Clinical Director, Clinical Research, Hematology
Merck
Summary
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. 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 assigned studies including study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.
Job description
Role Responsibilities
- 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.
- Actively engaging with other functional areas in support of study execution.
- Working closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects.
- Assisting the team in ensuring that colleagues are informed of the progress of studies of the company and competitors' drugs.
- Providing expert opinion, internally and externally, on relevant scientific questions within their responsibility.
Maintaining Scientific Knowledge
- Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings and research methodologies.
- Identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of investigational and marketed drugs.
- Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in the field of interest.
- Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain competency and awareness of research activities.
Additional Responsibilities
- 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.
Requirements
- M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. required
- 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 and ability to function in a team environment
- Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills
- Board Certified or Eligible in Oncology, Hematology or related discipline (preferred)
- Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication (preferred)
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k) Matching
- Retirement Benefits
- Paid Holidays
- Vacation
- Compassionate Leave
- Sick Days
- Annual Bonus
- Long-Term Incentive
Company overview
Merck & Co., Inc., known as Merck in the United States and Canada and MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) internationally, is a premier American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Founded in 1891 as the U.S. subsidiary of the German Merck Group, the company became independent following World War I and has since grown into one of the world's largest biomedical companies, ranking fourth globally by revenue. Merck operates across three core business segments: pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health products. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking research and development, having brought numerous life-saving medicines to market including Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a leading immunotherapy for cancer treatment that generated $29.5 billion in 2024 revenue, and Gardasil, a revolutionary HPV vaccine. With approximately 75,000 employees worldwide, Merck maintains a robust pipeline of innovative therapies focused on oncology, vaccines, hospital acute care, cardiology, neuroscience, virology, immunology, and diabetes. The company invests heavily in R&D, spending $17.9 billion in 2024 alone, demonstrating its commitment to advancing scientific discovery. Merck's legacy spans over 130 years of bringing hope to humanity through important medicines and vaccines, operating with a purpose to use leading-edge science to save and improve lives globally while fostering an inclusive workforce and responsible business practices.