Director (Principal Scientist), Clinical Research, Respiratory

The Clinical Director (Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Cardiovascular and Respiratory therapeutic area.  Our company's cardiovascular and respiratory 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.

• 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 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

• 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

• 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

• M.D or M.D./Ph.D.

• 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

• Board Certified or Eligible in Pulmonology, Cardiology or related discipline

• Strong preference in pediatric and/or adult care

• Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

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.