Director, Pharmacokinetics

Job Description

Job Description:
The Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism & Bioanalytics (PDMB) department at our company is seeking an accomplished scientific leader to head the Biotransformation (MetID) group within Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics (DMPK).  The Biotransformation Lead (Director) will play a pivotal role in guiding our company's discovery and development projects through the lens of drug metabolism, ensuring that metabolite profiles are elucidated and understood to de-risk safety, optimize efficacy, and satisfy regulatory expectations. This position offers the opportunity to lead a talented team and drive scientific excellence in a key discipline within DMPK, contributing directly to the advancement of our company's pipeline.

The lead will drive our company's metabolite identification strategy and operations, overseeing a team of scientists responsible for characterizing drug metabolites across the discovery and development pipeline. This leader will ensure that the metabolism of therapeutics is thoroughly profiled in support of lead optimization, candidate selection, drug safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in drug metabolism, including biotransformation mechanisms, in vitro and in vivo tools, and state of the art instrumentation used in support of metabolite identification and structural elucidation. A strong background in drug development (from preclinical studies through clinical trials), and an in-depth understanding of metabolite exposure in both non-clinical (animal) and clinical risk assessment are key to success in this role. Extensive small molecule experience will be critical for this position while experience with other modalities (e.g. peptide therapeutics) is preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

• Scientific Leadership: Provide strategic and technical leadership for the biotransformation/metabolite identification function. Accountable for comprehensive metabolite profiling of drug candidates from early discovery through late-stage development, ensuring all major metabolites are identified and potential risks are understood at each stage. This includes guiding metabolite ID efforts for discovery programs (e.g. lead optimization) as well as development programs (candidate selection, IND enabling studies, clinical trials, and human ADME studies).

• Metabolite Identification & Mass Spectrometry: Oversee the design and execution of in vitro and in vivo MetID studies to characterize metabolites in relevant matrices (plasma, urine, bile, etc.). Leverage established as well as state-of-the-art mass spectrometry and analytical techniques for structural elucidation of metabolites (e.g. high-resolution LC-MS/MS).

• Drug Development & MIST Compliance: Apply broad drug development expertise to integrate metabolite findings into program decision-making. Ensure that metabolite identification strategy meets regulatory expectations. This includes identifying any human-specific or disproportionate metabolites and identifying/highlighting additional non-clinical evaluations as needed.

• Issue Resolution and Innovation: Anticipate and address metabolism-related liabilities in drug candidates. Proactively identify potential metabolite-related safety or DDI concerns (e.g. reactive intermediates, genotoxic metabolites, significant species differences in metabolism) and propose risk-mitigation strategies.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, toxicologists, pharmacologists and bioanalytical scientists to ensure metabolite data are interpreted in context of pharmacology and safety. Provide expert guidance to project teams on metabolite considerations and derisking strategies (e.g. informing structure design to mitigate metabolic liabilities, contributing to clinical study design regarding metabolite monitoring).

• Team Leadership and Mentorship: Lead a team of skilled MetID scientists and manage group priorities and resources, ensuring high-quality and timely delivery of metabolite identification results across multiple programs. Mentor and develop scientific talent, provide performance feedback, and champion innovation and excellence in structural elucidation skills.

• Data Interpretation and Reporting: Review and approve study reports and presentations, ensuring scientific conclusions about metabolite profiles are accurate and supported by data. Contribute to regulatory documents (INDs, NDAs) by reviewing sections on metabolite identification and metabolite safety assessments.

Qualifications (Required):

• Education & Experience: Ph.D. in Organic or Analytical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related discipline with at least 8 years (or an MS degree with > 12 years) of relevant industry experience in drug metabolism, including significant experience with metabolite identification in a pharmaceutical R&D setting.

• Metabolite Identification Expertise: Deep expertise in metabolite identification and biotransformation science. Extensive hands-on experience with structural assignment techniques, including purification from biological matrices, LC‑MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry, supported by a strong publication record.

• Drug Development Knowledge: Broad knowledge of ADME and drug metabolism principles across discovery and development. Understanding of both non-clinical and clinical aspects of metabolite exposure – including design of in vitro metabolism studies (e.g. hepatocyte/metabolic stability, enzyme phenotyping) and in vivo studies (animal metabolism and human mass balance studies). Familiarity with regulatory guidelines on metabolites (e.g. ICH M3(R2) and FDA MIST guidance) and experience ensuring compliance with metabolite safety assessment requirements.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Proven leadership skills in a scientific setting. Prior experience in supervising or mentoring other scientists is required, with ability to manage a team’s workflow and develop talent. Excellent interpersonal as well as oral and written communication skills are a must, including ability to convey complex concepts succinctly to broad audiences. Strong organizational and project management abilities to handle multiple projects concurrently and meet deadlines are expected.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Regulatory & Late-Stage Experience: Experience contributing to regulatory filings (NDA submissions) by authoring metabolite sections or responding to health authority queries on metabolism is a plus.

• Technical Innovations: Familiarity with emerging technologies in metabolite identification (such as automated data analysis software, novel mass spec fragmentation techniques, or bioinformatics tools for predicting metabolite formation) is a plus.

• Modalities Experience: Experience with small-molecule drug candidates is required, and experience with peptide or protein therapeutics is strongly desired. The candidate should understand how biotransformation of peptides/proteins may differ.

Our company 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, or any other factor protected by applicable law.

Required Skills:

ADME, Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalysis, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Drug Development, Drug Metabolism, Innovation, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Mentoring Staff, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Regulatory Compliance, Results-Oriented, Scientific Leadership, Strategic Direction, Talent Development, Team Leadership

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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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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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 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

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

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

04/1/2026

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