Director (Principal Scientist), Regulatory Liaison - Oncology

MSD; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Paid holidays

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ seeks a Global Regulatory Liaison to develop worldwide regulatory strategies for oncology, immunology, and devices programs. The role acts as the global point of contact, coordinating with FDA, EMA, and subsidiaries to optimize labeling and speed approvals.

You will provide regulatory guidance to Product Development Teams, lead a cross-functional regulatory group, and review study protocols to secure marketing authorizations across regions.

Qualifications

• B.S. Degree in biological science, chemistry or related discipline, with minimum of 10 years drug development or clinical experience or regulatory affairs.
• M.S. with minimum of 10 years drug development or clinical experience or regulatory affairs.
• PhD with minimum of 7 years relevant experience.
• M.D. with minimum of 5 years relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop worldwide regulatory strategy to optimize label and obtain shortest time to approval by regulatory agencies for multiple indications.
• Provide expert advice to Product Development Teams and subsidiaries on regulatory issues throughout the life cycle of the drug.
• Lead the Global Regulatory Team coordinating cross-functional regulatory support for development programs and marketed products.
• Review and approve local registration study protocols for marketing authorization in secondary markets.
• Interact with FDA/EMA and other Health Authorities; prepare teams for meetings at any phase of drug development to facilitate approvals.

Skills

Regulatory strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory filings

FDA/EMA meetings

Communication

Education

B.S. in biological sciences/chemistry

M.S. in related field

PhD/MD (optional)

Job description

Job Description Our Regulatory Affairs team bring new medical advancements to the world by facilitating communications and procedures that allow swift, organized compliance across regulatory agencies. We are an international network on the leading-edge of healthcare breakthroughs that help provide new, reliable, and compliant medical products, practices and solutions to the world. The Global Regulatory Liaison is responsible for development and implementation of worldwide regulatory strategy for their assigned projects in the Oncology, Immunology and Devices therapeutic area. The candidate will be a self-starter and provide regulatory oversight for assigned products, in order to optimize label and obtain shortest time to approval by regulatory agencies. Independently manages projects, functioning as the single, accountable, global point of contact on those projects. Independently interacts with the Worldwide Regulatory Agencies and/or subsidiaries with regard to global regulatory strategy/registration requirements for one or more of our Company’s investigational and marketed drugs/biologics. Programs may be complex with more than one indication, formulation or have an external business partner. Coordinates the preparation, submission and follow-up contact with regulatory agencies and/or subsidiaries for all applications and submissions. Responsible for regulatory review and final approval for all submissions and associated documentation. Provides expertise as worldwide regulatory representative to Product Development Teams and regulatory single point-of-contact for products within Global Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Safety (GRACS) and external to GRACS.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develops worldwide product regulatory strategy to optimize label and obtain shortest time to approval by regulatory agencies for multiple indications simultaneously.
• Provide expert advice to Product Development Teams and subsidiaries on regulatory issues as they arise with the developmental compounds or marketed products throughout the entire life cycle of the drug.
• Provide direction to the staff by leading the Global Regulatory Team which coordinates cross-functional regulatory support for development programs and marketed products.
• Review and provide final approval of local registration study protocols when needed to obtain marketing authorization in secondary markets.
• Represents our Company with external organizations through direct communication with the FDA, including telephone calls and e-mail; chair meetings between company and FDA; prepare our Company’s teams for meetings with FDA at any phase of drug development.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to prepare for advisory committees.
• Coordinate interactions with foreign agencies through Regulatory Affairs Europe (RAE) and the subsidiary registration departments to support their interactions and provide strategic direction across multiple regions simultaneously.
• Review and provide final approval of Worldwide Marketing Applications, Clinical Study Reports, protocols, and Investigator Brochures before release from our Company to external stakeholders.
• Represent GRA within our Company’s internal committees to provide regulatory advice and approval according to the committee charters (therapeutic area Document Review Committees (DRC), Product Development Team (PDT), Early Development Team (EDT), and labeling teams (LEAD)).
• Conducts initial IND/CSA content review and approval to facilitate initial approval by agencies for conduct of clinical trials.
• Participate in regulatory due diligence activities for licensing candidate review.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• B.S. Degree in biological science, chemistry or related discipline, with minimum of 10 years drug development or clinical experience or regulatory affairs.
• M.S. with minimum of 10 years drug development or clinical experience or regulatory affairs.
• PhD with minimum of 7 years relevant experience.
• M.D. with minimum of 5 years relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Ability to achieve optimal results with limited day-to-day direction.
• Ability to think strategically and continuously learn and apply new knowledge.
• Ability to lead, influence, and negotiate.
• Led or directly supported meetings with FDA, EMA, or other Health Authorities.
• Led or directly supported regulatory filings.
• Proactive, clear and effective verbal and written communicator.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Oncology experience.
• Immunology and biologics experience.
• Substantial experience in regulatory affairs in at least one major country/region (e.g., U.S.A., European Union, Japan, China).

Key EligibleforERP Required Skills:

• Clinical Research
• Cross-Functional Teamwork
• Drug Development
• Global Regulatory
• Oncology
• Regulatory Affairs Management
• Regulatory Communications
• Regulatory Documents
• Regulatory Filings
• Regulatory Management
• Regulatory Processes
• Regulatory Strategies

Preferred Skills:

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. 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 Rights EEOC GINA Supplement 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

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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information: 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: No relocation

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: 11/21/2026 *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.