Director, AI & Cybersecurity Legal

MSD; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays and leave

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

The Director, AI and Cybersecurity Legal at Merck & Co., Inc. will provide strategic legal counsel on AI governance, privacy, and cybersecurity across the enterprise.

Reporting to the Chief Privacy and Digital Trust Officer, you will partner with IT and business teams to enable innovation while managing regulatory risk in a highly regulated sector. You will lead AI/ cybersecurity risk assessment, contract negotiations, and regulatory compliance efforts, helping shape governance frameworks and

Qualifications

• J.D. and active U.S. state bar; 10+ years in cybersecurity/AI law.
• Experience in governance, risk, and technology transactions.
• Deep knowledge of HIPAA, GDPR, NIS2 and AI regulatory frameworks.
• Strong advisory background on AI governance and incident response.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal counsel on AI design, governance, and third‑party relations.
• Lead cybersecurity incident response legal matters and regulatory compliance.
• Negotiate technology agreements; advise on data rights and AI risk.
• Collaborate with IT, risk management, and business teams to enable innovation.

Skills

Strategic legal advice

Executive presence

Cross-functional collaboration

Complex written/oral communication

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Active U.S. bar admission

Tools

CIPP/E/US/CIPM certification

Job description

Job Description

The Director, AI and Cybersecurity Legal will report to the Chief Privacy and Digital Trust Officer, partner closely with the Chief Information Security Officer, and serve as a trusted and strategic legal adviser on AI and cybersecurity matters across the enterprise. This role will provide legal counsel on the development, deployment, and governance of AI/ML technologies, as well as cybersecurity risk management, incident response, and regulatory compliance. The Director will partner closely with Information Technology, Information Technology Risk Management, and business teams to enable innovation while managing legal and regulatory risk in a highly regulated global pharmaceutical environment.

Key Responsibilities

Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology

• Provide strategic legal counsel on the design, development, procurement, and deployment of AI and machine learning systems across research, commercial, and corporate functions.
• Advise on AI governance frameworks, including responsible AI principles, algorithmic transparency, bias mitigation, and human oversight requirements for high‑risk systems.
• Provide strategic legal counsel related to the design and implementation of next‑generation AI Governance, including AI policies, evolving AI risk assessment frameworks (e.g., triage design, risk tiering, domain‑specific assessment frameworks, automation, and streamlined decision workflows), third‑party AI due diligence, and implementing AI incident reporting obligations.
• Monitor and interpret evolving AI regulations globally, including the EU AI Act, FDA guidance on AI/ML in drug development and medical devices, and other emerging frameworks.
• Serve as a member of divisional AI committees.
• Lead AI contract negotiations and counsel on technology transactions. Counsel internal stakeholders on data rights and contractual issues arising from generative AI tools and third‑party AI platforms.
• Represent the company externally as required, including engaging with regulators, trade associations, and other industry organizations.

Cybersecurity

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Information Technology Risk Management organization on legal and regulatory matters.
• Provide legal support for cybersecurity incident response efforts, including assessing breach notification obligations under HIPAA, state breach notification laws, and other applicable frameworks.
• Advise on cybersecurity regulatory requirements, including SEC cybersecurity disclosure rules, NIST frameworks, and industry‑specific standards.
• Provide legal guidance on vulnerability disclosure, threat intelligence sharing, and engagement with law enforcement and regulatory authorities.
• Support the development and review of cybersecurity policies, vendor security assessments, and security provisions in commercial agreements.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with privacy, compliance and legal colleagues to address intersections between AI, regulatory and commercial legal considerations, cybersecurity, and data protection laws.
• Advise on data governance and data‑sharing arrangements that implicate cybersecurity and AI considerations.
• Support M&A, licensing, and collaboration transactions with cybersecurity and AI due diligence and integration guidance.
• Provide training and awareness to business stakeholders on AI legal risks and cybersecurity legal obligations.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• Minimum 10 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years focused on cybersecurity, technology, and/or AI/emerging technology law, preferably in a pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare, or other highly regulated environment. Additional experience or background in data privacy/data protection a plus.
• Deep understanding of cybersecurity legal frameworks (HIPAA, GDPR, NIS2, SEC disclosure rules, state breach notification laws) and emerging AI and automated decision‑making regulatory frameworks.
• Extensive experience managing cybersecurity incident response from a legal perspective.
• Experience advising on AI governance, responsible AI principles, and technology transactions.
• Experience developing and negotiating contractual provisions addressing cybersecurity, data protection, and AI considerations in connection with mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, strategic partnerships, and technology transactions.
• Proven experience counseling on AI systems from a legal and compliance perspective, including risk assessment review, auditability, transparency obligations, and lifecycle governance.
• CIPP/E/US/CIPM, AIGP, or other AI certification preferred.

Required Skills

• Ability to think strategically, understand client objectives, and offer analytical, well‑reasoned, creative, and pragmatic legal advice designed to enable innovation while protecting against legal and regulatory risk.
• Strong executive presence and ability to build trust and influence senior leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders in a matrixed global organization.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to compliance policies and guidance documents, counsel business stakeholders across multiple levels of seniority, and prepare and lead executive‑level presentations.
• Ability to provide strong, clear legal advice and translate complex technical and legal concepts into concrete implementation strategies for audiences.
• Strong technical aptitude and fluency, and the ability to engage meaningfully with technical concepts related to AI, data, and cybersecurity.
• Meticulous attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment.

Required Skills:

Business Consulting Services, Business Consulting Services, Compliance Activities, Compliance Monitoring, Compliance Reporting, Confidentiality, Customer Service Leadership, Cybersecurity Risk Management, Data Breach Response, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Data Security, Data Security Management, Ethics, Executive Presence, Exercises Judgment, General Data Protection Regulation, Governance Framework, HIPAA Compliance, Information Technology (IT), Legal Compliance, Legal Research, Legal Strategies, Multilingualism, Negotiation {+ 7 more}

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:

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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 $190,800.00 - $300,300.00

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: Domestic

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date: 09/26/2026

*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.