Director, Discovery Oncology, T-Cell Engagers

Job Description

Director – Discovery Oncology

Discovery Oncology is seeking a visionary and driven people leader to discover and advance the next Oncology therapeutics. Come join an incredible team steeped in a history of scientific excellence and successful drug discovery. The successful candidate will lead a team at our company's Boston site focused on immune engaging biologics as well as additional modalities. They will partner across to help build our Discovery Oncology strategy and our expanding pipeline. This leader will work tightly with clinical, translational, and business development colleagues to ensure an effective pipeline of compelling medicines. The successful candidate will have a strong record of scientific excellence, thoughtful strategic planning, and inspiring people leadership.

Responsibilities

• Be a creative and forward thinking leader to design and execute on the future of our company's Oncology therapeutics, particularly T cell engagers and other protein-based modalities.

• Leverage your deep understanding of cancer biology and the current internal and external oncology landscape to evaluate the opportunity of new therapeutics.

• Deliver on milestones key to pipeline advancement such as preclinical candidates and IND packages for first in human studies.

• Contribute your expertise and vision to business development evaluations of molecules or platforms of interest to our company.

• As a member of the Discovery Oncology Leadership team, meaningfully contribute to the development and execution of strategy and the growth and development of staff.

• Foster a high-performance culture of collaboration, engagement, self-accountability and inclusion. Establish strong relationships within highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to effectively drive drug discovery initiatives.

Required Qualifications / Education:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Oncology, Biophysics, Biologics, or a related subject area with 8+ years of post-degree experience in industry or equivalent OR MS with 10+ years of experience.

• An extensive background in cell biology and immunology.

• Deep expertise in T cell engagers and biologics.

• A proven track record of advancing well designed investigative new drugs into the clinic.

• Experience managing a group of senior and junior scientists with a track record of achievements, including project leadership and strategic contributions.

• Ability to build strong relationships within highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to effectively drive drug discovery initiatives.

• Excellent attention to detail and strong communication (oral and written) skills.

• Highly self-motivated and capable of prioritizing deliverables among multiple projects.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Preference will be given to candidates with a deep T cell biology background with extensive biotech/pharmaceutical experience.

• Experience with modalities beyond T cell engagers is beneficial, particularly including antibody drug conjugates or small molecules.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Assay Development, Biochemistry, Biologics, Biopharmaceuticals, Cancer Biology, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery Research, External Collaboration, Immunochemistry, Immunology, Innovation, Mentorship, Molecular Biology, Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Oncology, People Leadership, Preclinical Drug Discovery, Project Leadership, Strategic Planning, T Cell Biology, T Cell Immunology, Therapeutics, Tumor Biology

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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The salary range for this role is

$194,100.00 - $305,600.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

06/9/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.