New · posted Nov 1
Merck · Pharmaceuticals
Executive Director, Product Development Team Leader, Clinical Research, Hematology - Lymphoma
- Rahway, NJ
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- Director
The role
The Executive Director (Distinguished Scientist) and Product Development Team (PDT) lead has primary responsibility for the planning and directing of clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Oncology therapeutic area, Hematology section.
The Executive Director will manage and oversee the entire cycle of late-stage clinical development from Phase 2 to Phase 5, including development of program strategy and design, protocol authoring, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, publication, and presentation at national and international meetings. They will lead cross-functional product development teams that oversee program strategy and execution, will provide internal scientific leadership for cross-functional areas supporting clinical trials, and will interact externally with key scientific leaders.
The Executive Director may be responsible for:
Evaluating pre-clinical and translational work for the purpose of generating early clinical development plans and Investigational New Drug (IND) applications
Developing clinical development strategies for investigational or marketed medicines that incorporate the latest scientific developments, regulatory requirements, the competitive landscape, and commercial considerations
Executing the clinical strategy, planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings), and leading the clinical subteam
Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed medicines
Leading cross-functional product development teams that oversee overall strategy and execution for investigational or marketed medicines
Acting as an integration of cross-functional input and expertise, ensuring all perspectives are incorporated into the strategy/plan and serve as the product development team spokesperson
Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publications
Participating in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds
Supporting business development assessments of external opportunities.
Managing Clinical Directors and/or Senior Clinical Directors responsible for [insert therapeutic area] clinical development work, demonstrating effective leadership and fostering a high-performance culture
Working closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects, and assist the Associate Vice President and/or Vice President in ensuring that appropriate Corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs, and of internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to their areas of responsibility
Leading internal governance presentations to senior management and committees, communicating progress and key changes in product development strategy between stage gates, ensuring early alignment with line management, and facilitating issue escalation and cross-functional collaboration as needed for governance approval
The Executive Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:
Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within their area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies
Identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our company's investigational and marketed drugs
Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in their particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our company's drugs
Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain their competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in their area of responsibility.
To accomplish these goals, the Executive Director may:
Author and/or oversee 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.
What you need
Education
M.D or M.D./Ph.D.
Required Experience and Skills
Minimum of 3 years of clinical medicine experience
Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in drug development with demonstrated success in overseeing multiple studies and protocols through completion
Experience in authoring regulatory documents and leading discussions with regulatory agencies
Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement
Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research
Outstanding interpersonal and collaborative skills, as well as the ability to function in a matrix environment
Excellence in delivering clear, impactful communication verbally, in writing, and during presentations
Required Skills
Clinical Development, Clinical Judgment, Clinical Medicine, Clinical Trial Development, Ethical Standards, Hematology, Intellectual Curiosity, Interdisciplinary Problem Solving, Lymphoma, Mentorship, Program Strategy, Regulatory Compliance, Scientific Leadership, Senior Program Management, Strategic Planning
Travel Requirements
25%
Valid Driving License
No
Preferred Experience and Skillsnice to have
Board Certified or Eligible in Oncology, Hematology, or related discipline
Lymphoma experience
Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication record
Product registration experience desirable
Pay and benefits
$311,000 – $489,000 a year
Employer providedAdditional location(s) Compensation Information
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
Medical, dental and vision insurance
Retirement benefits including 401(k)
Paid holidays
Vacation
Sick and compassionate days
Annual bonus and long-term incentive
Where you'll work
Rahway, NJHybridOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
More jobs in Rahway, NJWorking conditions
1st - Day
Hazardous Material(s)
N/A
Employee Status
Regular
Relocation
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship
Yes
Flexible Work Arrangements
Hybrid
Job Posting End Date
11/6/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Equal opportunity, accessibility and legal noticesMerck's statements, word for word
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:
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.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
The primary location for this posting is:
USA - New Jersey - Rahway
Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.
The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$310,900.00 - $489,400.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.
Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
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.
Job intelligence
The context around this role
Live data · November 3, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 33% above the US median for Clinical Development roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Director roles in New Jersey28 roles publishing pay
Director roles in the US212 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $311,000 | — | $489,000 |
| New Jersey (middle half) | $270,500 | $300,750 | $329,500 |
| All US (middle half) | $260,000 | $300,000 | $335,500 |
This role: Merck's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Clinical Development roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, November 3, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Clinical Development
The general path across 272 open Clinical Development roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not Merck's own promotion track.
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 41 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Clinical trial conduct15
- Collaboration and leadership15
- Documentation and SOPs7
- Investigations and CAPA6
- GMP and compliance1
- Lab testing and methods1
- Regulatory submissions1
Regulatory intelligence
The rules behind this role
Frameworks and standards this posting's work falls under, matched from its own words, each linked to the official source.
Company hiring pulse
Merck on Regulatory Jobs
- 26
- Open roles
- 26
- Distinct roles
- 5
- Locations
By discipline
- Clinical19 73%
- Regulatory6 23%
- Quality1 4%
By level
- Director21 81%
- Senior & Principal4 15%
- VP & Executive1 4%
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Executive Director, Product Development Team Leader, Clinical Research, Hematology - Lymphoma at Merck
Applications close November 6. $311K–$489K a year, employer provided.