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, Antibody Screening and Characterization within the Discovery Biologics department at our South San Francisco site. The Director will be responsible for leading a team of scientists focused on Hit Finding in vitro characterization of antibody candidates across multiple Therapeutic Areas and biologics modalities using state-of-the-art methods and lab automation. As the head of a team responsible for delivering high quality characterization data to advance therapeutic programs from de novo discovery into lead candidate selection, this individual will be responsible for driving innovation in antibody screening in collaboration with both the broader Discovery Biologics organization as well as other teams across the network. Additionally, this person will help drive the advancement of hits and leads through the biologics pipeline and will co-lead projects with therapeutic area scientists. This role is a key interface within the global Discovery Biologics network and other drug discovery and development functions within our company, as well as with external academic and industrial partners.

As a people manager, will be required to invest in the growth and development of current and future staff and 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 behaviors in working with a diverse group of researchers to drive our core mission.

In this role, you will:

• Lead a team of scientists in SSF Discovery Biologics focused on macromolecular interactions, cell based functional characterization, and lab automation to identify therapeutic antibody candidates to move into development

• As a member of the Antibody Generation leadership team, will work across groups within Discovery Biologics and with departments across our Company network to set and deliver on our strategic goals in scientific excellence, talent development, and pipeline advancement

• Lead and participate in cross-functional discovery project teams in partnership with therapeutic area scientists to create impactful therapeutic candidates

• Foster a high-performance growth mindset culture of collaboration, engagement, self-accountability, and inclusion

• Advance existing capabilities and knowledge with innovative and impactful methods, platforms, and workflow improvements, and stay abreast of external advancements in relevant scientific fields

• Ideate and initiate new program concepts leading to pipeline programs in partnership with therapeutic area scientists

• Actively attract and develop talent, including strategically leveraging diversity to strengthen the team

• Manage priorities, resources, and investments aligned with the Discovery Biologics strategy

• Promote the external reputation of our company's Discovery Biologics department

Qualifications:

Education:

• Ph.D. with eight (8) or more years of relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Track record in leadership and managerial roles in biologics discovery

• Deep scientific knowledge of the workflows required for the discovery and progression of protein therapeutics to development

• State of the art knowledge and experience in antibody hit finding screening and characterization (biophysical, functional)

• Strong technical knowledge of immunization-based de novo antibody discovery platforms and strategies

• Strong technical knowledge of lab instrumentation to accelerate screening through miniaturization, homogenous assays, and high content screening

• Prior direct management experience leading a team of scientists with a demonstrated passion for and track record of talent development of both people leaders and individual contributors

• Project leadership experience across Discovery stages from early discovery and screening phases through preclinical development of therapeutic candidates

• Track record of driving scientific and platform innovations

• Established external reputation through high-impact publications, presentations, and/or scientific community engagement in biologics screening and characterization

• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in protein therapeutics beyond traditional mAbs including alternative non-Ig scaffolds, bi- or multi-specifics, fusion proteins, and ADCs

• Prior experience in due diligence and business development activities

• Experience in managing external collaborations

• Interest in establishing academic collaborations with a passion for publishing

#EligibleforERP

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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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

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 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.

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:

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Requisition ID:R363160