Scientific Director of Immunology

Merck; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Rahway, NJ seeks an experienced immunologist/scientist to join the global competitive intelligence team. You will provide scientific, clinical, and commercial insights into IBD landscapes and internal business.

Hybrid work model with on-site at Rahway, NJ or Upper Gwynedd, PA, requiring advanced degrees and extensive biotech/pharma experience. The role emphasizes portfolio prioritization, research strategy, and BD&L opportunity assessment, collaborating with discovery and clinical

Qualifications

• PhD and 8+ years of experience in biotech/pharma with 3–5+ years in IBD, immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, or immuno-oncology.
• Strong scientific understanding of immunology indications, specifically Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease, and related diseases.
• Broad understanding of global pharmaceutical/biotech industries and drug discovery/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, especially with senior management.

Responsibilities

• Utilize IBD knowledge to provide recommendations for portfolio prioritization, clinical development/research strategies, and BD&L investments.
• Partner with discovery and clinical colleagues to shape internal research programs and BD&L opportunity assessment.
• Monitor evolving therapeutic landscapes in IBD and share insights about competitors, with early warnings for threats and opportunities.
• Analyze competitor activities through deep dives or strategic assessments (strengths/weaknesses, go-to-market strategies, benchmarking).
• Maintain understanding of healthcare environment matters, including policy, regulatory, and health technology changes.
• Develop a global internal network of subject matter experts to share intelligence and support strategic activities.
• Support the design and execution of competitive planning for products subject to significant competitive events.
• Apply ethical and legal standards to all competitive intelligence activities.

Skills

Immunology

IBD

Gastroenterology

Drug Discovery

Competitive Intelligence

Stakeholder Management

Strategic Thinking

Leadership

Biotech

Biotech Industry

Education

PhD

MD

MS

MBA

Equivalent degree

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.

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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

Requirements

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

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 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.

Requisition ID

R408480