Lead Discovery Program Leader, Nonclinical Safety

Merck & Co.; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 176,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental coverage

Vision care

401(k)

Job summary

Merck & Co. is seeking a Discovery Program Leader to guide Nonclinical Drug Safety strategy across modalities, from target id to GLP toxicology readiness.

You will lead cross-functional discovery efforts, assess target risks, and promote innovative thinking to advance candidates in immunology and oncology. The role emphasizes collaboration, independent leadership, and the ability to drive decisions in a matrix environment, with hybrid work and a strong focus on safety science and regulatory

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant field, DVM, MD degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 8+ years of demonstrated pharmaceutical industry experience as a non-clinical safety scientist (e.g. Toxicology, Pathology etc.) and/or as non-clinical safety assessment representative to a cross-functional development and/or discovery teams.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully navigate cross-functional lines and drive team decision making in a matrix organizational structure.
• Highly dedicated, motivated, resilient, and flexible; capable of creative problem solving and delivering on goals and objectives in a timely fashion.
• Excellent team player who can work collaboratively with discovery team members from various functions, other DPLs and scientists responsible for study conduct and portfolio management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to establish good working relationships within networks of employees of all levels.
• Excellent communicator who knows when and how to speak up, and appropriately raise issues to stakeholders and to management.

Responsibilities

• Represent NDS on discovery teams and participate in therapeutic area discovery governance committee reviews.
• Promote and facilitate creative thinking from target identification/validation through lead optimization in Infectious Disease, Neuroscience, Immunology, Oncology, and/or Cardiometabolic Therapeutic Areas.
• Be a "drug creator" and promoter of innovative thinking by influencing cross-site disease area aligned groups, as well as functional area disciplines.
• Identify and assess potential risks associated with therapeutic targets or development candidates using available literature, internal data, and external information.
• The individual may also lead early development teams, informing on preclinical studies to support product development.

Skills

Clinical Safety

Finite Element Analysis

Good Laboratory Practices

Immuno-Oncology

Innovative Thinking

Matrix Management

Quality by Design

Regulatory Filings

Regulatory Submissions

Safety Management

Strategic Thinking

Technology Transfer

Toxicology

Education

PhD in relevant field

DVM

MD degree

Equivalent

Job description

Merck & Co. is seeking a Discovery Program Leader to guide Nonclinical Drug Safety strategy across modalities, from target id to GLP toxicology readiness.

You will lead cross-functional discovery efforts, assess target risks, and promote innovative thinking to advance candidates in immunology and oncology. The role emphasizes collaboration, independent leadership, and the ability to drive decisions in a matrix environment, with hybrid work and a strong focus on safety science and regulatory