development to execute the Scientific Leadership strategy in alignment with the end-to-end Oncology scientific strategy

• Partner with colleagues in Global Human Health (Medical Affairs and Commercial teams) to ensure alignment with regional and country scientific leader activities

Internal Responsibilities

• Collaborate with our Company's Research Laboratory 's Leadership in Oncology Clinical Research and in Early Development and Discovery to develop the Scientific Leadership strategy

• Establish Areas of Interest, review and approve a large volume of investigator-initiated studies in hematology/oncology

• Support and plan Research & Development activities at major scientific congresses, including collection and reporting of competitive intelligence

• Attract, retain and develop any direct report talent

Primary Responsibilities:

External Activities

• Develop individual relationships with global leaders through scientific dialogue pertinent to our Company's interest

• Lead/participate in company-created scientific input forums (Research & Development consultants meetings and scientific advisory boards)

• Lead/participate in Research & Development activities at key global scientific congresses (i.e.: ASCO, AACR, ESMO, ASH, etc.)

• Ensure relationships with key professional societies and organizations as well as major academic medical centers

• Ensure existing Scientific Leaders relationship with our Company's scientists are sustained and strengthen via appropriate Scientific Leader engagement plans

• Maintain credibility by being on leading edge on state of science and shifts in clinical and treatment paradigms

• Participate jointly with international and regional directors, medical affairs in regional/country activities to provide global perspective

Internal Activities

• Organize and chair a variety of input seeking forums to gain scientific input from external scientists for our Research & Development Division

• Chair the company Investigator Initiated Studies Review Committee- responsible for reviewing a large volume of external investigator initiated scientific study protocols encompassing both pre-clinical and clinical work

• Coordinate Research & Development activities at key scientific congresses in Oncology, including collection of competitive intelligence at the congresses

• Help to lead the Global Scientific Affairs Team for Oncology

• Interface regularly and support a large field based team of Research Scientific Directors (RSDs) in oncology within the US

• Attend and actively participate in both Product Development Clinical sub-teams and Publications sub-teams for Hematology/ Oncology

• Coordinate relationships across divisions within our company, including close connectivity with both Research & Development and Medical Affairs colleagues/Commercial organization

• Maintain personal expertise in the disease area science and shifts in clinical and treatment paradigms

• Utilize the Company's Talent Management and Compensation processes to appropriately assess direct report performance (if applicable), ensure development and equitably recognize and reward talent.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• MD (10+ years, post degree); subspecialty training in hematology/oncology required

Required Experience and Skills:

• Publications in therapeutic area (Hematology/Oncology) with international recognition is desirable.

• Experience influencing research and development in stated disease area.

• Must be able to work in a complex organization environment and have ability to effectively operate in a team-oriented structure.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication (written as well as oral), results-oriented project management, facilitation and consultative skills to influence decision making are required

• Experience managing interactions with senior leaders

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Medical Affairs or Scientific Affairs experience is desired within Biotech or Pharmaceutical, but not mandatory

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for …

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

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.

For positions located in the United States and Puerto Rico – Subject to applicable law, all new hires (including internal transfers) must demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement. New hires (including internal transfers) to a position that, as determined by the Company, requires routine collaboration with external stakeholders (such as roles in health services or customer-facing commercial or research-based roles) (“Customer-Facing Role”) who are not vaccinated must qualify for a medical or religious exemption and be in a position that the Company determines can accommodate unvaccinated employees without causing an undue burden to business operations. If, following dialog with the candidate as appropriate, it is determined that the candidate either a) does not qualify for a religious or medical exemption or, b) for candidates applying for Customer-Facing roles, it is determined that allowing the candidate to work without vaccination would cause an undue burden to the Company, the candidate will be ineligible for hire or transfer, or any offer of employment or transfer (if applicable) will be revoked. Please note that notwithstanding the approval of any reasonable accommodation, the Company reserves the right to monitor, modify, or revoke any such accommodation if it is determined, following dialog with the employee, that the accommodation is no longer effective or results in an undue burden to the Company.

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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

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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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Number of Openings:

Requisition ID:R181389