Executive Director, Business Technology Partner, Discovery, Preclinical and Translational Medicine

Merck; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Discovery, Preclinical Translational Medicine (DPTM) Business Technology Partner to lead the R&D IT-driven digital transformation. You will partner with DPTM senior leaders, translate scientific priorities into product strategy, and drive AI/ML powered capabilities across discovery science.

This on-site role emphasizes strategic product leadership and value realization. You will define product vision and roadmaps, build high-performing teams, and enable data-driven decision

Responsibilities

• Own and strengthen the strategic relationship with DPTM leadership, translating priorities into product strategy and measurable delivery outcomes.
• Lead Discovery and Translational Science product strategy, roadmaps, investments, and tradeoffs to maximize scientific and business value.
• Build and evolve product teams that accelerate understanding, candidate design, and decision-making through data, analytics, AI, and evidence.
• Inspire and lead across scientific, business, and technology groups.
• Resolve competing stakeholder priorities with shared understanding of value and tradeoffs.
• Develop talent and capabilities in product management, informatics, and digital innovation.
• Foster experimentation, rapid learning, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
• Build cross-functional relationships to resolve complex scientific technology and data problems.
• As Digital Solutions evolves, assume ownership for selected Discovery and Translational Science products.

Job description

Job Description

Reporting to the Research and Development Sciences (RaDS) Value Team lead within Research and Development (R&D) IT, the Discovery, Preclinical Translational Medicine (DPTM) Business Technology Partner will lead the team accountable for partnering with DPTM to shape business strategy, define the future-state digital ecosystem, and deliver the capabilities needed to advance discovery science. The role be the primary point of contact for senior DPTM leaders, translate scientific priorities into product and investment strategy, and drive transformation through data, analytics, AI/ML, and modern research platforms. Success will require connecting end-to-end business strategy to technical solutions, reducing functional silos, simplifying the system footprint, and securing investment in the highest-value transformational opportunities. The incumbent will also have overall IT accountability for the Discovery AI 'Lighthouse' initiative, one of five enterprise investments focused on accelerating value realization through AI and lab-in-the-loop automation.

The successful candidate will help define the next evolution of Digital Solutions, moving beyond traditional technology partnership toward accountable product leadership for research capabilities that accelerate scientific understanding, scientific design, and data-driven decision-making. The role may assume ownership of product capabilities and teams aligned to Discovery and Translational Science outcomes, working with Scientific Data & Analytics and Lab Operations & Platforms to deliver integrated capabilities across evidence generation, information generation, and insight generation. This leader will shape strategy, define product vision, establish outcome-based roadmaps, and build product organizations that can respond with speed and agility to evolving scientific and technology opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own and continuously strengthen the strategic relationship with the DPTM leadership team, serving as the primary digital partner for translating scientific priorities into product strategy, capability investments, and measurable delivery outcomes.


• Lead Discovery and Translational Science product strategy, including product vision, capability roadmaps, investment priorities, and tradeoff decisions that maximize scientific and business value.


• Build and evolve high-performing product teams that accelerate scientific understanding, candidate design, and decision-making through innovative use of data, analytics, AI, and experimental evidence.


• Inspire and lead through influence across scientific, business, and technology organizations.


• Resolve competing stakeholder priorities by creating shared understanding of scientific value, delivery tradeoffs, and decision criteria.


• Develop talent and organizational capabilities that strengthen product management, scientific informatics, and digital innovation.


• Create an environment that encourages experimentation, rapid learning, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.


• Build strong cross functional relationships with various business stakeholders and ITteams, applying expertise to resolve complex scientific technology and data problems.


• As Digital Solutions evolves, the role may take on direct ownership for selected Discovery and Translational Science product