Scientific Director of Immunology

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Sick days and family leave

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks an experienced immunologist/scientist to join its global competitive intelligence team. The role focuses on providing expert insights in IBD to inform portfolio prioritization, development strategies, and BD&L opportunities.

Candidate will monitor the evolving IBD landscape, analyze competitors, and build a global SME network while collaborating with discovery, clinical, and business teams in a hybrid setup at Rahway, NJ or Upper Gwynedd, PA.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with 8+ years in biotech/pharmaceuticals or Masters with 10+ years in biotech/pharma.
• 3–5+ years in IBD or immune-mediated diseases or immuno-oncology.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert scientific, clinical, and commercial insights on IBD and competitor landscapes.
• Partner with discovery and clinical teams to shape internal programs and BD&L opportunities.
• Monitor evolving therapies in IBD and share competitive insights and threats.
• Conduct deep-dives on competitors, including strength/weakness, go-to-market, and benchmarking.
• Develop a global internal network of SMEs to support strategic activities.
• Support competitive planning for products facing major competitive events.
• Apply ethical and legal standards to CI activities.

Skills

Immunology

IBD/Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Immuno-oncology

Drug Discovery Process

Environmental Scanning

Gastroenterology

Strategic Thinking

Stakeholder Management

Influencing Skills

Data-Driven Decision Making

Biotech Industry Knowledge

Research Programs

Competitive Intelligence (CI)

Business Development

Analytical Tools

BI

Results-Oriented

Education

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, MS, MBA, or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description

We are currently seeking an experienced immunologist/scientist/researcher (preferably with expertise in Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) to join our global competitive intelligence team. This role is responsible for providing expert scientific, clinical, and commercial insights, by deeply understanding the evolving competitive landscapes in IBD and our company’s internal business.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Utilizing scientific knowledge in IBD to provide unbiased and fact-based recommendations for portfolio prioritization, clinical development/research strategies, and Business Development investments.
• Partnering with discovery and clinical colleagues to shape internal research programs, and Business Development & Licensing (BD&L) opportunity assessment.
• Monitoring evolving therapeutic landscapes in IBD and sharing insights into our company’s competitors, including early warning for potential threats and opportunities.
• Analyzing select competitor activities through “deep dives” or strategic assessments, such as strength/weakness analysis, go-to-market strategies, and operational benchmarking.
• Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of relevant healthcare environment matters, including policy, regulatory, and health technology.
• Developing a global internal network of subject matter experts to share intelligence and support strategic activities.
• Supporting the design and execution of competitive planning initiatives for products subject to significant competitive events.
• Applying ethical and legal standards to all competitive intelligence activities.

Location/Commute:

• We offer Hybrid Work Model (combination of In-office 3 days & offsite/remote 2 days). This position cannot be 100% remote.
• This role is based at our Headquarters in Rahway, NJ, USA or Upper Gwynedd, PA, USA

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, MS, MBA, or equivalent) required.

Required Experience and Skills:

• PhD and 8+ years of experience OR Masters degree and 10+ years of experience in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry, with 3-5+ years in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, or immuno-oncology field
• Strong scientific understanding of immunology indications, specifically Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease, and other related diseases
• Broad understanding of global pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with in-depth knowledge of drug discovery and development processes
• Superior stakeholder management skills and ability to work as an expert collaborator
• Demonstrated leadership, influencing skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and ability to manage complexity
• Ability to build and manage collaborative relationships, specifically with senior management.

Required Skills:

Analytical Tools, Business Development, Business Intelligence (BI), Competitive Intelligence (CI), Data-Driven Decision Making, Developing Proposals, Drug Discovery Process, Environmental Scanning, Gastroenterology, Immunology, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Influencing Skills, Pharmaceutical Industry, Research Programs, Results-Oriented, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Clinical Development, Launch Strategy

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. If you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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 at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

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 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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

no

Job Posting End Date:

10/8/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.