Director, Biology-Discovery

Job Description

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced drug discovery scientist and people leader to serve as Director of a Screening and High Throughput Biology group within Quantitative Biosciences Early Discovery. The successful candidate combines deep expertise in high throughput biology platforms with broad experience spanning target identification and validation, lead discovery and optimization. This individual will set scientific direction for the group, lead a team of approximately 8 scientists and associates, and deploy screening and HTB capabilities in direct support of drug discovery programs spanning multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, metabolic disease, ophthalmology, and infectious disease. The Director will operate within a highly matrixed environment, partnering closely with Discovery Chemistry, Discovery Biology, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology to deliver high-quality, decision-enabling data that advances the portfolio. This role emphasizes leadership of lab-facing personnel and requires regular onsite presence (4+ days per week) in Rahway, NJ.

Key Responsibilities:

Works closely with Department Leadership to set the scientific vision and strategy for the group, defining priorities, success metrics, and standards for data quality and delivery in support of discovery programs

Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing team through clear accountability, coaching, mentorship, and career development of PhD scientists, MS/BS associates, and contractors

Apply high throughput biology platforms including CRISPR-based approaches, DRUG-seq, high content imaging, cell painting, and complex biological models to enable target identification, hit finding, compound profiling, and lead optimization

Design and execute research operating plans that translate program strategy into actionable experimental work streams

Provide quantitative, mechanistic, and pharmacologically grounded interpretation of screening and profiling data to inform compound progression decisions

Partner cross-functionally to ensure HTB deliverables are integrated into program-level decision-making

Foster a culture of scientific rigor, curiosity, and data-driven decision-making within the group

Build and maintain internal and external networks that enhance the group's capabilities, including management of CRO relationships and academic collaborations

Evolve the group's technology portfolio and capabilities in response to changing portfolio needs

Education:

Ph.D. with 10+ years in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Biophysics, or a related discipline

BS/MS with 15+ years of directly applicable industry experience and a demonstrated track record of scientific leadership may also be considered

Required Experience and Skills:

10+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery

Demonstrated expertise in high throughput biology platforms, with hands-on experience in one or more of: CRISPR screening, transcriptional profiling at scale (e.g., DRUG-seq), high content imaging, cell painting, or development of complex cellular models

Track record of contributing to early drug discovery programs

Experience designing and executing research operating plans in support of lead discovery

Direct people management experience: building, leading, and developing teams of scientists in a lab-facing environment

Strong cross-functional collaboration skills

Quantitative rigor in experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of cell-based assay pharmacology

Excellent communication skills with ability to distill complex datasets into clear recommendations for stakeholders

Preferred Experience and Skills:

Background in quantitative sciences, quantitative pharmacology, biochemistry, or systems-level/mechanistic approaches to compound characterization

Experience managing external collaborations including CROs and academic partnerships

Familiarity with AI/ML tools, data science approaches, and laboratory automation as applied to cell-based drug discovery

Program or project team leadership experience beyond people management

Record of scientific contribution demonstrated through publications, patents, or recognized internal impact

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Cell Biology, Drug Development, Drug Screening, Functional Genomics, High-Throughput Screening, Laboratory Automation, People Management

Preferred Skills:

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:

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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 primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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 .

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

11/20/2026 *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.

Requisition ID:R420953