Executive Director, Immunology Discovery

MSD; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision

401(k)

Job summary

MSD, based in the San Diego R&D site, seeks an Executive Director of Immunology Discovery to lead a high‑performing team advancing Gastroenterology, Dermatology, and Rheumatology programs. The role shapes the Immunology pipeline, partners with LT and cross‑functional groups, and drives external collaborations to fuel breakthroughs from target ID to product launch.

The successful candidate will guide IND preparation, manage a broad portfolio, and mentor scientific leaders while aligning with

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in immunology, pharmaceutical sciences or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years in Immunology discovery research across drug development stages.
• Experience with external business development and academic collaborations including clinical programs.
• Knowledge of immune‑mediated diseases in Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology.

Responsibilities

• Sets vision and strategy for the Immunology team to drive projects.
• Manages priorities, resources, and investments aligned with Immunology Discovery strategy.
• Partners with Research, Translational and Clinical teams on early and late discovery programs.
• Attrition and talent development—actively develops team members.
• Collaborates to evaluate external BD opportunities to complement internal programs.
• Leads organizational change and cross‑functional collaboration for IND submissions.
• Oversees operations and expansion at the San Diego site.

Skills

Collaborative Leadership

Immunology

Influencing Skills

Leadership

Results-Oriented

Strategic Thinking

Team Management

Education

Ph.D. in Immunology or related field

Job description

Job Description

Our company is on a quest for cures and is committed to being the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Today, we’re doubling down on this goal. Our Research & Development (R&D) Division is a true scientific research facility of tomorrow and will take our company's leading discovery capabilities and world-class small molecule and biologics R&D expertise to create breakthrough science that radically changes the way we approach serious diseases.

Our research scientists are our inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to isolate a compound that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the art facilities, and robust scientific methodology, we collaborate to discover the next medical breakthroughs.

Our company is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Executive Director of Immunology Discovery research, reporting directly to the Vice President of Immunology Discovery. This position is a senior role, responsible for leading an Immunology research group at our Research and Development San Diego site that is focused on Gastroenterology, Dermatology and Rheumatology therapeutics; the Executive Director will strategically shape our Immunology discovery pipeline. The position will require an excellent understanding of the competitive landscape, target selection and portfolio management and the incumbent will evaluate and integrate external business development opportunities.

The Executive Director will partner with the Vice President and other Leadership Team (LT) members to shape and implement our Immunology strategy and work collaboratively with programmatic, functional and cross‑division partners to achieve results. This role will be a key interface with other drug discovery and development scientists as well as collaborators and stakeholders across the organization from Clinical, Translational Medicine, CMC, Regulatory and Commercial. The Executive Director will be involved with tech transfer and development of new products and functions within our company as well as with external academic and industrial partners. The successful applicant will have a track record in the discovery of multiple Immunology drug candidates and a holistic understanding of advancing candidates from target identification through to product launch.

In this role, the Executive Director will also supervise multiple teams of scientists on projects. The candidate must have strong people management skills and excel in creating high performing teams to lead the conduct of scientific research, from the laboratory through to commercialization, thereby translating breakthroughs in fundamental science to afford world class human health products. Excellent communication and influencing skills will be required to socialize and gain buy‑in on the Immunology strategy and vision across the enterprise.

We recognize that our team is our strength and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviors in working with their peers and a broad group of scientists to drive our core mission.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Sets the vision and strategy for their Immunology team to drive performance and deliver on projects to invent drugs that impact patients and save lives.
• Responsible for managing priorities, resources, and investments aligned with the greater Immunology Discovery strategy.
• Partners with Research, Translational, and Clinical colleagues to manage early and late-stage discovery programs including FIH and POC clinical studies in human subjects.
• Actively develops talent to strengthen their team.
• Collaborates with Search & Evaluation teams to identify and evaluate external business development opportunities that complement existing internal programs.
• Fosters a high-performance culture of collaboration, engagement, accountability and inclusion.
• As a member of the Immunology Discovery leadership team (LT), meaningfully contribute to departmental strategy and to the growth and development of all staff at both the R&D Cambridge and R&D San Diego sites.
• Effectively partners with leadership across the Immunology Discovery group and other area functions to achieve organizational objectives.
• Partners with a co‑lead at the R&D San Diego site to foster a culture of inclusiveness and to oversee operations, maintenance and expansion at the site.
• Collaborate with organizational partners to sustain and foster a culture of integration, innovation, and continuous improvement in drug development.
• Cross functional collaboration and support in the preparation of INDs and other submissions to health agencies.
• Ability to lead organizational change.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced Degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in immunology, pharmaceutical sciences or a relevant field.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in Immunology discovery research with exposure to all stages and aspects of drug development including significant experience with identifying and integrating external business development and academic collaborative projects including clinical stage programs.
• Knowledge and experience with immune-mediated diseases including a strong understanding of relevant clinical trial results and the competitive landscape in the areas of Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Dermatology.
• A minimum of 5 years of direct management experience overseeing multiple teams and proven leadership ability to align, motivate and empower team members and a demonstrated passion for team building and talent development.
• Ability to shape, manage and prioritize a portfolio.
• A strong external network and external profile demonstrated by publications, presentations at leading conferences, etc.
• Experience in compound and biologics discovery and design for a variety of relevant disease targets.
• Strong awareness of safety and environmental requirements, especially related to laboratory activities.
• A good understanding of integration and partnering for pharmaceutical development with Translational Medicine, Clinical, Commercial, CMC, Regulatory, Operations, Data AI and Genome Sciences and other functional areas.
• Critical thinking ability and innovative mindset.
• Effective communication, collaboration and negotiation skills with the ability to work with senior level managers in meeting venues that include multiple cross‑functional representatives.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experienced in budget planning & management, establishing product development strategies, and managing scientific staff from a budgetary and personnel decisions standpoint.
• Ability to create cost‑effective development plans and a strong sense of value for investment.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of FDA and other regulatory requirements for IND submission and early POC studies.

Required Skills:

Collaborative Leadership, Immunology, Influencing Skills, Leadership, Results-Oriented, Strategic Thinking, Team Management

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

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.

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 an 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