Executive Director, Metabolism & Obesity

Job Description

The Executive Director of Metabolism & Obesity will be responsible for overseeing and facilitating the research in metabolic diseases & obesity and its co-morbidities, in the Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD) Discovery Biology Department, which is located at a new state-of-the-art Research Laboratories center in South San Francisco, CA.

The individual will contribute to the design, prioritization, and execution of the strategic plan within CMD, including integration of new technology platforms, human biology, data science, while focusing on uncovering novel biology that delivers high-quality drug discovery pipeline. 

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company.  Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” and that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world.  We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead and help shape the departmental strategy in metabolic disease research & obesity.

• Implement the strategy by working together with key stakeholders within the department and across the network, in addition to collaborating with key opinion leaders in academia.

• Lead the development and implementation of in vitro and in vivo assays to conduct investigation of disease biology to establish and support evolution of a robust pipeline of therapeutic targets for treating metabolic diseases & obesity and its co-morbidities.

• Manage and mentor a team of scientists in the research of metabolic diseases & obesity.

• Review and seek out potential external research collaborations and licensing opportunities to capitalize on novel insights and complement internal pipeline.

• Monitor emerging biology and basic & clinical research within metabolic diseases & obesity, and more broadly across the scientific spectrum.

• Champion a diverse and inclusive culture within the department and across the organization

• Recruit, develop, and retain a talented team that delivers on target identification & validation and advances CMD pipeline.

Education Requirement:

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD degree in metabolic disorders related discipline, with 12+ years of drug discovery experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• A minimum of 12+ years’ research experience in metabolic diseases & obesity, with a proven track record substantiated by peer-reviewed publications.

• Research & development experience within industry is required. Prior experience in advancing drug discovery programs into early clinical development is highly desired.

• Experience in overseeing research projects, setting priorities and trouble shooting in a multi-disciplinary environment.

• Broad knowledge and first-hand experience in in vitro and in vivo models of metabolic diseases & obesity required.

• Solid understanding of drug discovery and clinical development and working knowledge of biomarker discovery, translational research, data science, and human genetics.

• Exceptional partnering and team skills as a trusted colleague and team leader.  Record of accomplishment of leading and supporting a collaborative team.

• Excellent track record of providing mentorship and guidance to reports and peers.

• Proficient in utilizing innovative technologies for preclinical research.

• Ability to communicate effectively with and relate to a broad range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, peers, direct reports, partner organizations and external collaborators.

• Deep understanding of competitive landscapes across indications associated with metabolic diseases and obesity and significant experience in conducting due diligence for external assets.

Preferred Leadership Competencies:

• Ability to understand, analyze and interpret complex problems and data while developing appropriate action plans to achieve results.

• Strong leadership skills to build and lead an agile team.  Ability to successfully influence, build credibility and work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders and both internal and external partners.

• A team player, who works effectively in a matrix organization, collaborates functionally across multiple stakeholders, and builds trust and credibility at all levels. Someone who builds consensus and achieves agreement on key priorities.

• High level of business acumen and judgment is preferred for this role; ability to make practical, realistic, data-driven, and timely decisions.

• Encourages and maintains the highest quality and rigor of research output and commitment to scientific inquiry, ethics, and diversity.

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  

Required Skills:

Business Development, Communication, Drug Discovery Process, High Performance Team Building, Innovation, Leadership, Management Process, Market Intelligence, Mentoring Staff, Mentorship, Metabolic Diseases, Obesity, Preclinical Research, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Biomarkers, Human Genetics, Translational Research

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

$255,200.00 - $401,700.00

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:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/20/2026

*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.