Senior Director, Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics

MSD; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 206,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Senior Director in Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics to drive model-informed drug discovery and development. The role requires extensive experience in pharmacometrics, team leadership, and innovation in quantitative strategies. This position offers an opportunity to impact drug development processes significantly and lead a talented group of professionals.

Benefits

Bonus eligibility

Health care and insurance benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick days

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical drug development or academia.
• Strong background in pharmacometrics and drug discovery.
• Ability to lead a diverse team effectively.

Responsibilities

• Guide a team of pharmacometricians to implement quantitative approaches.
• Foster collaboration within the QP2 team to enhance results.
• Drive pipeline impact through innovative pharmacometrics strategies.

Skills

Pharmacometrics

Modeling and Simulation (M&S)

Communication Skills

Team Leadership

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent degree

Job description

Senior Director, Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics

The Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics (QP2) department drive model-informed drug discovery and development (MIDD) to routinely enable efficient drug discovery/development and/or regulatory decisions. The Pharmacometrics group within QP2 brings an experienced leadership team, deep modeling expertise and state-of-the-art modeling approaches across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities to drive portfolio impact from discovery through life-cycle management. The team is externally visible and continues to be at the leading edge of building innovative state of the art tools. With MIDD as an essential component of decision-making at our Company, this position offers an opportunity for the Pharmacometrics leader to drive pipeline impact and lead a talented group of pharmacometricians.

This Senior Director is expected to be an experienced pharmacometrician with a strong, understanding of the integrated strategic elements of drug discovery and development and the ability to incorporate Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools in decision making to drive pipeline impact. She/he will take on primary responsibilities for identifying emerging areas of pharmacometrics innovation and leading QP2 efforts to strengthen our pharmacometrics capabilities on a continuous basis. The Senior Director will be accountable for directing a team of pharmacometricians with diverse backgrounds and bringing subject matter expertise related to model informed drug discovery and development for programs .

The Senior Director in Pharmacometrics should provide strategic leadership for pharmacometrics through the following responsibilities:

Guide a team of approximately 5-10 pharmacometricians to achieve results on major program drivers by identifying and implementing quantitative approaches (for e.g., translational PK/PD models, population pharmacokinetic models, exposure-response models, quantitative system pharmacology (QSP) and disease progression models, clinical trial simulations, comparator modeling) that seek to improve cycle time, cost/size and number of trials, implementation of tools and framework for driving Go/No Go decisions on programs and rapid regulatory approvals

Foster collaboration within QP2 to achieve results, remove barriers on portfolio or scientific priorities

Evaluate and maintain appropriate quality systems and IT infrastructure for QP2 to support emerging capabilities

Responsible for priority-setting, performance management, hiring and retention, talent development/management for direct reports

Identify resource needs and contribute to resource allocation internally and through management of business operations and outsourcing budgets

Provide functional representation on committees, task forces or initiatives spanning beyond QP2

Initiate and manage external collaborations to develop new methodologies and lead our external outreach to the scientific pharmacometrics community

Required Experience:

(a Ph.D. or equivalent degree with ≥ 12 years of experience where “experience” means having a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar role in pharmaceutical drug development or academia

Educational background in pharmacometrics, pharmaceutical sciences, mathematics, statistics/biostatistics, computational biology/chemistry, chemical/biomedical engineering, or a related field

At least 10 years of discovery/drug development/regulatory experience

Deep expertise in pharmacometrics (e.g., population PK and PK/PD analyses, model-based meta-analysis, dose-response and exposure-response analyses, disease modeling, trial simulation, optimal study designs, strategic decision analyses, economic modeling) with ability to understand how MIDD can drive portfolio and regulatory decisions

Good interpersonal and communication skills that ensure teamwork and productive interactions among diverse personalities/areas of expertise

This (remote) position is only applicable for those that are not within commutable distance to primary sites noted in posting. If commutable, the position will be hybrid . Please note that standard commute is (less than)

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.

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:

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.

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

Job Description

The Quantitative Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics (QP2) department drive model-informed drug discovery and development (MIDD) to routinely enable efficient drug discovery/development and/or regulatory decisions. The Pharmacometrics group within QP2 brings an experienced leadership team, deep modeling expertise and state-of-the-art modeling approaches across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities to drive portfolio impact from discovery through life-cycle management. The team is externally visible and continues to be at the leading edge of building innovative state of the art tools. With MIDD as an essential component of decision-making at our Company, this position offers an opportunity for the Pharmacometrics leader to drive pipeline impact and lead a talented group of pharmacometricians.

This Senior Director is expected to be an experienced pharmacometrician with a strong, understanding of the integrated strategic elements of drug discovery and development and the ability to incorporate Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools in decision making to drive pipeline impact. She/he will take on primary responsibilities for identifying emerging areas of pharmacometrics innovation and leading QP2 efforts to strengthen our pharmacometrics capabilities on a continuous basis. The Senior Director will be accountable for directing a team of pharmacometricians with diverse backgrounds and bringing subject matter expertise related to model informed drug discovery and development for programs .

The Senior Director in Pharmacometrics should provide strategic leadership for pharmacometrics through the following responsibilities:

• Guide a team of approximately 5-10 pharmacometricians to achieve results on major program drivers by identifying and implementing quantitative approaches (for e.g., translational PK/PD models, population pharmacokinetic models, exposure-response models, quantitative system pharmacology (QSP) and disease progression models, clinical trial simulations, comparator modeling) that seek to improve cycle time, cost/size and number of trials, implementation of tools and framework for driving Go/No Go decisions on programs and rapid regulatory approvals

• Foster collaboration within QP2 to achieve results, remove barriers on portfolio or scientific priorities

• Evaluate and maintain appropriate quality systems and IT infrastructure for QP2 to support emerging capabilities

• Responsible for priority-setting, performance management, hiring and retention, talent development/management for direct reports

• Identify resource needs and contribute to resource allocation internally and through management of business operations and outsourcing budgets

• Provide functional representation on committees, task forces or initiatives spanning beyond QP2

• Initiate and manage external collaborations to develop new methodologies and lead our external outreach to the scientific pharmacometrics community

Required Experience:

• (a Ph.D. or equivalent degree with ≥ 12 years of experience where “experience” means having a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar role in pharmaceutical drug development or academia

• Educational background in pharmacometrics, pharmaceutical sciences, mathematics, statistics/biostatistics, computational biology/chemistry, chemical/biomedical engineering, or a related field

• At least 10 years of discovery/drug development/regulatory experience

• Deep expertise in pharmacometrics (e.g., population PK and PK/PD analyses, model-based meta-analysis, dose-response and exposure-response analyses, disease modeling, trial simulation, optimal study designs, strategic decision analyses, economic modeling) with ability to understand how MIDD can drive portfolio and regulatory decisions

• Extensive experience in developing quantitative strategies for impacting pipeline decisions

• Good interpersonal and communication skills that ensure teamwork and productive interactions among diverse personalities/areas of expertise

This (remote) position is only applicable for those that are not within commutable distance to primary sites noted in posting. If commutable, the position will be hybrid . Please note that standard commute is (less than)

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

$206,200.00 - $324,600.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here .

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:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Required Skills:

Business Intelligence (BI), Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

05/26/2025

*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.

About the company

Merck & Co., Inc.

Notice

Talentify is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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