Senior Director, Pharmacokinetics
Merck
August 06, 2026
On-site
South San Francisco, CA
Clinical Research and Development
Key Responsibilities
- Provide scientific and portfolio leadership for bioanalytical strategy across discovery programs; ensure fit-for-purpose assay execution, data quality, compliance, and decision impact.
- Drive operational excellence via workflow optimization, resource/capacity planning, automation, digital tools, data systems, and continuous improvement; harmonize workflows across teams/sites/partners.
- Manage DMPK/bioanalytical leaders and scientists; set expectations and enable prioritization, execution, and career development.
- Represent PDMB on cross-functional discovery/development teams; integrate bioanalytical, ADME, PK/PD, translational, and regulatory perspectives to guide decisions and deliver key enabling packages.
- Serve as scientific advisor/PI for programs/workstreams.
- Build partnerships across internal/external collaborators; review/author/present scientific and regulatory/portfolio materials.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, safety, quality, and compliance.
Qualifications
- Education: Master’s (15+ years) or Ph.D. (12+ years) in pharmacokinetics/pharmaceutical sciences/bioanalytical or related field.
Required Experience/Skills
- Leadership in bioanalysis: assay strategy, method development, validation/qualification, sample analysis, data interpretation, reporting.
- Strong knowledge across biologics, conjugates, peptides, small molecules, and novel modalities.
- Cross-functional experience integrating bioanalytical, ADME, PK/PKPD, translational, toxicology, clinical pharmacology, and regulatory.
- Portfolio leadership and people leadership (management/mentoring/performance).
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing; commitment to quality/safety/compliance.
Preferred Skills
- Modernization via automation/digital tools/data systems; translational PK/PD and model-informed drug development.
- Experience with drug conjugates/multispecifics/complex modalities; cell-based assays and characterization.
Required Skills
- ADME, Bioanalysis, Bioanalytical Assays/Methods, DMPK, Drug Discovery Development, Operational Leadership, Pharmacokinetics, Portfolio Strategies, Program/Scientific Leadership, Translational PK/PD.
Salary/Benefits (if applicable)
- Salary range: $194,100.00–$305,600.00. Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive (if applicable). Comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision and 401(k).
Application
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (application deadline as stated on posting).
- Provide scientific and portfolio leadership for bioanalytical strategy across discovery programs; ensure fit-for-purpose assay execution, data quality, compliance, and decision impact.
- Drive operational excellence via workflow optimization, resource/capacity planning, automation, digital tools, data systems, and continuous improvement; harmonize workflows across teams/sites/partners.
- Manage DMPK/bioanalytical leaders and scientists; set expectations and enable prioritization, execution, and career development.
- Represent PDMB on cross-functional discovery/development teams; integrate bioanalytical, ADME, PK/PD, translational, and regulatory perspectives to guide decisions and deliver key enabling packages.
- Serve as scientific advisor/PI for programs/workstreams.
- Build partnerships across internal/external collaborators; review/author/present scientific and regulatory/portfolio materials.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, safety, quality, and compliance.
Qualifications
- Education: Master’s (15+ years) or Ph.D. (12+ years) in pharmacokinetics/pharmaceutical sciences/bioanalytical or related field.
Required Experience/Skills
- Leadership in bioanalysis: assay strategy, method development, validation/qualification, sample analysis, data interpretation, reporting.
- Strong knowledge across biologics, conjugates, peptides, small molecules, and novel modalities.
- Cross-functional experience integrating bioanalytical, ADME, PK/PKPD, translational, toxicology, clinical pharmacology, and regulatory.
- Portfolio leadership and people leadership (management/mentoring/performance).
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing; commitment to quality/safety/compliance.
Preferred Skills
- Modernization via automation/digital tools/data systems; translational PK/PD and model-informed drug development.
- Experience with drug conjugates/multispecifics/complex modalities; cell-based assays and characterization.
Required Skills
- ADME, Bioanalysis, Bioanalytical Assays/Methods, DMPK, Drug Discovery Development, Operational Leadership, Pharmacokinetics, Portfolio Strategies, Program/Scientific Leadership, Translational PK/PD.
Salary/Benefits (if applicable)
- Salary range: $194,100.00–$305,600.00. Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive (if applicable). Comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision and 401(k).
Application
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (application deadline as stated on posting).