Director (Ophthalmology), Clinical and Regulatory Strategic Communications (CRSC)

Job Description

Director (Ophthalmology), CRSC

The Clinical and Regulatory Strategic Communications (CRSC) department within GCTO creates and delivers high-quality regulated content in support of our development pipeline and enables data sharing for our customers. We are a strategic partner that ensures excellence and compliance with applicable laws while incorporating health literacy principles in the development of public-facing materials.

The Director of CRSC leads, envisions, and plans projects, engaging strategically with key stakeholders across departments, divisions, and company. The role provides scientific expertise and oversight for the preparation and execution of clinical regulatory and public-facing documents across multiple programs and therapeutic areas in support of the company portfolio.

The Director of CRSC:

• Is a lead subject matter expert in the design, planning, authoring, editing, and review of accurate, clear, high-quality documents that reflect applicable medical writing best practices (e.g., lean writing, health literacy).
• Is a pivotal scientific contributor and key collaborator on cross-functional teams with demonstrated team and project leadership.
• Applies advanced critical thinking, problem solving and negotiation skills to implement innovative solutions to complex challenges across the medical writing scope of work (e.g., documents, processes, tools) while navigating project team dynamics, external partnerships, collaborations, and key strategic engagements. Acts as escalation point for issues that could impact timelines, quality, or compliance.
• Identifies and/or leads initiatives to improve medical writing processes and standards; provides expertise and/or strategic direction for use or development of MW-specific tools and technology platforms; may serve as a resource for this work internally and externally, as appropriate.
• Applies deep expertise in clinical development, global and relevant regulations, disease areas, and company products. Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical landscape beyond clinical research and provides insight into regulatory strategy and emerging industry trends.
• Provides scientific and operational mentorship, coaching, and/or project oversight to support other medical writers.
• May manage direct reports including workload, professional development, and performance management.

Qualifications

Required: Bachelor’s degree or higher preferably in a health, scientific, or relevant discipline (e.g., life sciences, pharmacy, medicine, public health) and at least 7+ years relevant medical writing or industry experience. Additionally, ophthalmology experience (industry and/or academia) is required, preferably in retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and/or diabetic macular edema (DME).

Required skills & experience

• Experience independently leading, managing, overseeing, and/or authoring complex clinical regulatory (e.g., protocols, clinical study reports, key clinical submission documents) and/or public-facing (e.g., informed consent forms, clinical trial registration and results postings, plain language summaries) documents per company and evolving regulatory requirements.
• Ability to critically analyze and present clinical data clearly, objectively, and in accordance with regulatory requirements and industry guidelines.
• Strong decision-making skills. Ability to influence and drive a broader view of issues to maximize benefit and/or impact across the organization.
• Experience managing multiple, complex projects in a deadline-driven environment and leading teams of medical writers and/or cross-functional team members.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities with an ability to innovate, influence, and drive change.
• Demonstrated effective leadership across organizational levels, including conflict resolution, negotiation, navigating teams through ambiguity, and decision making.
• Expert knowledge and thorough understanding of end-to-end drug development and clinical research and clinical trial processes.
• Ability to interpret and apply ICH guidance (e.g. GCP), global and local disclosure laws, and corporate policies.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Technical expertise in commonly used office applications (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) and shared document systems (e.g., SharePoint) and willingness to learn and adapt to emerging technology.

Preferred skills & experience

• Experience managing direct reports

Required Skills:

Academic Presentations, Academic Presentations, Adaptability, Clinical Data, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Clinical Study Design, Clinical Trials, Clinical Trials Operations, Coaching, Conflict Resolution, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Drug Development, Ethical Standards, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health Literacy, Informed Consent, Macular Degeneration, Medical Writing, Microsoft Office, Stakeholder Alignment, Strategic Planning {+ 1 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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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.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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

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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:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

No

Job Posting End Date:

06/19/2026

*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.