Senior Director, Clinical Development Metabolism (MASH)

MSD; San Francisco (CA); On-site; GBP 213,000 - 336,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Job summary

Merck's Metabolism & Atherosclerosis group seeks a Senior Director to lead late-stage clinical development for MASH and obesity-related disorders. You will shape development strategy, oversee studies from initiation to regulatory submission, and mentor teams across regulatory, statistics, and manufacturing divisions.

You will drive external collaborations, author key development documents, and travel about 20% to manage programs. MD or MD/PhD with 3+ years in industry or academia recommended.

Qualifications

• Must have experience in industry or as senior faculty in academia.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in clinical medicine.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research in academia.
• Demonstrated success in overseeing clinical studies and protocols.
• Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement.
• Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research.
• Strong interpersonal skills and teamwork ability.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings).
• Monitor and manage ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed drugs.
• Summarize clinical findings to support safety, efficacy, and regulatory decisions.
• Collaborate with internal/external teams on development of new compounds and studied marketed drugs.
• Evaluate pre-clinical and translational work for early clinical development plans.
• Develop clinical development strategies for investigational or marketed drugs.
• Support business development assessments of external opportunities.
• Coordinate with Clinical Scientists to execute clinical studies.
• Communicate progress to corporate teams and external experts.
• Maintain awareness of scientific developments and engage leading investigators.
• Author development documents, presentations, budgets, position papers.
• Facilitate collaborations with external researchers worldwide.
• Travel ~20% to manage projects.

Skills

Cardiology

Clinical Development

Clinical Trials

Drug Development

Endocrinology

Hepatology

Liver Diseases

Nephrology

Obesity

Pharmaceutical Industry

Education

MD or MD/PhD

Job description

Job Description

The Senior Director (Sr. Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for the planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Metabolism section of the Atherosclerosis & Metabolism therapeutic area, with a particular focus on MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis) and other obesity-related disorders. Our company's Atherosclerosis & Metabolism medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Senior Director will manage the entire cycle of late-stage clinical development and studies, including development strategy, study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.

Responsibilities

• Planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings) based on these clinical development strategies
• Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed drugs
• Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication
• Participation in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds
• Evaluating pre-clinical and translational work for the purpose of generating early clinical development plans and Investigational New Drug applications
• Developing clinical development strategies for investigational or marketed drugs
• Support of business development assessments of external opportunities
• Work closely with the Clinical Scientists in the execution of clinical studies
• Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects; and assist the Executive Director and/or Associate Vice President in ensuring that appropriate Corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs, and of internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to his/her areas of responsibility
• Maintain a strong scientific fund of knowledge by maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators, establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators, attending appropriate scientific meetings
• Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences
• Facilitate collaborations with external researchers around the world
• Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects

Qualifications – Education

M.D or M.D./Ph.D.

Required

• Must have experience in industry or as senior faculty in academia
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in clinical medicine
• Minimum of 3-5 years of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research experience in academia
• Demonstrated success in overseeing clinical studies and protocols
• Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement
• Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research
• Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to function in a team environment
• Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills

Preferred

• Board Certified or Eligible in Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology or related discipline
• Direct clinical research experience in MASH, with a preference for candidates who have designed, executed, or medically monitored Phase 2 or Phase 3 trials in metabolic liver diseases

Required Skills

Cardiology, Clinical Development, Clinical Trials, Drug Development, Endocrinology, Hepatology, Liver Diseases, Nephrology, Obesity, Pharmaceutical Industry

Salary

The salary range for this role is $282,200.00 - $444,200.00

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.

Benefits

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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:

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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 Specifics

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

Employment Details

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: Domestic

VISA Sponsorship: Yes

Travel Requirements: 25%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 09/23/2026*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.