Associate Director Clinical Scientist, Immunology

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, is seeking an Associate Director Clinical Scientist to provide scientific leadership across multiple studies and development programs, guiding study design, interpretation, and insights.

You will partner with Clinical Directors, Medical Monitors, Data Management, and Regulatory colleagues to ensure quality, strategy, and strong scientific integrity across indications. This role requires advanced biomedical training and 2+ years of clinical science experience.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree and 2+ years of clinical science experience
• Master’s degree with 6+ years of clinical science experience
• Bachelor’s degree with 9+ years of clinical science experience
• Experience with protocol development and clinical data review
• Familiarity with autoimmune diseases and immunology

Responsibilities

• Lead as the Clinical Scientist across multiple studies, from planning to reporting
• Develop clinical protocols and informed consent forms for studies
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align study objectives
• Monitor safety signals and data quality through reviews
• Translate evidence into development strategy and reports

Skills

Clinical Leadership

Clinical Data Review

Study Design

Data Management

Regulatory Compliance

Biostatistics

Strategic Thinking

Cross-functional Collaboration

Medical Monitoring

Safety Evaluation

Communication

Protocol Development

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences/medical field (PharmD/PhD/MD/DO/PA/ANRP)

Master’s degree in life sciences

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences

Job description

Job Description The Associate Director Clinical Scientist provides scientific leadership across multiple assigned clinical studies, indications, or a clinical development program within the assigned therapeutic area. This role partners with Clinical Directors, Study Managers, Clinical Operations, Medical Monitoring, Data Management, Statistics, and Regulatory colleagues to ensure scientific integrity, operational quality, and strategic alignment across related studies. The Associate Director Clinical Scientist applies expertise in disease biology, clinical research, and drug development to guide study design, clinical data review, interpretation of results, and generation of scientific insights across assigned studies or indications. The role supports consistent execution, evidence generation, and development decisions that advance protocol objectives and the broader clinical development strategy.

Job Responsibilities

Clinical Development & Scientific Leadership

• Serve as the lead Clinical Scientist across multiple assigned clinical studies, indications, or key components of a clinical development program, providing scientific oversight from study planning through analysis and reporting
• Lead or contribute to the development of clinical protocols, protocol amendments, informed consent forms, case report forms, data review plans, and other study-related documents across assigned studies or indications
• Partner with Clinical Directors and cross-functional study teams to ensure study objectives, endpoints, and assessments are aligned across studies and support the broader clinical development strategy
• Maintain knowledge of evolving scientific literature, treatment guidelines, competitive developments, and emerging therapies within the therapeutic area
• Provide scientific leadership and consistency across related studies, ensuring alignment of study design, execution, data interpretation, and deliverables within the assigned program or indication strategy
• Contribute to clinical development strategy by integrating scientific evidence, competitive intelligence, clinical practice trends and emerging data to inform development decisions

Clinical Data Review & Scientific Insights

• Lead ongoing review and interpretation of clinical data to assess patient safety, protocol adherence, data quality, and study conduct
• Collaborate with Medical Monitors and Clinical Directors to evaluate safety signals, protocol deviations, patient profiles, laboratory findings, and efficacy outcomes
• Analyze and interpret clinical trial data to identify meaningful trends and generate scientific insights that support study deliverables
• Contribute to study reports, regulatory documents, publications, scientific presentations, and internal governance materials

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Clinical Operations, Data Management, Programming, Biostatistics, and Regulatory Affairs to support high-quality study execution and delivery
• Provide scientific expertise and guidance to study teams and mentor junior clinical scientists as appropriate
• Effectively communicate complex scientific concepts and study findings to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Influence decisions and drive alignment within a matrix-based global organization

Key Focus Areas

Strong understanding of autoimmune diseases including, pathophysiology, and treatment paradigms for immune-mediated diseases. Ability to interpret efficacy, safety, biomarker, and patient-reported outcome data within the context of disease-specific endpoints and evolving standards of care. Experience conducting medical review of clinical trial data and contributing to safety and efficacy assessments. Ability to translate scientific findings into actionable insights that support clinical development strategy. Demonstrated scientific curiosity and commitment to staying current with advancements in immunology research, disease mechanisms, and emerging treatment approaches.

Education & Experience Required

Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, DO, PA or ANRP) and 2+ years of demonstrated clinical science experience -OR- Master’s degree in a life science discipline and 6+ years of clinical science experience -OR- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences discipline and 9+ years of clinical science experience

Preferred Experience

Experienced with: Protocol development; Clinical data review; Medical monitoring support; Cross-functional drug development teams

Required Skills

Adaptability, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Operations, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Data Analysis, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Protocol Development, Regulatory Compliance, Stakeholder Alignment, Strategic Thinking, Study Design

Preferred Skills

Leadership; Mentorship; Technical Knowledge

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Statement

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.

Affirmative Action and Federal Contractor Statement

As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Personal Rights and EEOC Info

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.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00. 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.

Benefits

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.

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.

Employment Details

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date

Job Posting End Date: 09/29/2026 *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.

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.