Director, Biochemistry
Merck
August 31, 2026
Remote friendly (Rahway, NJ)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
In this role you will:
- Lead and manage a team of biochemists, mass spectroscopists, and pharmacologists (mentorship, accountability, professional development).
- Own biochemical assay strategy across early discovery: assay design, target validation support, hit identification/confirmation, mechanism-of-action studies, and hit-to-lead enablement.
- Implement High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry (Echo-MS) workflows in screening campaigns and assay development (when indicated).
- Partner with screening, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, pharmacology, computational sciences, and therapeutic area teams to translate biochemical data into program decisions.
- Set standards/best practices for assay quality, reproducibility, data interpretation, and decision-ready reporting.
- Implement FAIR-consistent data capture workflows and machine-learning approaches.
- Support integrated characterization via orthogonal protein biochemistry/biophysics/mass spectrometry workflows.
- Drive innovation via technology development, external collaboration, and long-range planning; represent function in cross-functional forums.
- Ensure compliance with lab/IT, quality & regulatory, and safety practices.
Qualifications:
- Post-graduate degree (Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related) with 10+ years relevant industry experience (Ph.D. 10+, M.Sc. 12+, B.Sc. 15+).
Required experience & skills:
- Leadership/management/mentoring; ability to foster collaboration and make tough decisions.
- Deep expertise in biochemical assay development/characterization across target classes; enzyme kinetics, binding thermodynamics, and SAR.
- Hands-on assay knowledge (fluorescence/luminescence, kinetic/endpoint readouts, binary/ternary formats) and mass spectrometry-based detection.
- Knowledge of assay automation, high-throughput screening, and AI/ML-informed data analysis.
- Therapeutic modalities experience (e.g., targeted protein degradation, molecular glues, covalent inhibitors, allosteric modulators).
- Track record advancing hits from screening to lead optimization/early clinical development.
- Strong external scientific reputation and excellent communication.
Preferred experience & skills:
- Protein biochemistry/biophysics expertise; prior mass-spectrometry screening experience.
- ML-consistent data capture workflow implementation; CRO/external collaboration management.
- Early drug discovery cross-functional leadership; implementing novel technologies.
Skills keywords: Biochemistry, biochemical assay, screening, people management, pharmacology, lead identification, in vitro assays, drug discovery.
Benefits/compensation:
- Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive (if applicable).
- Benefits include medical/dental/vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate/sick days.
- Salary range: $190,800.00–$300,300.00.
Application instructions:
- Apply at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on the posting).
- Lead and manage a team of biochemists, mass spectroscopists, and pharmacologists (mentorship, accountability, professional development).
- Own biochemical assay strategy across early discovery: assay design, target validation support, hit identification/confirmation, mechanism-of-action studies, and hit-to-lead enablement.
- Implement High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry (Echo-MS) workflows in screening campaigns and assay development (when indicated).
- Partner with screening, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, pharmacology, computational sciences, and therapeutic area teams to translate biochemical data into program decisions.
- Set standards/best practices for assay quality, reproducibility, data interpretation, and decision-ready reporting.
- Implement FAIR-consistent data capture workflows and machine-learning approaches.
- Support integrated characterization via orthogonal protein biochemistry/biophysics/mass spectrometry workflows.
- Drive innovation via technology development, external collaboration, and long-range planning; represent function in cross-functional forums.
- Ensure compliance with lab/IT, quality & regulatory, and safety practices.
Qualifications:
- Post-graduate degree (Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related) with 10+ years relevant industry experience (Ph.D. 10+, M.Sc. 12+, B.Sc. 15+).
Required experience & skills:
- Leadership/management/mentoring; ability to foster collaboration and make tough decisions.
- Deep expertise in biochemical assay development/characterization across target classes; enzyme kinetics, binding thermodynamics, and SAR.
- Hands-on assay knowledge (fluorescence/luminescence, kinetic/endpoint readouts, binary/ternary formats) and mass spectrometry-based detection.
- Knowledge of assay automation, high-throughput screening, and AI/ML-informed data analysis.
- Therapeutic modalities experience (e.g., targeted protein degradation, molecular glues, covalent inhibitors, allosteric modulators).
- Track record advancing hits from screening to lead optimization/early clinical development.
- Strong external scientific reputation and excellent communication.
Preferred experience & skills:
- Protein biochemistry/biophysics expertise; prior mass-spectrometry screening experience.
- ML-consistent data capture workflow implementation; CRO/external collaboration management.
- Early drug discovery cross-functional leadership; implementing novel technologies.
Skills keywords: Biochemistry, biochemical assay, screening, people management, pharmacology, lead identification, in vitro assays, drug discovery.
Benefits/compensation:
- Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive (if applicable).
- Benefits include medical/dental/vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate/sick days.
- Salary range: $190,800.00–$300,300.00.
Application instructions:
- Apply at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on the posting).