Job Description
The Clinical Director (Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Oncology therapeutic area, specifically in our Hematology Section. Our company's Oncology medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Clinical Director may manage the entire cycle of clinical development for their assigned studies including study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.
Role Responsibilities:
Specifically, the Clinical Director may be responsible for:
Planning clinical trials (designing, collaborating on operational plans, etc.) based on the clinical development strategy.
Medical oversight and overall conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed drugs.
Analyzing and summarizing clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication.
Participating in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds.
Supporting business development assessments of external opportunities.
The Clinical Director may:
Actively engage with other functional areas in support of study execution.
Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects.
Assist the team in ensuring that other colleagues are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs.
Provide expert opinion, internally and externally, on relevant scientific questions within their responsibility.
The Clinical Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:
Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies.
Identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our company's investigational and marketed drugs.
Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in his/her particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our company's drugs.
Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain his or her competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility.
To accomplish these goals, the Clinical Director may:
Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences.
Facilitate collaborations with external researchers around the world.
Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects.
Education:
Required Experience and Skills:
Must have experience in industry or senior faculty in academia.
Minimum of 3 years of clinical medicine experience.
Minimum of 1 year of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research experience in academia.
Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement.
Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research.
Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to function in a team environment.
Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
Board Certified or Eligible in Oncology, Hematology or related discipline.
Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication.
Required Skills:
Academic Presentations, Adaptability, Allergy and Immunology, Biomedical Research, Clinical Investigations, Clinical Judgment, Clinical Research, Clinical Trial Planning, Clinical Trial Support, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Ethical Standards, Intellectual Curiosity, New Technology Integration, Regulatory Requirements, Scientific Consulting
Preferred Skills:
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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:
06/11/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
