Job Description

Job Description                                                                                                                                     

Associate Principal Scientist II, Epidemiology-Associate Director level

Role Summary

The Associate Principal Scientist II, Epidemiology, has responsibility for the design, placement, conduct, analysis, and reporting of pharmacoepidemiologic research studies on assigned our products multiple therapy areas, and for providing consultation on epidemiologic issues to all areas of the company, as needed.

Primary activities include but are not limited to:

• Has overall responsibility for pharmacoepidemiologic strategical planning and study recommendations for assigned products in Vaccine, Oncology, or non-oncology (ID, Vaccine, General Medicine, Ophthalmology) therapy areas in R&D department. Although staff are expected to develop primary subject matter expertise in one or more therapeutic areas, staff may receive assignments in any therapeutic area depending on need. 
• Has lead responsibility for interaction with risk management subteams, value evidence subteams, clinical/regulatory subteams, and other areas of R&D department on epidemiologic matters related to product safety risk management, post-marketing safety studies, post-authorization effectiveness studies, regulatory activities, and biomarkers/molecular epidemiology/genetic epidemiology.
• Has lead responsibility for the design, conduct, and analysis of epidemiologic research studies on assigned products in sensed therapy areas including vaccine, oncology, or general medicine etc.
• Present epidemiologic research plans or results to internal review and governance committees; to external agencies such as CDE and at scientific conferences.
• Maintains close working relationships with colleagues in Clinical Research, Regulatory, V&I, Health Economics and Commercial. Assists them in areas where knowledge of epidemiology is relevant.
• Good network with KOLs and external suppliers for epidemiologic research planning and execution in Vaccine and Oncology therapy areas.
• Contributes to our company's prestige by maintaining recognition as an expert in his/her field; may publish independent scientific research in leading journals, participate in and present at scientific organizations and meetings, and serve as a peer reviewer for scientific journals.

Competencies： Expected Proficiency Level

• Act With Courage and Candor：Fully Performing
• Build Talent： Fully Performing
• Demonstrate Ethics & Integrity： Fully Performing
• Drive Results： Fully Performing
• Focus on Customers And Patients： Fully Performing
• Foster Collaboration： Fully Performing
• Make Rapid, Disciplined Decisions： Fully Performing
• Business & Financial Acumen： Applying
• Problem Solving： Advanced
• Productive Communication： Advanced
• Project Management： Advanced
• Strategic Thinking： Advanced
• Working Across Boundaries： Applying
• Collaboration & Partnering： Applying
• Business & Operations Management： Applying
• Competitive Decision-Making & Execution： Applying
• Data Analysis, Interpretation & Communication： Expert
• Regulatory & Compliance Management： Applying

Qualifications 

• PhD in Epidemiology or MD with additional research training in epidemiology and at least 8 years of relevant work experience. Alternatively Master’s degree in epidemiology with at least 10 years relevant work experience. 
• Required experience in industry for at least 5 years.
• Requires extensive experience in the successful conduct of large epidemiologic projects
• Record of substantial research publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Creative problem-solving ability and excellent communication skills (oral and written) are expected.
• Broad knowledge and experience in the application of epidemiologic/RWE methodology approaches to problems in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry are an asset.
• Ability to work in a cross-functional team environment and to collaborate with colleagues with a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Previous experience in AI/RWE to support product lifecycle management and epidemiology areas is preferred
• People management experiences is a plus.
• Competencies include advanced skills in data analysis, project management, strategic thinking, and research design.

Required Skills:

Business Management, Clinical Research, Data Management, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Methods and Tools, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Product Lifecycle, Product Risk Management, Product Safety, Project Management, Researching, Risk Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Technical Advice

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

no

Job Posting End Date:

10/31/2026

*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.