Director, Translational PK/PD, PBPK Modeling

Job Description

The department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism & Bioanalytics (PDMB) is seeking a curious and collaborative Scientific Director for our growing Translational PK/PD organization. The Translational PK/PD Director is an expert mathematical modeler and scientist who can lead development of and supervise others in mechanistic modeling strategy for drug discovery, focusing on biologics, protein therapeutics, and peptides.

For this role specifically, we are seeking an expert in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling who can design mechanistic models to translate findings across therapeutic modalities and across species.

The Translational PK/PD Scientific Director will:

• Serve as expert PK/PD modeler in cross-functional teams, to make model-informed decisions about drug discovery, modality selection, and dose prediction across therapeutic areas;

• Integrate in vitro and in vivo data to build PBPK, quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), or other mechanistic modeling platforms of drug disposition and pharmacology, to support forward / reverse translation for both established and novel therapeutic targets;

• Guide software developers in the design of automated workflows for implementing modeling platforms, to inform human PK/PD and dose projections;

• Collaborate across the PDMB organization to develop modeling and simulation strategies to identify and optimize drug candidates;

• Provide scientific guidance and cross-functional supervision to a team of growing scientists;

• Mentor / supervise junior colleagues to perform the above duties and to grow the above capabilities.

In addition to the responsibilities described above, Directors demonstrate outstanding leadership and communication skills, collaborating across departments to build strategies for quantitative model-informed drug discovery.

Required:

• (Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics / Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Systems Pharmacology / Quantitative Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering / Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Mathematics / Mathematical Biology, Biostatistics / Statistics, Computational Biology / Systems Biology, Biophysics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Toxicology or equivalent with ≥ 7 years experience) or (PharmD or equivalent with ≥ 9 years experience) or (MS or equivalent with ≥ 11 years experience); “experience” means a record of increasing responsibility and independence in drug discovery / development, within industry, academia, regulatory, or non-profit settings;

• Experience performing hands-on translational PKPD and PBPK modeling using standard modeling software (e.g., Matlab / SimBiology, OSP Suite, Simcyp, Gastroplus, Monolix, R), for discovery / development of biologics, protein therapeutics, and/or peptides;

• Expert skills in mathematical problem solving, critical data analysis / interpretation, experimental design, and statistics.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and to oversee the work of other scientists and software developers;

• Expertise in developing novel translational modeling strategies or automated workflows that rely on PBPK, QSP, or related mechanistic modeling.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Cross-Team Coordination, Data Modeling, Dose Response Modeling, Drug Discovery Process, MATLAB, PBPK Modeling, Pharmacology, Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling, PKPD Modeling, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Therapeutic Proteins

Preferred Skills:

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 salary range for this role is

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

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/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/28/2026

*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.