Job Description
This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly organized and detail-oriented Associate Principal Scientist (R4) with a strong background in mouse genetics, custom breeding (CBS) of Genetically Engineered Models (GEM), GEM phenotyping, and In Vivo Pharmacology to join the External Quantitative Biosciences team (ExQB). The role will oversee and manage contract organizations (CROs) involved in the custom breeding of Our Company's genetically engineered mouse and rat models by collaborating with colleagues across all discovery sites and therapeutic areas (Cardiometabolic Diseases, Immunology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, & Neuroscience) to support Our Company's innovative drug discovery programs.
The successful candidate will ensure seamless management of all proprietary or licensed-in active or cryopreserved GEM lines. The candidate should possess broad experimental capabilities and a strong work ethic, have excellent communication skills, and work effectively in a highly collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Under the guidance of the Senior Principal GEM Lead, the ideal candidate will oversee the scientific and operational GEM custom breeding (CBS) and GEM phenotyping efforts conducted through our network of contract research organizations (CROs) and academic collaborators.
The individual will act as a primary point of contact between internal Principal Investigators (PI) and external partners, facilitating activities through effective communication and collaboration.
The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting monthly/bi-monthly meetings with Our Company's PIs and CRO Project Managers (PMs) to adjust breeding goals and meet production needs of GEM lines, as well as conduct therapeutic area GEMs committee meetings to approve/reject new GEM and phenotyping proposals.
Together with Discovery Operations, the associate principal scientist will ensure robust partner relationship management of CRO providers including evaluation of performance, and compliance with contractual obligations and project specifications. Responsibilities will include completion of regular CRO performance reviews, driving business reviews and annual joint steering committee meetings, as well as conducting partner site visits to evaluate processes, capabilities, safety procedures and compliance workflows.
The individual will also work closely with Finance, Discovery Operations, and CRO partners to forecast and track GEM custom breeding and phenotyping spend for the discovery organization including the gathering of resource demands to enable Finance in robust profit planning and effective management of budget allocation and forecasting.
Depending on the candidate’s pharmacology expertise, involvement in outsourcing of in vivo pharmacology studies is also a possibility; including, but not limited to, the design, interpretation, and troubleshooting of In Vivo models of disease.
NOTE: The location can be at any of the Our Company's Research Laboratories located in Rahway, NJ, West Point, PA, South San Francisco, CA or Cambridge/Boston, MA based on candidate preference.
Qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor's (with 12+ years), Master's (with 8+ years) or Ph.D. (with 4+ years) in Molecular Genetics or a related field and relevant experience
Required Experience and Skills :
Deep knowledge of mouse genetics and 3+ years of experience of rodent GEM breeding and phenotyping
Experience or strong understanding of rodent genetically engineering techniques including state-of-the-art technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 mediated in vivo gene editing
Three (3) or more years of experience managing CRO relationships
Strong communication skills, both oral and written; demonstrated ability to speak up appropriately and raise issues to internal teams and management as well as CRO partners as necessary (ability to influence without authority)
Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills; ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues, as well as management both within Our Company and at CRO or academic partners
Successful track record of working with multiple functional groups or teams across cultural and geographic boundaries to align cross-departmental resources and teams to solve complex problems
Willingness to travel within the US and Europe and some flexibility to take meetings during non-core hours
Preferred Experience and Skills:
Strong understanding of in vivo pharmacology principles, experimental procedures and techniques in one of Our Company's therapeutic areas (Cardiometabolic Diseases, Immunology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, & Neuroscience) would be an advantage (Immunology is preferred)
Understanding of molecular biology techniques including gene synthesis, cloning, vector generation and sequencing
#EligibleforERP
Current Employees apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$6687.htmld)
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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 (https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL) 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:
EEOC Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights_10_20.pdf)
EEOC GINA Supplement
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 (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/)
U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$139,600.00 - $219,700.00
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:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
No
Required Skills:
Animal Breeding, Cardiometabolic, Communication, Genetic Research, Immunology, Infectious Disease, In Vivo Studies, Molecular Biology, Mouse Genetics, Neuroscience, Oncology, Partner Relationship Management (PRM), Phenotyping, Project Management
Preferred Skills:
Job Posting End Date:
07/4/2025
*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.
Requisition ID: R352329