Associate Director, Business Development, Discovery Transactions

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 157,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k)

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co. in Rahway, NJ seeks a seasoned contract professional to support global research collaborations, drafting and negotiating licenses, MTAs, NDAs, and study agreements to advance discovery and protect IP.

You will work cross-functionally with Discovery Transactions, Corporate Legal, Procurement and external partners, ensuring compliance, timely decisions, and clear reporting in LKR. The role offers a strong salary range, annual bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in science/law; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in contract negotiation with a fundamental understanding of legal concepts and contract terminology.
• Understanding of basic and clinical science, as well as academic, biotech and pharma business.
• Solid understanding of the drug development process and enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.
• Strong and demonstrable history of working collegially and constructively with internal partners and external collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and execute agreements including licenses, study agreements, MTAs, consulting agreements and NDAs for Research Laboratories.
• Collaborate with internal partners and external collaborators to enable rapid, compliant transactions while protecting IP.
• Maintain documentation and ensure compliance with LKR processes and relevant policies.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory understanding

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s in science; law degree preferred

Tools

SAP/COMET

Job description

Job Description Brief Description of Position Transact Globally to Provide Business Support to our company's Research Laboratories; Work with our company's Research Laboratories, internal partners, and global external collaborators to draft, negotiate and execute a variety of agreement types to further the knowledge, pipeline and reputation of our company. Advance discovery research via engagement and collaboration with universities, government, not-for-profits, biotech and pharma to support our company's Research Laboratories key objectives and programs, provide access to critical assets, reagents, technologies, access external innovation, and protect our company's intellectual property. Effectively work cross-functionally and collaboratively with Discovery Transaction colleagues, Corporate Legal, Patent Legal, Research Procurement, Sourcing, our company's Research Laboratories Finance, Clinical Global Agreements Management, Compliance, Discovery Operations, Privacy Office, and our company's Research Laboratories stakeholders and management to transact Agreements in support of our company's Research Laboratories projects to ensure Freedom to Operate and protect our company's Intellectual Property (IP). Actively listen and seek to understand differing perspectives. Show leadership by working together to achieve common goals. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure transparency. Speak openly, honestly and with conviction; have the courage to take appropriate risks and make difficult decisions. Adhere to the highest standards of trustworthy and ethical behavior in all interactions and hold others to the same standards; comply with all laws, policies, and regulations; identify and address ethical issues without hesitation. Work with LKR team to utilize SAP/COMET as appropriate for funded agreements and to Add vendors and enter contracts into SAP as needed. Capture SAP payment information in LKR records and Midas Memos. Adhere to all our company's policies on expenses and expense reporting. If a manager, follow “U.S. Manager’s Policies”. Contribute to our company's Research Laboratories transformation efforts through communicating our company's vision and reinforcing our company's cultural attributes (ethics and integrity, respect and candor, scientific excellence and ROI, and confidence and humility). Within BD&L: Support transformation goals of decreasing cycle time, increasing productivity, and increasing employee engagement. Develop prioritized cross-franchise lists of early space academic and biotech collaborations in support of our company's Research Laboratories objectives. Execute or enable Discovery Transaction Managers (both TMs and DTMs) to execute, non-exclusive or patent licenses, study agreements, evaluation agreements, MTAs, consulting agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and research collaboration agreements in support of our company's Research Laboratories objectives. Make timely, rapid and disciplined decisions at the appropriate level with the relevant data and support them once made. Be aware of our company's Policies and Grants of Authority. Alert BD&L management to major upcoming decision points in agreements. Drive Results by setting clear performance standards; overcoming obstacles; holding ourselves and others accountable for achieving results. Participate in Discovery Transactions once monthly Senior Staff meetings, Best Practices meetings, and every other week face to face meetings with Direct Reports. Encourage and emulate collaboration and a “Team” environment within the DT group. Continue active participation and membership in Licensing Executive Society (LES) , University-Industry Development Partnership (UIDP) and Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM). Maintain and encourage others to maintain LES CLP certificate Provide visible leadership to our company's Research Laboratories clients about compliance and applicable laws and regulations. Memorialize all interactions in LKR to ensure internal compliance. Follow written guidelines for all LKR documentation for agreements. Enter appropriate descriptions such that report generated from LKR needs no further editing. Follow all BD&L processes for review, approval, and documentation of licensing opportunities. Provide input to the LKR re-platforming team as appropriate to ensure that improvement of the RFA process is highlighted and the requirements of the DTMs and TMs are met.

The salary range for this role is $156,900.00 - $247,000.00 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.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s in science/law; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in contract negotiation with a fundamental understanding of legal concepts and contract terminology.
• Understanding of basic and clinical science, as well as academic, biotech and pharma business.
• Solid understanding of the drug development process and enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.
• Strong and demonstrable history of working collegially and constructively with internal partners and external collaborators.

Preferred Skills

• Intellectual Property
• Intellectual Property Licensing
• Patent Licensing

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. 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

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

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 09/4/2026

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.