Head of Science Operations

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; Billerica (MA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO

Retirement contributions

Job summary

EMD Serono's AI & Automation in Drug Discovery (AIDD) in the Boston area is seeking a Head of Science Operations to lead the Make and Test engine for autonomous discovery. You will oversee a multidisciplinary team of chemists, biologists, and automation scientists, ensuring high-quality data, robust experimental design, and timely results.

Reporting to the AIDD head, you will scale the team from 5 to 10, drive SOPs, data integrity, and platform roadmaps, and collaborate across software and

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field (minimum).
• 8+ years in pharma/biotech/CRO with leadership in discovery programs.
• Hands-on assay development experience and data-driven optimization.

Responsibilities

• Own Make and Test workflow; design and execute autonomous chemical synthesis and biology assays.
• Govern lab operations: SOPs, QC metrics, data lineage, safety, compliance.
• Plan throughput and capacity; partner with Automation to scale workflows while preserving data quality.
• Guide platform roadmap; translate lab needs into software and automation requirements.
• Manage external partnerships and vendor relationships; define SLAs and tech transfer.
• Hire and develop senior scientists; scale team from 5 to 10 and foster cross-functional teamwork.

Skills

PhD in Chemistry

8+ years pharma/biotech/CRO

assay development

scientific leadership

scientific communication

lab operations governance

Education

PhD in Chemistry or related field

Tools

ELN/LIMS

Retrosynthesis tools

Automated bioassay systems

Job description

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Serono.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

About AIDD

AI & Automation in Drug Discovery (AIDD) at EMD is building and scaling AI-driven and automated discovery capabilities. We connect machine learning, computational science, and lab automation to enable closed-loop chemistry and biology experimentation and faster, higher-quality scientific decisions. In our Boston-area autonomous make-and-test lab, automated synthesis, analytical characterization, and biological readout come together to accelerate discovery.

Your Role

We are hiring a Head of Science Operations to lead the Make and Test engine at the heart of AIDD. Reporting directly to the head of AIDD, this is a senior scientific leadership role with direct responsibility for a team of medicinal and synthetic chemists, biologists, and automation scientists. You will oversee end-to-end experimental design and execution quality, R&D timelines and roadmaps, SOPs and data integrity in addition to scaling the team, and serving as the scientific voice of AIDD to customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Scientific ownership of Make and Test workflow Own experimental design and execution for autonomous chemical synthesis and biological testing, ensuring high-quality data, and timely results.
• Lab operations governance Develop and maintain SOPs, QC metrics, safe‑lab practices, and data lineage; drive continuous improvement and compliance.
• Throughput, capacity, and resource planning Build and maintain capacity models; collaborate with Automation to scale workflows without compromising data integrity.
• Platform collaboration and roadmap input Prioritize scientifically impactful platform enhancements; translate lab needs into actionable requirements for software and automation teams. Build and manage scientific roadmap, ensuring adherence to timelines for assay onboarding and capability enhancements.
• External partnerships and vendor governance Manage scientific alignment with CROs, vendors, and academic partners; define SLAs, knowledge transfer, and quality controls.
• Talent, capability building, and culture Hire, onboard, and develop senior scientists in Chemistry and Biology; establish performance rhythms and cross‑functional teamwork norms; scale team from 5 to 10.

Who You Are: Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field
• At least 8 years of relevant industry experience in pharma, biotech, or CRO, with a demonstrated track record of scientific leadership in discovery programs.
• Hands‑on expertise in chemistry and/or biology assay development; proven ability to optimize complex workflows with data‑driven decision making.
• Experience leading and developing science teams; ability to recruit, mentor, and retain senior scientific talent.
• Proven ability to communicate science clearly to customers, partners, and non‑scientific stakeholders.
• Experience with lab operations governance: SOPs, QC metrics, data lineage, safety, and compliance in a high‑throughput setting.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience integrating Chemistry and Biology in an autonomous or closed‑loop discovery setting.
• Familiarity with retrosynthesis tools, high‑throughput chemistry platforms, and automated bioassay systems.
• Comfort with ELN/LIMS, data lineage, metadata schemas, and basic AI/ML data interfaces; ability to partner effectively with data and software teams.
• Prior external‑facing or partner‑facing scientific leadership for platform‑scale programs.
• Experience with budget ownership, vendor management, and contract scoping in a scientific operations context.

What We Offer

• A seat on the AIDD leadership team, shaping the scientific direction of a first‑in‑class autonomous drug discovery platform.
• Direct influence over how Chemistry and Biology science is designed, executed, and connected to AI/ML at scale.
• An interdisciplinary team with deep science, engineering, software, and data expertise, operating at the frontier of autonomous drug discovery

Location

This is a fully on‑site role based in Billerica, MA. Travel is expected to be limited and mainly related to vendor interactions, partner engagements, or key scientific milestones.

Pay Range

$159,300-$220,100

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job‑related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance‑based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!