Clinical Director, Oncology Early Development

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, is seeking a Clinical Director (Principal Scientist) for Oncology Early Development. The role leads clinical research programs across all phases, from study design to publication, with hybrid work options and global collaboration.

You will oversee medical strategy, supervise trials, and engage with cross-functional teams to advance investigational and marketed oncology drugs. A strong publication record and industry experience are required.

Qualifications

• MD or MD/PhD required with industry or academic leadership experience.
• Minimum 3 years clinical medicine experience and 1 year in drug development or biomedical research.
• Strong publication record and strategic scientific insight.

Responsibilities

• Plan and direct clinical trials in early oncology from design to regulatory reporting.
• Provide medical oversight and supervision of ongoing or new trials for investigational or marketed drugs.
• Analyze trial findings to support safety, efficacy, and regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external researchers on development projects.
• Contribute to business development assessments of external opportunities.

Skills

Clinical Development

Clinical Judgment

Clinical Research

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trial Support

Drug Discovery Research

Early Clinical Development

Oncology

Education

MD or MD/PhD

Job description

Clinical Director, Oncology Early DevelopmentSkip to main content*This site uses cookies to provide you with an optimal user experience. The cookies include Strictly Necessary and Functional cookies to ensure the site operates as intended (language preference, time zone and workload balance). These cookies are first party cookies, end with the session and are exempted from consent. In addition, this site also uses a Google Analytics Cookie to measure and improve the performance of our site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. By clicking on the ‘Accept Cookies’ button, you are accepting this Performance cookie. You may use this site if you click on the ‘Reject Cookies’ button. To revoke your consent of the Performance cookie, clear your cookies within your browser settings.*#Clinical Director, Oncology Early Development page is loaded## Clinical Director, Oncology Early DevelopmentApplyremote type: Hybridlocations: USA - New Jersey - Rahway: USA - Massachusetts - Boston (MA Parcel B Laboratory): USA - Pennsylvania - Upper Gwyneddtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 2 Days Agotime left to apply: End Date: August 19, 2026 (4 days left to apply)job requisition id: R405471**Job Description**The Clinical Director (Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Early Oncology therapeutic area. Our company's Oncology medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Clinical Director may manage the entire cycle of clinical development for their signed studies including study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.**Role Responsibilities:****Specifically, the Clinical Director may be responsible for:*** Planning clinical trials (designing, collaborating on operational plans, etc.) based on the clinical development strategy* Medical oversight and overall conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed drugs* Analyzing and summarizing clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication* Participating in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds* Supporting business development assessments of external opportunities**The Clinical Director may:*** Actively engage with other functional areas in support of study execution* Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects* Assist the team in ensuring that other colleagues are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs* Provide expert opinion, internally and externally, on relevant scientific questions within their responsibility**The Clinical Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:*** Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies* Identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our company's investigational and marketed drugs* Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in his/her particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our company's drugs* Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain his or her competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility**To accomplish these goals, the Clinical Director may:*** Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences* Facilitate collaborations with external researchers around the world* Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects**Education:*** M.D or M.D./Ph.D.**Required Experience and Skills:*** Must have experience in industry or senior faculty in academia* Minimum of 3 years of clinical medicine experience* Minimum of 1 year of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research experience in academia* Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement* Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research* Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to function in a team environment* Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills**Preferred Experience and Skills:*** Board Certified or Eligible in Oncology or related discipline* Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publications**Required Skills:**Clinical Development, Clinical Judgment, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Clinical Trial Support, Drug Discovery Research, Early Clinical Development, Oncology**Preferred Skills:**Current Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE**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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.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 RightsEEOC GINA SupplementWe 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 ActsThe salary range for this role is$255,800.00 - $402,700.00This 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.You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.**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:**Domestic**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:**08/19/2026**\\*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.