Senior Director, Epidemiology
Merck
August 06, 2026
Remote friendly (West Point, PA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Responsibilities:
- Lead management and oversight of epidemiologic activities by the team of epidemiologists on assigned products/indications (primary focus: Vaccine/Infectious Disease).
- Provide scientific and operational leadership for epidemiologic research.
- Manage and provide scientific oversight for epidemiologists focused on Respiratory Disease and Hospital Specialty Medicine therapeutic areas (TAs), including key epidemiologic decisions and accountability for deliverables (strategies, plans, timelines, reports) and study budgets.
- Resolve operational and cross-functional issues to complete deliverables on schedule and within budget.
- Provide expert guidance on scientific/operational aspects of primary sample and data collection/natural history studies supporting clinical programs.
- Lead people management: recruit, assign projects, allocate resources, performance management, approve expenses, coaching/mentoring, and professional development.
- Strengthen external scientific reputation via publishing, conference presentations, peer review, and appropriate academic/consortia activities.
- Set and execute program-wide epidemiology/RWE strategy aligned with clinical, regulatory, and HTA needs; review regulatory/scientific materials; provide scientific/regulatory guidance during development and post-approval (interpret results, advise submissions/responses, participate in agency/consortia meetings).
- Identify opportunities and propose innovative/advanced RWE methodology.
- Build cross-functional/external relationships; translate epidemiology needs into business terms; identify executive sponsors/KOLs; secure stakeholder buy-in; share findings; mentor stakeholder management.
Qualifications:
- Required: PhD in Epidemiology + 8+ years relevant experience.
- Preferred: PhD in Epidemiology (or related field) or MD with additional research training in Epidemiology.
Required Experience/Skills:
- 8+ years relevant experience (preferably pharma/biotech).
- People management experience.
- Extensive experience directing large epidemiologic projects; knowledge of epidemiologic approaches in pharma/biotech; peer-reviewed publications.
- Molecular epidemiology background.
- Creative problem-solving; excellent oral/written communication.
- 5% travel.
Preferred:
- Experience designing/conducting epidemiologic biomarker and natural history studies.
- Expertise using innovative/advanced methods to generate RWE supporting clinical development and regulatory decisions.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or Workday Jobs Hub for current employees). Application deadline is stated on the posting.
- Lead management and oversight of epidemiologic activities by the team of epidemiologists on assigned products/indications (primary focus: Vaccine/Infectious Disease).
- Provide scientific and operational leadership for epidemiologic research.
- Manage and provide scientific oversight for epidemiologists focused on Respiratory Disease and Hospital Specialty Medicine therapeutic areas (TAs), including key epidemiologic decisions and accountability for deliverables (strategies, plans, timelines, reports) and study budgets.
- Resolve operational and cross-functional issues to complete deliverables on schedule and within budget.
- Provide expert guidance on scientific/operational aspects of primary sample and data collection/natural history studies supporting clinical programs.
- Lead people management: recruit, assign projects, allocate resources, performance management, approve expenses, coaching/mentoring, and professional development.
- Strengthen external scientific reputation via publishing, conference presentations, peer review, and appropriate academic/consortia activities.
- Set and execute program-wide epidemiology/RWE strategy aligned with clinical, regulatory, and HTA needs; review regulatory/scientific materials; provide scientific/regulatory guidance during development and post-approval (interpret results, advise submissions/responses, participate in agency/consortia meetings).
- Identify opportunities and propose innovative/advanced RWE methodology.
- Build cross-functional/external relationships; translate epidemiology needs into business terms; identify executive sponsors/KOLs; secure stakeholder buy-in; share findings; mentor stakeholder management.
Qualifications:
- Required: PhD in Epidemiology + 8+ years relevant experience.
- Preferred: PhD in Epidemiology (or related field) or MD with additional research training in Epidemiology.
Required Experience/Skills:
- 8+ years relevant experience (preferably pharma/biotech).
- People management experience.
- Extensive experience directing large epidemiologic projects; knowledge of epidemiologic approaches in pharma/biotech; peer-reviewed publications.
- Molecular epidemiology background.
- Creative problem-solving; excellent oral/written communication.
- 5% travel.
Preferred:
- Experience designing/conducting epidemiologic biomarker and natural history studies.
- Expertise using innovative/advanced methods to generate RWE supporting clinical development and regulatory decisions.
Application:
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or Workday Jobs Hub for current employees). Application deadline is stated on the posting.