Principal Scientist (Scientific Director Level)– Nonclinical Drug Safety
Merck · West Point, PA +4 more
SafetyFull-time$176k–$277kCompany career page
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Role summary
Merck seeks a Principal Scientist to lead nonclinical drug safety strategy for discovery programs across immunology, oncology, and other therapeutic areas. The role involves risk assessment, program de-risking, and cross-functional collaboration from target identification through First-In-Human enabling studies.
What they're looking for
- PhD, DVM, MD, or equivalent degree in relevant field
- Minimum 8+ years pharmaceutical industry experience in nonclinical safety assessment or toxicology
- Demonstrated success navigating cross-functional matrix organizations and driving team decisions
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work across organizational levels
- Experience with biopharmaceutical and small molecule drug development preferred
- Knowledge of regulatory submissions and responses preferred
What you'll be doing
- Represent nonclinical drug safety on discovery teams and governance committee reviews
- Identify and assess risks associated with therapeutic targets using literature and internal data
- Define and oversee nonclinical safety strategy for programs in all modalities
- Lead early development teams and inform preclinical studies supporting product development
- Collaborate with nonclinical staff across sites to execute appropriate studies
Privacy & handoff
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