Global Head Discovery Pharmacology (all genders)

 

Work Your Magic with us!  

 

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

 

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

 

Position: Global Head of Discovery Pharmacology

 

Reporting: Reports to the Global Head of Discovery and Development Technologies

 

Discovery and Development Technologies (DDTech) is a global, integrated team that encompasses multiple functions, including Medicinal Chemistry, Discovery Sciences, Antibody and ADC technologies, DMPK, Chemical, and Pre-clinical Safety. DDTech oversees the discovery strategy and execution of novel molecular entities, such as NCEs, NBEs, and ADCs. In close partnership with the Oncology, Neurology, and Immunology Research and Development Units (RU and DU, respectively), DDTech plays a vital role in advancing Merck’s discovery and development programs. Moreover, it supports external innovation and business development activities, contributing to the progress of Merck’s R&D portfolio. The team has a strong track record, as evidenced by successful pipeline projects like Tepmetko, Evobrutinib, Enpatoran, and Bavencio.

 

Your role

In the very dynamic interface between Biology and Chemistry, the Global Head of Discovery Pharmacology will lead teams of scientist covering broad expertise in digital and automation, structural biology and biophysics, molecular- and advanced cellular models and multi-omics to drive discovery of various innovative modalities across Small Molecules (including targeted degradation and covalent modalities) as well as antibody-based therapeutics. Your role is essential to drive and execute innovative approaches to discover competitive drug candidates and unravel their mode of action to inform subsequent clinical development.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to Discovery Sciences teams, overseeing areas such as molecular & cellular pharmacology, high throughput screening, multi-omics, structural biology, and digital & automation.
• Set clear objectives, milestones, and operational plans to achieve departmental and organizational goals.
• Focus on scientific impact in a cost-conscious, efficient setup, and leverage CROs and collaborations across the globe.
• Coach and provide performance feedforward, fostering a culture of scientific excellence and talent development.
• Collaborate with diverse cross-functional, internal and external teams from the definition of the therapeutic hypothesis, the selection and characterization of the preferred molecular modality, to informed discovery and clinical strategies across diverse therapeutic areas.
• Provide portfolio guidance on hit-finding strategies, target engagement/pharmacodynamic and predictive biomarkers as well as the screening cascades for lead and candidate optimization.
• Drive innovative approaches to discover drug candidates and understand their mode of action, guiding subsequent clinical development.
• Continuously enhance the organization's capabilities and stay updated on industry trends and cutting edge technologies, inlcuding digital and automation, multi-omics and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Contribute to fostering a science culture through scientific publications, presentations at conferences, and participation in scientific advisory boards.
• Act as a core member of the company’s Research therapeutic area-specific Research Unit Leadership teams (RULT) drining the pipeline across Oncology, Immuno-Oncology, Neurology, and Immunology therapy areas
• As a member of the DDTech leadership team, shape the Small Molecule, Antibody, and Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC) discovery strategy and represent Discovery Sciences and/or DDTech in interactions with Health Care senior management and external stakeholders.

 

 

Who you are:

• PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, or another L