Director, Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences and Analytical Characterization

Job Description

We are on a quest for cures and are committed to be the world’s premier, most research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. Our teams combine leading drug discovery capabilities and world-class R&D with the purpose of turning breakthrough science into life-changing medicines.

We are seeking an exceptional and experienced leader in the role of Director Discovery Biologics, Protein Sciences and Analytical Characterization within the Discovery Biologics at our South San Francisco site.  The Director will be responsible for the leadership of a team of 10+ scientists (group leaders, scientists, contractors) focused on the advanced characterization of biologics (antibodies, bi/multispecifics, ADCs, fusion proteins and other complex modalities) by state-of-the-art biophysical characterization and molecular interactions methods.  In this Discovery facing role, they will drive scientific excellence and innovation as the head of a group responsible for delivering high quality characterization data to advance discovery programs from the high-throughput screening phase to lead candidate selection. The leader will be responsible for driving innovation in biologics developability workflows at our Biologics Developability Center of excellence in South San Francisco in collaboration with the broader Discovery Biologics organization and with downstream organizations at our company.  In addition, they will directly integrate computational and wet-lab researchers with state-of-the-art automation to accelerate the discovery, engineering, and characterization of novel biologics in the pre-IND pipeline and support AI/ML initiatives and the establishment of developability endpoints prediction algorithms.  They will also co-lead discovery biologics projects together with therapeutic area scientists.

The role is a key interface within the global Discovery Biologics network, mass spectrometry scientists, antibody generation groups, protein engineers, protein production scientists, data scientists, as well as downstream development groups and therapy areas within the broader company network.

As a people manager, they will invest in the growth and development of current and future staff, to create a culture of collaboration and accountability to enable shared success. The leader will work closely with their team members to leverage strengths and identify opportunities to continually expand skillsets, leadership, and enterprise thinking.  They will work to support the department’s efforts to recruit diverse and highly skilled key talent to the organization and be a champion for diversity and inclusion.  We recognize that the diversity in our team is our strength, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  Successful candidates must demonstrate inclusive behaviours in working with a diverse group of researchers to drive our core mission.

What you will do:

• Lead a team of group leaders and scientists focused on protein characterization and developability assessment of biologics molecules in Discovery.
• Lead discovery pipeline programs in partnership with therapeutic area scientists.
• Actively attract and develop talent, including strategically leveraging diversity to strengthen the team.
• Foster a high-performance culture of collaboration, engagement, self-accountability, and inclusion.
• Advance existing capabilities and knowledge with innovative and impactful methods, platform, and workflow improvements.
• Effectively partner across multidisciplinary interfaces to achieve organizational objectives.
• Manage priorities, resources, and investments aligned with the Discovery Biologics strategy.
• Promote the external reputation of our company’s Discovery Biologics department.

What you will need to be successful in this role:

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD with 8+ years of substantial industry experience
• Track record in leadership and managerial roles in biologics discovery
• Experience in advancing protein therapeutics through discovery to development.
• Strong presentation and publication record in biologics  discovery, protein sciences, protein characterization and developability assessment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities

Required skills:

• Deep scientific knowledge of the workflows required for the discovery and progression of protein therapeutics to development.
• Prior direct management experience leading a team of scientists.
• Demonstrated passion for and a track record of talent development.
• Experience with developability assessment of protein therapeutics beyond traditional mAbs including alternative non-Ig scaffolds, bi- or multispecifics, fusion proteins, and ADCs in a Discovery environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of analytical characterization techniques, including HPLC/UPLC analytical methods, CE-SDS, cIEF, thermal stability, SPR, BLI techniques.
• Project leadership experience across Discovery stages from early discovery and screening phases through preclinical development of therapeutic candidates
• Prior experience working at the discovery-development interface to facilitate the transition of preclinical candidate molecules into downstream process development-related functions and activities.
• Track record of driving scientific and platform innovations
• Established external reputation through high-impact publications, presentations, and/or scientific community engagement in biologics characterization.
• Champion for diverse and inclusive culture

Preferred skills:

• Experience in lab automation, including automated analytical data acquisition, and analysis workflows.
• Experience in outsourcing and managing external collaborations.
• Prior experience in due diligence and business development activities
• Interest in establishing academic collaborations with a passion for publishing in impactful reviews.

Your role at our company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our company, we’re inventing for life.

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively for the common good. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separationpackage, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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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Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

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Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed 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

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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. 

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