Clinical Director, Oncology Early Development

Merck; Upper Gwynedd Township (Montgomery County); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck seeks a Clinical Director (Principal Scientist) to plan and direct clinical research activities across Early Oncology. You will oversee study design, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication for medicines spanning pre-clinical to post-licensure.

The role emphasizes collaboration with cross-functional teams, strong scientific oversight, and contributing to external research partnerships. Hybrid work arrangements and a competitive benefits package are offered.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

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

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.

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

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.

Requirements

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:

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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

The salary range for this role is

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

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

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.