Director (Principal Scientist) - Precision Medicine - Outcomes Research

Job Description

This position resides within our company Value and Implementation (V&I) Oncology organization, which leads the execution of value evidence plan and delivery of strategic real-world evidence (RWE) capabilities to inform healthcare decision making.  Under the guidance of a senior leader, the Principal Scientist will provide US and ex-US outcomes research support for Oncology programs focusing on Precision Medicine. 

Position objectives:

• To provide leadership and consultation on evidence generation methods for translational oncology/molecular epidemiology studies to support access, value demonstration, and medical implementation.  Precision Medicine studies the candidate will lead include those on biomarkers with approved diagnostics across multiple tumors, studies involving tissue processing or acquisition, and studies on emerging biomarkers without approved diagnostics.
• To provide subject matter expertise in Outcomes research and precision medicine to internal and external stakeholders, including precision medicine integrated value and implementation team and related functions.
• To design and execute observational and real-world studies in support of access, value demonstration, and medical implementation.
• To inform and contribute to the value evidence plan and associated studies which demonstrate clinical, economic, and patient-centered value.
• To support the implementation of the RWE capability maturity model for global excellence in RWE generation, in partnership with local RWE experts and stakeholders.
• To communicate findings from the research to relevant internal and external audiences, including supporting the development of communication resources.

Position accountabilities:

• To collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure research priorities and plans are aligned
• To communicate with relevant external audiences including health care providers, health systems, HTAs, patient organizations, and others
• To design and execute outcome research studies, in collaboration with scientific leaders, patient organizations, academic medical centers, health systems, research organizations, database holders, and others.
• To prepare outcome research protocols, statistical analysis plans, and clinical study reports.
• To communicate findings at scientific conferences, publications, dossiers, and by other means.
• To maintain awareness of scientific developments in the field
• Expertise in translational oncology/molecular epidemiology, observational study best practices, fitness-for-use, real world evidence frameworks, and global guidelines on the conduct of observational research.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Doctoral degree in relevant discipline (health services research, outcomes research, epidemiology, public health, health economics, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacy administration)

Desired Experience and Skills:

• Expertise in Real-world evidence generation, advanced biostatistics and computational biology.
• Prior experience in digital pathology related analytics.
• Laboratory experience to understand how tissue is processed, including sample logistics, biobanking, pathology, and QA/QC considerations.
• Expertise in diagnostic test modalities (e.g., IHC, ISH, PCR, NGS, digital pathology, multiplex), Assay sensitivity/specificity.
• A track record of scientific presentations and publications.
• Four or more years of experience with a post degree.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in Oncology related outcome research and/or epidemiology.

Locations

Rahway, New Jersey

Upper Gwynedd, Pennsylvania

Required Skills:

Biobank, Biomarker Development, Biomarkers, Clinical Analytics, Clinical Development, Clinical Research, Clinical Sciences, Conference Presentations, Data Management, Epidemiology, Observational Studies, Personalized Medicine, Real World Data, Researching, Research Management, Research Programs, Research Protocols, Scientific Literacy, Scientific Presentations, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Study Design

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 primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

10/28/2026

*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.