AVP/ Head, Quantitative Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics - Oncology

Merck; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Head of Quantitative Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics (QP2) Oncology to direct the pharmacology strategy for the oncology pipeline. You will lead model-informed decision-making across discovery, early development, and lifecycle management, shaping dose, schedule, and regulatory interactions.

You will supervise scientists, influence portfolio decisions, and build a modern quantitative operating model for oncology development, with emphasis on AI/ML-enabled methods and regulatory

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent required.
• 15+ years in drug development with at least 5 years in oncology in industry.
• Background in biopharmaceutics, pharmacometrics, mathematics, statistics/biostatistics, computational biology/chemistry, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead QP2 Oncology strategy and governance for portfolio decisions.
• Oversee model-informed drug development, population PK/PKPD analyses, and translational modeling.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with discovery, clinical development, and regulatory teams.

Skills

Biostatistics

Model-informed Drug Development

Regulatory Strategy

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

PhD in a related field

15+ years drug development experience

Oncology expertise

Job description

Job Description

Our company is seeking a head of Quantitative Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics (QP2) to lead pharmacology strategy for our oncology pipeline. Our QP2 organization uses trial and external data, advanced analytics, model-informed drug development, and deep therapeutic-area expertise to inform the safety, efficacy, dose, schedule, patient-selection, and benefit-risk strategies for the pipeline. The QP2 team integrates clinical pharmacology, pharmacometrics, quantitative systems pharmacology, exposure-response analysis, translational modeling, biomarkers, real-world data, and emerging AI/ML-enabled approaches to support decision-making across discovery, early clinical development, registration, and life-cycle management.

The Head of QP2 Oncology will serve as the enterprise point of accountability for QP2 strategy, ensuring quantitative science is used to shape program design, dose and regimen strategy, regulatory interactions, governance recommendations, and portfolio decisions. The leader will provide strategic leadership and scientific oversight, supervise and mentor other scientists, directly shape strategy for priority programs and business-development opportunities, and build a modern quantitative operating model for oncology development.

Education

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree
• At least 15 years of experience in drug development, including at least 5 years in oncology in industry
• Educational background in biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacometrics, mathematics, statistics/biostatistics, computational biology/chemistry, chemical/biomedical engineering, or a related field.

Required Experience And Skills

• Drug development expertise within the oncology therapeutic area, including a record of both internal and external impact in driving model-informed drug development strategies
• Experience with multiple modalities such as ADCs, small molecules, TCEs and/or biologics
• Track record of publications or presentations in quantitative pharmacology for oncology
• Ability to influence regulatory strategies including experience independently authoring and defending regulatory filings for marketing authorization (NDA/MAA) for more than one modality (biologics, ADCs, small molecules, cell therapy)
• Demonstrated ability to participate in and to lead an interdisciplinary team, and to oversee the work of other scientists
• Experience in performing population PK/PKPD analyses using standard pharmacometric software
• Up to date on emerging trends/works in field (peer intelligence, methodology emerging analyses
• Scientific understanding of biopharmaceutical and ADME properties of both small molecules and biologics
• Proficiency in written and verbal communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and problem scoping and planning.
• Ability to formulate and articulate scientific strategy to support for portfolio decisions
• Ability to embed MIDD early in asset strategy, including population PK, PK/PD, exposure-response, dose optimization, simulation-based trial design, model-based meta-analysis, quantitative systems pharmacology, disease-progression modeling, and translational modeling
• Ability to recommend and defend dose and regimen decisions supported by integrated evidence packages that address efficacy, safety, tolerability, exposure, biomarkers, patient selection, and regulatory expectations
• Has a comprehensive understanding of global regulatory expectations for oncology development for dose and pharmacology; contributing to cross-functional regulatory strategy; reviewing INDs, CSRs, CTDs, NDAs/BLAs/MAAs; and representing QP2 leadership at regulatory interactions
• Willingness and experience to apply AI/ML, automation, real-world data, biomarker, translational, and digital data-stream approaches where they improve prediction, accelerate learning, or strengthen development decisions
• Ability to serve as a senior representative for QP2 in cross-functional teams, governance discussions, portfolio reviews, and business-development or licensing evaluations
• Experienced in team building and maintaining a high-performing, modality-agile organization in close collaboration with discovery oncology and with strong oncology expertise, technical excellence, regulatory credibility, consistent modeling standards, and the ability to influence across functions
• Must be able to lead with influence to partner with others to build effect models and datasets,
• Must have excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Required Skills

Business Intelligence (BI), Business Intelligence (BI), Cellular Therapies, Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Reporting, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Development, Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Drug Development, Drug Research, Machine Learning (ML), Matrix Management, Mechanism of Action, Model Development, Model Driven Design, Oncology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology

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.

Employee Status

Regular

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Job Posting End Date

10/19/2026

Requisition ID

R418630