Principal Scientist (Director) - Outcomes Research - Lung Cancers

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; North Wales (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 191,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays & vacation

Job summary

MSD is seeking a senior Outcomes Research lead in the USA (North Wales, PA) to oversee strategy and value evidence for a lung cancer program. You will partner with global teams to design studies, develop economic models, and craft payer-facing dossiers.

You will interact with internal stakeholders and external partners, manage budgets and contracts, and present findings at conferences and in journals. A strong oncology and RWE background is essential.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree and 4+ years post-doctoral or 7+ years post-master’s experience in life sciences.
• Experience in oncology; non-interventional research and value evidence generation.

Responsibilities

• Lead Outcomes Research strategy for a Lung Cancer program and contribute to value evidence activities.
• Obtain senior management approval of value evidence plans.
• Provide outcomes research leadership on cross-functional regional and global teams.
• Assess drivers of reimbursement and market access and advise on value evidence programs.
• Design non-interventional studies, write protocols, develop analysis plans, and prepare reports/publications.
• Manage study contracting, budgets, and vendor relationships.

Skills

Decision making

Emotional intelligence

Stakeholder management

Networking

Innovation

Payer knowledge

Education

PhD in relevant discipline (Outcomes Research/Health Economics/Epidemiology)

Post-master's degree in life sciences

Job description

Job Description

This position resides within our company's Value and Implementation, Outcomes Research organization, which is responsible for real-world evidence generation and outcomes research to enable sustained patient access to our company’s innovations and improve patient health outcomes. Under the guidance of a senior leader, this individual will be responsible for the Outcomes Research strategy and value evidence activities in support of a Lung Cancers program.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead Outcomes Research strategy for a specific Lung Cancer program and contribute to value evidence activities for in-line and pipeline products.
• Obtain senior management approval of value evidence generation plans.
• Provide outcomes research leadership on cross-functional regional and global teams.
• Critically assess drivers and barriers to reimbursement and market access in collaboration with internal teams, and provide input into clinical, payer/access, marketing and value evidence generation strategies and programs.
• In collaboration with internal teams and external partners, design non-interventional and data synthesis studies, author study protocols, develop measurement questionnaires, case report forms, data analysis plans, final study reports, scientific presentations, and publications.
• Responsible for study-related contracting, budgets, and vendor/partner management.
• Develop American Managed Care Pharmacy dossiers for US payers, and Global Value Dossiers.
• Develop supplementary clinical data package for submission to Health Technology Assessment agencies in close partnership with local country affiliates and Health Technology Assessment statistics group.
• Support country affiliates to understand local evidence generation needs, adapt health economic evaluations, customize outcomes research documents, such as protocols and reimbursement dossiers, according to local requirements.
• Work closely with cross functional teams to effectively communicate outcomes research and health economic modelling data internally and to external stakeholders.
• Maintain awareness of new scientific and methodological developments within therapeutic area.
• Build relationships with scientific experts worldwide.
• Present outcomes research data at national and international congresses and publish articles in scientific journals.

Requirements for Education, Experience and Skills

Advanced or professional degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Outcomes Research, Health Economics, Epidemiology, Pharmaceutical Administration, Public Health, Health Policy, Medicine, or Clinical Pharmacy) 4+ years of experience post-doctoral degree or 7+ years of experience post master’s degree in life sciences industry conducting non-interventional research and generating value evidence. Oncology experience

PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., Outcomes Research, Health Economics, Epidemiology, Pharmaceutical Administration, Health Policy, Public Health) Lung cancer/thoracic malignancies experience

Required Skills

Decision making: Identifying and understanding problems and opportunities by gathering, analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information; choosing the best course of action by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizes probable consequences.

Emotional intelligence: Meeting the personal needs of individuals to build trust, encouraging two-way communication and strengthening relationships.

Ability to work with difficult stakeholders while achieving business results.

Networking and partnerships: Building partnerships; developing and leveraging relationships within and across work groups to achieve results.

Innovation: Creating novel solutions with measurable value for existing and potential customers (internal or external); experimenting with new ways to solve work problems and seize opportunities that result in unique and differentiated solutions.

Knowledge of evolving payer and reimbursement environment: Educate the asset teams on impact of US Value Assessment and other key market HTA requirements on the asset and possible mitigation strategies.

Required Skills: Cancer Epidemiology, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Observational Studies, Outcomes Research, Real World Data, Real World Evidence (RWE), Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning.

Preferred Skills

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.

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Location and Compensation

The primary location for this posting is: USA - Pennsylvania - North Wales (Upper Gwynedd).

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below. The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $190,800.00 - $300,300.00. 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.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

Additional Compensation Information

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.

Recruiter / Agency Policy

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.

Job Posting End Date

Job Posting End Date: 11/30/2026 *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.

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.