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Sr. Principal Scientist, Clinical Operations Immunology Lead

External
Merck logoMerck · - Massachusetts - Boston (ma Parcel B Laboratory)
Full-timeHybridToday
LeadershipStrategic Planning
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Responsibilities

  • Co-own and execute the early clinical development strategy for the immunology portfolio with the Head of TMed Immunology
  • Provide comprehensive strategic planning and operational oversight for immunology clinical programs and trials to maximize operational feasibility, efficiency, and ensure consistency and quality across the portfolio
  • Build global network of immunology sites and foster relationships with key investigators for Ph1b/2a patient trials to deliver on clinical program goals
  • Serve as the deep subject matter expert and issue escalation point for early immunology clinical operations
  • Ensure appropriate resources, competencies, and partnerships are in place to meet objectives
  • Critically review strategy and clinical program documents (development plans, investigator's brochures, protocols, etc.), providing scientific and operational insight to ensure best path forward
  • Partner with Business Development and Licensing to evaluate internal and external opportunities that align with portfolio strategy
  • Actively participate in annual and quarterly planning cycles: identify risks, develop and execute mitigation plans, and track performance metrics and outcomes
  • Ensure immunology data integrity across organization (Book of Business, CTMS, etc.)
  • Build and sustain strong cross-functional relationships (country operations, clinical supplies, data management, regulatory, etc.) across departments, divisions, and geographies
  • Foster the people pipeline: Attract, coach, mentor, and retain talent; provide performance management support; act as 'player-coach' to enrich group skillsets. Potential for people management.
  • Represent TMed on enterprise strategic initiatives and lead continuous-improvement efforts that increase clinical efficiency and scientific impact
  • Serve as a member of the TMed Clinical Operations leadership team and contribute to shaping department strategy
  • Education Requirement
  • Degree in Life Sciences with one of the following experience combinations:
  • Bachelor's degree + ≥16 years related experience, OR
  • Master's degree + ≥15 years related experience, OR
  • PhD/PharmD + ≥12 years related experience
  • Related Experience Includes: pharmaceutical industry roles in clinical drug development, clinical trial management, clinical site monitoring/training, medical/regulatory writing, or translational science
  • Required Experience and Skills
  • Extensive clinical operations experience in the planning and execution of early clinical development trials (Phase 1 and early proof-of-concept)
  • Demonstrated ability to translate knowledge to other areas to effectively collaborate, network, and influence peers, senior leaders, and external partners
  • Proven track record building and leading high-performing cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment
  • Strong decision-making skills, weighing advantages, disadvantages, and business impact for rapid decisions and proven track record delivering results on firm deadlines
  • Ability to work successfully with ambiguity and embrace uncertainty
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Experience attracting, developing, and retaining talent
  • Preferred Experience and Skills
  • Experience leading clinical programs and trials for gastroenterology, dermatology, and/or rheumatology, especially autoimmune or immune-mediated disorders, including in both large and small pharma contexts
  • Familiarity with broader pharmaceutical

Benefits

Vision insurance

Additional Information

Job Description Translational Medicine (TMed) drives early clinical development of novel therapeutics by partnering with Discovery Sciences and Late-Stage Clinical Research to translate scientific discoveries into human proof-of-concept and advance the most promising candidates through the pipeline to patients. Our Clinical and Operations organization designs and executes clinical pharmacology strategies spanning first-in-human studies through proof-of-biology/proof-of-concept and into late-stage development, supporting worldwide marketing applications and lifecycle management. In a competitive external landscape and fast-paced internal environment, the Immunology Clinical Operations Lead position provides both strategic and operational leadership across early immunology programs, ensuring timely, high-quality execution of clinical studies and clinical pharmacology strategies worldwide. The successful candidate will telescope between strategy and hands-on execution across a portfolio of diverse modalities (e.g. peptides, small molecules, biologics), and partner cross-functionally to develop the needed expertise to successfully advance programs to key inflection points in development. This role is equivalent in level to a Senior Director position. Why join us: Take a clinical operations leadership role at the intersection of discovery and clinical development to advance novel immunology therapeutics from bench to bedside. Influence strategy, build teams, and deliver high-impact clinical programs that shape the future of patient care.


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