Associate Director Clinical Scientist, Immunology

MSD; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking an Associate Director Clinical Scientist to provide scientific leadership across multiple clinical studies and development programs in autoimmune diseases.

You will partner with Clinical Directors, Medical Monitors, Data Management, Statistics, and Regulatory colleagues. This role guides study design, clinical data review, safety assessment, and interpretation of results, translating findings into actionable insights to advance protocol objectives and the broader

Qualifications

• Advanced degree with 2+ years of clinical science experience or Master’s with 6+ years or Bachelor’s with 9+ years.
• Experience with protocol development, clinical data review, and cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of autoimmune diseases and immunology is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead scientific oversight across studies from planning through analysis and reporting.
• Develop protocols, amendments, CRFs, and data review plans across indications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align study objectives and assessments.
• Interpret safety signals, protocol deviations, and efficacy outcomes.
• Contribute to study reports, regulatory documents, publications, and governance materials.

Skills

Adaptability

Clinical Data Management

Clinical Operations

Clinical Research

Clinical Trials

Data Analysis

GCP

Protocol Development

Regulatory Compliance

Stakeholder Alignment

Strategic Thinking

Study Design

Education

Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, DO, PA or 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
• Experienced with:
  • Protocol development
  • Clinical data review
  • Medical monitoring support
  • Cross‑functional drug development teams

Preferred

• Experience in Immunology clinical development

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.

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, Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts.

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.

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.

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

09/29/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.