Director, DMPK & PK/PD Innovation (Hybrid)

Merck & Co.; West Point (PA); Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co. in West Point, Pennsylvania seeks a Director of DMPK to lead a senior team supporting discovery programs across modalities.

You will shape strategy, mentor staff, and drive innovative ADME studies to inform lead selection and first-in-human decisions. The ideal candidate will possess deep PK/PD knowledge, experience with small molecules and other modalities, PBPK modeling, and strong collaboration skills to deliver timely, high‑quality data for decision making in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, or related field with 8+ years of experience in drug discovery.
• Applicants with MSci. degree with 12+ years of relevant industry experience will be considered.
• Experienced in providing DMPK support in drug discovery programs and communicating analyses to cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of PK/PD, PBPK modeling, and modern instrumentation supporting DMPK workflows.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with a track record of talent development.
• At least 3 years of management or supervisory experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for a group of scientists in DMPK during discovery programs.
• Mentor staff and facilitate career development.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of quality data and documentation.
• Support advancement of scientific initiatives within DMPK and PDMB.
• Set future strategy and implement new technologies in the organization.
• Oversee programs and review internal/external documents prepared by team members.

Skills

ADME

Pharmacokinetics

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Team management

Education

PhD in related field

MSci equivalent with 12+ years

Tools

PBPK modeling

LC-MS

Job description

Merck & Co. in West Point, Pennsylvania seeks a Director of DMPK to lead a senior team supporting discovery programs across modalities.

You will shape strategy, mentor staff, and drive innovative ADME studies to inform lead selection and first-in-human decisions. The ideal candidate will possess deep PK/PD knowledge, experience with small molecules and other modalities, PBPK modeling, and strong collaboration skills to deliver timely, high‑quality data for decision making in a fast-paced