Senior Director, Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalysis, Protein Therapeutics

Job Description

At our Company, we are inspired by the belief that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to scientific excellence can create medicines that save and improve lives. Every employee is building on our proud legacy of scientific breakthrough. Our ability to impact the lives of patients worldwide depends on the integrity, creativity, humility and scientific acumen of our team. We are creating an organization that is inspired by invention and founded on a culture of respect and collaboration. At our Company's Research Labs Boston, you’ll have the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills through collaboration with talented and dedicated colleagues while advancing your career.

The Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics (PDMB) group is seeking a dynamic, strategic thinking and collaborative Senior Director to contribute to our Company's protein therapeutic efforts from discovery through to candidate selection and into FIH trials.  This position will be based at our research labs in Boston, MA.  This senior leader will provide scientific and operational oversight for PK/PD and bioanalytical activities related to protein therapeutic drug candidates, including bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), fusion proteins, and emerging modalities. The successful candidate will lead a group of principal investigators and subject matter experts and will be expected to collaborate cross-functionally with discovery biologics, nonclinical drug safety, translational medicine and therapeutic area colleagues to ensure robust program strategies from early discovery through to IND submission and beyond.  Modality and therapeutic area support will focus on protein therapeutics in our immunology and oncology portfolios, with the potential to contribute other modalities across multiple therapeutic areas. 

In this exciting position, your primary roles will include:

• Oversee the design and interpretation of pharmacokinetic, immunogenicity and ADME studies for protein therapeutics across multiple disease indications and therapeutic areas

• Mentor and manage a team of high performing PDMB scientists and managers (multi-tiered organization) supporting protein therapeutic optimization (PK, distribution, translational strategy) and discovery bioanalytics (ligand binding assays, mass spectrometry)

• Design, implementation and analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies to understand the impact of drug disposition on disease biology, pharmacological response (PK/PD) and safety

• Contribute to global PDMB strategy through close collaboration with project teams in Boston (MA), South San Francisco (CA) and West Point (PA) focusing on building highly efficient strategies to identify and optimize protein therapeutic drug candidates

Education Minimum Requirement

• Ph.D (with 7+ years relevant experience) degree in biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, protein engineering, molecular biology, bioengineering, or related STEM field; Relevant experience that includes a record of increasing responsibility and independence in a similar industrial/academic setting

 

Required Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading protein therapeutic discovery efforts as a group leader or independent project-team representative within a highly collaborative environment

• Strong understanding of protein therapeutic bioanalytical, ADME, FcRn biology, target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) and immunogenicity concepts for modalities such as monoclonal antibodies or engineered bispecifics

• Proven track record of managing scientists and leading cross-functional teams in a drug discovery or development setting

• Experience contributing to development and execution of translational PK/PD efficacy relationships, human dose predictions and other useful quantitative pharmacology applications in a discovery setting

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, problem solving and collaborative qualities to deliver high quality results in a fast-paced environment

 

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Hands-on experience performing or interpreting data from translational PK/PD/efficacy or physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models (e.g., Phoenix WinNonlin, Berkeley Madonna, MATLAB).

• Proven track record supporting immunology or oncology-based programs with experience spanning from early discovery through IND-enabling effort

• Expertise with designing and troubleshooting ligand binding assays or hybrid-LC/MS assays for the detection and quantitation of protein therapeutics in various matrices (non-GLP)

• Experience working within a research-driven pharmaceutical company

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

ADME, Assay Development, Bioanalysis, Bioanalytical Assays, Bispecific Antibodies, Communication, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Drug Discovery Development, Drug Metabolism, Fast-Paced Environments, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Innovation, Ligand Binding Assay, Modeling Simulations, Monoclonal Antibodies, Oncology, People Leadership, Pharmacokinetics, PKPD Modeling, Protein Engineering, Results-Oriented, Scientific Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Therapeutic Proteins

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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The salary range for this role is

$194,100.00 - $305,600.00

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:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/a

Job Posting End Date:

10/12/2026

*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.