Senior Director, Biology-Discovery

Job Description

Senior Director, Translational and Biomarker Lead

We are seeking an exceptional scientific leader with deep expertise in immunology, translational science, and biomarker research to join our Discovery Immunology Team. This individual will help advance our mission to discover and develop best-in-class medicines for patients with immune-driven diseases.

The Senior Director, Translational and Biomarker Lead will shape and oversee translational and biomarker strategy for immunology programs, integrating discovery insights, human biology, and early clinical development. The role will guide hypothesis-driven mechanistic, preclinical, in vivo, and biomarker studies, translating complex data into clear recommendations that inform decisions across the portfolio. As a leader of multiple teams, this individual must bring strong people management skills to align priorities, develop talent, foster accountability, and create an environment where diverse scientific expertise is effectively integrated. The Senior Director will build and mentor teams capable of rigorous research and disciplined execution in a highly collaborative, matrixed organization.

This strategic and highly visible role sits at the interface of Discovery, Biomarkers, and Early Development, with responsibility for influencing translational data generation from internal clinical studies and external collaborations. The individual will identify, manage, and execute research partnerships with academic investigators and CROs, with particular emphasis on patient sample acquisition, multi-omics data generation, and interpretation in collaboration with computational and Data Science partners. Success in this role will require the ability to work effectively across functions, including with Clinical, Commercial, and Medical Affairs counterparts.

The ideal candidate will integrate data across disciplines to inform strategy, accelerate decision-making, and advance immunology programs from discovery into development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a high-performing translational and biomarker research team, setting scientific direction, prioritizing portfolio opportunities, and fostering a collaborative, rigorous, and innovative culture.

• Drive the translational and biomarker research portfolio by identifying and advancing opportunities to interrogate assets through strategically structured experiments, including in vitro systems, ex vivo studies using selected patient samples, and animal models, ensuring clear linkage among mechanism of action, disease biology, PK/PD, and translatable clinical endpoints.

• Oversee and guide the team in the design and execution of translational experimental plans, analysis strategies, and forward- and reverse-translational research studies in collaboration with internal teams and external partners, ensuring operational feasibility, fit-for-purpose approaches, and readiness for FIH/PoC studies aligned with early development indication plans.

• Provide leadership for biomarker strategy implementation across preclinical and clinical settings in partnership with Discovery, Non-Clinical Drug Safety, Translational Medicine, and Data Science teams.

• Champion adoption of emerging technologies, platforms, and therapeutic modalities to enable discovery and prosecution of novel targets in immunological disease, including small molecules, peptides, biologics & T cell engagers

• Maintain and share awareness of scientific developments within the area of expertise, including new findings, research methodologies, novel platforms, and emerging modalities, to strengthen team capability and portfolio decision-making.

• Engage scientific investigators, KOLs, and external partners to enable high-quality execution, scientific exchange, and strategic collaboration.

• Oversee and guide preparation of abstracts, presentations, and manuscripts for conferences and peer-reviewed publications, ensuring scientific quality and appropriate team contributions.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's (with 20+ years), Master's (with 18+ years) or Ph.D. (with 10+ years) in Immunology, Cell Biology or related field and relevant immunology research experience, with at least seven (7) years of direct industry experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge and experience of immune-mediated diseases including a strong understanding of molecular pathways driving disease and of relevant clinical trial results and competitive landscape in immunology and autoinflammation.

• Prior experience in ideating, establishing, and executing translational research strategies in immune diseases, including strategic fit, coordination of data generation and interpretation with computational scientists and other functions

• Prior experience shaping and executing in discovery research and drug development in the field of immunology with a focus on autoimmune/inflammatory diseases

• Experience developing clinically relevant biomarkers for target engagement and pharmacodynamic measures

• A minimum of five years of direct management experience overseeing multiple teams and proven leadership with the ability to align, motivate and empower team members and a demonstrated passion for team building and talent development

• Strong awareness of safety and environmental requirements

• A good understanding of integration and partnering necessary for pharmaceutical development with Translational Medicine, Clinical, CMC, Regulatory, Operations, and other functional areas

• Effective communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills with the ability to work with senior level managers in meeting venues that include multiple cross-functional representatives

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Biochemical Assays, Business Development, Cross-Cultural Awareness, External Collaboration, High Performance Team Building, High Throughput Drug Screening, Immunoassays, Immunology, Innovation, In Vitro Studies, Mechanism of Action Studies, Motivating Teams, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Biology, Research Methodologies, Translational Research

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

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

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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:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

08/7/2026

*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.