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Clinical Director, Oncology Early Development

MSD


Job Location:

Rahway, NJ - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 255800 - 402700
Posted: 29 September 2026 (Yesterday)
Application Deadline: 27 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description

TheClinicalDirector (Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicinesin theEarly Oncology therapeutic area. Our companysOncology medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure).TheClinicalDirectormaymanage the entire cycle of clinical development fortheir signedstudiesincluding study design initiation execution monitoring analysis regulatory reporting and publication.

Role Responsibilities:

Specifically theClinicalDirectormayberesponsiblefor:

  • Planning clinical trials (designingcollaborating onoperational plans etc.) based on the clinical development strategy

  • Medical oversightandoverallconduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketeddrugs

  • Analyzing and summarizing clinical findings from studies to support decisionsregardingsafety and efficacy as well as new drug applications clinical study reports or publication

  • Participatingin internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds and the further study of marketed compounds

  • Supportingbusiness development assessments of external opportunities

TheClinicalDirectormay:

  • Actively engagewithother functional areas in support of studyexecution

  • Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization regulatory affairs statistics and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects

  • Assistthe team in ensuring thatother colleaguesare informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors drugs

  • Provide expert opinion internally and externallyon relevant scientific questions within their responsibility

TheClinicalDirectoris responsible formaintaininga strong scientific fund of knowledge by:

  • Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise in terms of new scientific findings research methodologies

  • Identifyingscientifically and operationally strong investigators who canassistin the development of our companys investigational and marketed drugs

  • Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in his/herparticular fieldof interest particularly those who will be willing and able toassistin the evaluation of our companys drugs

  • Attendingappropriate scientificmeetings tomaintainhis or her competency and tomaintainawareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility

Toaccomplishthese goals theClinicalDirectormay:

  • 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

Education:

  • M.D or M.D./Ph.D.

Required Experience and Skills:

  • 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

  • Proventrack recordin 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

PreferredExperience and Skills:

  • Board Certified or Eligible inOncologyor related discipline

  • Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publications

Required Skills:

Clinical Development Clinical Judgment Clinical Research Clinical Trials Clinical Trial Support Drug Discovery Research Early Clinical Development Oncology

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 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 anothers 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

$255800.00 - $402700.00

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 employees 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 can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

10/8/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.


Required Experience:

Director


About Company

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Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more

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