Executive Director, R&D IT AI Technical Strategy Lead

MSD; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Job summary

MSD Rahway seeks an Executive Director, R&D IT AI Technical Strategy Lead to shape and implement the company’s AI strategy in support of R&D. You will partner with IT and R&D leaders to deliver near-term value and drive agile AI transformation across the portfolio.

You will lead department-wide initiatives, translate business strategy into technology roadmaps, and champion digital capabilities, setting the direction for AI/ML solutions that enable scientists and improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Computer Science, Engineering or Life Science.
• Preferred: MBA or PhD.

Responsibilities

• Align with Central IT and Business to derive, implement, and influence AI/ML technical capability strategy.
• Track quantifiable indicators of success and plans to execute, including change management, IT/business adoption, and value realization.
• Have expert understanding of the tech landscape and business processes within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Build strong cross functional relationships with IT and business stakeholders to resolve complex tech and data problems.
• Stay current with industry trends to identify emerging areas of focus and opportunities for AI enablement, including deep learning and generative AI.
• Partner with R&D IT Value teams on capability roadmaps, negotiating tradeoffs to maximize value and ensure adoption.
• Communicate IT strategy and portfolio to key stakeholders.
• Encourage a digital mindset and adoption of digital innovation.
• Be a change agent for new digital capabilities.
• Lead a team with responsibilities for talent development.

Skills

AI/ML strategy

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Change management

Strategic thinking

Pharma domain knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/Life Science

MBA or PhD (preferred)

Job description

Job Description

Our IT team operates as a business partner proposing ideas and innovative solutions that enable new business organizational capabilities. We partner internationally to deliver the services and solutions that help our Company to be more productive and enable innovation. The Executive Director. R&D IT AI Technical Strategy Lead is role will build, innovate, and implement our AI technical strategy with regards to capabilities that are needed to support the business strategy of our scientists in Research and Development (R&D). To accomplish this task, the successful candidate will partner with leaders within IT and R&D to enable near-term value in our AI transformation while ensuring that we build with agility to meet the evolving needs of our portfolio as well as the technical capabilities of AI/ML. The incumbent will function as a team lead, be an integral piece in team decision-making and strategic direction, and be expected to lead department-wide initiatives. A key element of success will be linking end-to-end business strategy and process to our technical solutions, eliminating functional silos, simplifying our system footprint, and negotiating for investment in the highest priority opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Align with Central IT and Business to derive, implement, and influence AI/ML technical capability strategy.
• Track quantifiable indicators of success and plans to execute, including appropriate approaches to change management, IT/business adoption, and value realization.
• Have an expert understanding of the technological landscape and business process within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Build strong cross functional relationships with various IT and business stakeholders, applying expertise to resolve complex scientific technology and data problems.
• Stay current with industry trends to identify emerging areas of focus and opportunities that can benefit from technology enablement, including deep learning and generative AI.
• Partner with R&D IT Value teams to partner on capability roadmaps, negotiating tradeoffs and staging to maximize value, and ensuring solutions are adopted and deliver the expected business outcomes.
• Communicate IT strategy and portfolio to key stakeholders.
• Encourage a digital mindset and adoption of digital innovation initiatives.
• Be a change agent for new digital capabilities.
• Lead a team with responsibilities for talent development.

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or Life Science
• Preferred: MBA or PhD

Required Experience and Skills

• 10 years prior experience in Enterprise, Business, Information, Systems & Application or Solution Architectures or related IT environment.
• Understanding of the Research and Development in pharmaceutical development.
• Familiar with the interdependence of data flows and engagement on projects across therapeutic and functional areas.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate strategy, translate to technology roadmaps, and influence enterprise technology strategy.
• Understanding of the existing IT portfolio of systems and products.
• Understanding of the external technology landscape and the impact and value to our Company.
• Experience in leading department-wide initiatives with regards to technical solutions and change management.
• Strong critical thinking skills with a pragmatic approach to addressing challenges and negotiating collaborative approaches to shared outcomes.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills- able to effectively communicate complex concepts in simple ways, and influence stakeholders to achieve focus on highest value opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and networks (internally and externally).
• Viewed as a credible and trusted partner.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Business architecture experience.
• Strong business acumen.
• Experience with AI/ML, genomics, research information systems, lab automation.
• Business process design & change management knowledge.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Location and Compensation

The primary location for this posting is: USA - New Jersey - Rahway. Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below. The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $255,800.00 - $402,700.00. This range reflects the Company’s reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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 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 Representations

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.

Employment Details

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Remote Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date: 10/27/2026. 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.

About the Company

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.