Principal Scientist/Lab Manager, Clinical Pathology

Job Description

Title: Clinical Pathology Laboratory Manager/Principal Scientist

Full-time

Position Description:

The Clinical Pathology Laboratory Manager provides operational and technical leadership with scientific insights for the clinical pathology laboratory within Nonclinical Drug Safety Department. The successful candidate will ensure accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of laboratory data, and collaborates with stakeholders across functions to support nonclinical studies and development decisions across the pipeline from early discovery to submissions and post-marketing requirements. This role reports to the head of Clinical Pathology group.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Manage day-to-day functions of the clinical pathology laboratory, including hematology, coagulation, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, and related areas in multiple nonclinical species (rodents and non-rodents).  This role will include instrument operation and data generation on a rotating basis.

• Supervise laboratory personnel: hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance reviews, and career development.

• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and competency through workforce planning and cross-training.

Quality and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with institutional policies in a regulated environment (Good Laboratory Practice).

• Oversee validation and documentation for new assays, instruments, and software updates.

• Technical and Analytical Oversight

• Monitor test performance, instrument functionality, and quality control (QC) metrics; respond to QC failures and implement corrective actions.

• Evaluate new technologies, reagents, and automation opportunities; lead implementation projects as needed.

• Safety and Environment

• Promote and enforce a safe work environment, ensuring adherence to biosafety, chemical safety, and waste disposal regulations.

• Ensure staff are appropriately trained in the safety policies and use of personal protective equipment laboratory operations.

• Communication and Collaboration

• Serve as the primary point of contact between laboratory and stakeholders.

• Prepare and present reports on laboratory performance, quality metrics, and improvement projects.

• Participate in multidisciplinary committees and contribute to laboratory strategy.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Biology, Chemistry, or related field.

• ASCP (MLS/MLT) or equivalent certification required.

• Minimum 10 years of clinical laboratory experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role in clinical pathology or equivalent sections.

• Strong knowledge of clinical laboratory operations, instrumentation, quality systems, and regulatory requirements (GLP).

• Proven leadership, communication, and team development skills.

• Proficiency with laboratory information systems (LIS) and electronic laboratory notebooks.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in clinical laboratory science or related field.

• Prior experience in a hospital-based or high-volume clinical laboratory.

Competencies:

• Leadership and people management.

• Decision-making and problem solving.

• Quality and regulatory focus.

• Resource optimization.

• Effective communication.

• Technical aptitude and continuous learning.

Working Conditions:

• Primarily laboratory environment with intermittent exposure to biological specimens, chemical reagents, and laboratory equipment noise.

• Requires use of PPE and adherence to safety protocols.

• On site office and laboratory-based position.

Required Skills:

Chemical Safety, Clinical Judgment, Clinical Pathology, Collaborative Communications, Detail-Oriented, Hematology, Improvement Projects, Innovation, Intellectual Curiosity, Laboratory Documentation, Laboratory Informatics, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Medical Laboratories, Microscopic Imaging, Morphology, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Requirements, Team Collaboration, Technical Leadership, Urinalysis

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

07/8/2026

*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.