AVP, Therapeutic Area Head, Clinical Safety and Risk Management
Merck
August 11, 2026
Remote friendly (North Wales, PA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
The Associate Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head (TAH) is a senior physician leader responsible for strategic oversight of clinical safety assessment and risk management across assigned therapeutic area(s).
Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for clinical safety assessment and risk management for investigational and marketed products.
- Direct and oversee Safety Physicians and Medical Associates for safety surveillance, signal detection, benefit-risk assessment, and risk management.
- Guide risk management strategy and transparent safety communication plans.
- Serve on safety governance/oversight committees; lead assessment of emerging safety signals and direct actions.
- Serve as Physician Management Reviewer for post-approval safety signal evaluations.
- Establish relationships with global health authorities; represent the company in regulatory interactions.
- Maintain oversight of safety issues, risk communications, and ongoing benefit-risk assessments.
- Partner on global pharmacovigilance systems, policies, quality standards, and SOPs; support inspection readiness.
- Partner cross-functionally to ensure integrated safety strategies and informed decision-making.
- Lead, develop, and mentor Safety Physicians; drive scientific rigor, accountability, and patient-focused decisions.
Education:
- M.D. or equivalent medical degree (Board Certification preferred).
Required Qualifications/Experience:
- 3+ years clinical experience post-training; 5+ years in Clinical Safety/Pharmacovigilance (or related); 9+ years pharma/healthcare.
- Experience people-managing teams; drug development (clinical and/or regulatory).
- Expertise in pharmacovigilance, clinical safety, and benefit-risk; strong global regulatory knowledge; cross-matrix influence.
Preferred:
- Safety strategy leadership across therapeutic areas/global portfolios (Oncology preferred); success with complex regulatory safety interactions; leadership in global PV/governance.
Required Skills:
- Pharmacovigilance, benefit-risk assessment, risk management, signal detection, safety governance, regulatory affairs, medical review, leadership, people management, stakeholder/executive communication, quality management systems.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (Workday Jobs Hub for current employees). Deadline stated on posting.
Benefits/Compensation (as stated):
- Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive (if applicable); comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays/vacation, compassionate and sick days.
- Salary range: $378,100.00–$595,100.00.
Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for clinical safety assessment and risk management for investigational and marketed products.
- Direct and oversee Safety Physicians and Medical Associates for safety surveillance, signal detection, benefit-risk assessment, and risk management.
- Guide risk management strategy and transparent safety communication plans.
- Serve on safety governance/oversight committees; lead assessment of emerging safety signals and direct actions.
- Serve as Physician Management Reviewer for post-approval safety signal evaluations.
- Establish relationships with global health authorities; represent the company in regulatory interactions.
- Maintain oversight of safety issues, risk communications, and ongoing benefit-risk assessments.
- Partner on global pharmacovigilance systems, policies, quality standards, and SOPs; support inspection readiness.
- Partner cross-functionally to ensure integrated safety strategies and informed decision-making.
- Lead, develop, and mentor Safety Physicians; drive scientific rigor, accountability, and patient-focused decisions.
Education:
- M.D. or equivalent medical degree (Board Certification preferred).
Required Qualifications/Experience:
- 3+ years clinical experience post-training; 5+ years in Clinical Safety/Pharmacovigilance (or related); 9+ years pharma/healthcare.
- Experience people-managing teams; drug development (clinical and/or regulatory).
- Expertise in pharmacovigilance, clinical safety, and benefit-risk; strong global regulatory knowledge; cross-matrix influence.
Preferred:
- Safety strategy leadership across therapeutic areas/global portfolios (Oncology preferred); success with complex regulatory safety interactions; leadership in global PV/governance.
Required Skills:
- Pharmacovigilance, benefit-risk assessment, risk management, signal detection, safety governance, regulatory affairs, medical review, leadership, people management, stakeholder/executive communication, quality management systems.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (Workday Jobs Hub for current employees). Deadline stated on posting.
Benefits/Compensation (as stated):
- Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive (if applicable); comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays/vacation, compassionate and sick days.
- Salary range: $378,100.00–$595,100.00.