Executive Director, US Clinical Operations

Job Description

Translational Medicine (TMed) leverages multidisciplinary expertise to guide decision-making throughout the drug development process driving the most promising therapeutic candidates forward. We partner with stakeholders to strategically shape our pipeline and advance breakthrough medicines from discovery to late-stage development and beyond. Through cross-functional collaboration we integrate data to derive insights across functional and therapeutic areas fostering connectivity and fueling innovation.

The clinical organization within Translational Medicine (TMed) is responsible for early clinical development of novel therapeutics working in close collaboration with Discovery Sciences and Late-Stage Clinical Research and is accountable for all scientific operational and technical aspects of TMed HQ-sponsored clinical trials. The Head of TMed US Clinical Operations will provide strategic leadership and managerial oversight leading the group to deliver on the TMed clinical portfolio (>

100 trials and program level deliverables annually across multiple therapeutic areas including multi-country / center patient trials).

The Executive Director will develop / support an empowered organization that can navigate in a matrixed environment and adjust quickly to business needs including new / evolving processes and technology. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring the organization drives successful execution of all operational components of clinical programs using strong project management leadership organizational and communication skills while ensuring GCP and quality standards are met and within agreed timelines and budgets. The incumbent will assure alignment of the operations activities with the overall priorities of the department division and company. They will be responsible for ensuring staff are provided with appropriate vision direction training and sponsorship of projects and initiatives. The incumbent will ensure performance management and career development plans are implemented by direct supervisors and that the entire organization is compliant with all policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate demonstrates a growth mindset and uses sound judgement to balance risks and trade-offs. They bring a proactive solutions-oriented approach and a strong commitment to ensure continual optimization of our organization to meet Research and Developments (R&D) mission. They foster constructive debate respectfully challenge assumptions and communicate with courage and candor when representing TMed in higher level cross-functional interactions.

The Executive Director reports to the Senior Vice President / Head of Translational Medicine and sits on the TMed Leadership team. This role is a highly cross-functional and influential role within TMed and with cross functional partners.

Primary Responsibilities :

Leadership & Culture :

• Provide strategic and motivational leadership to TMed US Clinical Operations fostering an inclusive engaging and high-performance culture.
• Lead organizational change initiatives ensuring adaptability to evolving internal and external environments.
• Promote diversity of thought through empowering staff to speak up challenge the status quo and contribute to continuous improvement.

Portfolio & Operational Oversight :

Resource & Talent Management :

Stakeholder Engagement :

Strategic Planning & Industry Awareness :

Education Requirement :

Required Experience and Skills :

Preferred Experience and Skills :

Required Skills :

Clinical Development Clinical Trials Cross-Functional Teamwork ICH GCP Guidelines Innovation Leadership People Leadership Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder Management Strategic Leadership Strategic Planning Strategy Development Succession Planning

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

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 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

$250800.00 - $394800.00

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 :

11 / 22 / 2025

Required Experience :

Director

Key Skills

Employee Relations,Employee Evaluation,Management Experience,Profit & Loss,Conflict Management,Operations Management,Project Management,Budgeting,Leadership Experience,Supervising Experience,Leadership management,Financial Planning

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary Salary : 250800 - 394800