Distinguished Scientist, Vaccines & Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D

Job Description

Shape the Future of Vaccine Innovation

We are seeking an internationally recognized scientific leader to join our Vaccines & Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D (VAX PR&D) organization as a Distinguished Scientist (Executive Director equivalent). This is a unique opportunity to drive scientific strategy, advance breakthrough vaccine technologies, and influence the development and commercialization of life-saving medicines that improve global health.

As a key member of the VAX PR&D Leadership Team, you will help define the future of vaccine drug substance development and manufacturing across a diverse and innovative portfolio, spanning established and emerging modalities including protein subunits, polysaccharide conjugates, viral vectors, VLPs, RNA platforms, and beyond.

Our department is responsible for the process development and clinical manufacturing of drug substances and adjuvant bulk across the entire vaccine pipeline—from preclinical through commercial process development. We are part of the Development Sciences Clinical Supply organization, enabling CMC development and clinical manufacturing for programs that address some of the world's most pressing health challenges.

If you are passionate about scientific excellence, innovation, and mentoring the next generation of leaders while advancing vaccine technologies that have meaningful global impact, we invite you to explore this opportunity.

The Opportunity

In this highly visible leadership role, you will serve as the scientific architect for vaccine drug substance process development and clinical manufacturing. You will establish and drive a forward-looking scientific strategy while enabling the successful progression of our vaccine pipeline.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Scientific Leadership

• Develop and execute a long-term scientific vision and technology roadmap for vaccine drug substance development and manufacturing.
• Anticipate emerging scientific and technology trends, integrating new approaches to enhance process performance, speed, and scalability.
• Champion innovation in areas such as modeling, automation, AI/ML, systems biology, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Enterprise Collaboration & Influence

• Partner across Discovery, Development, Commercial Manufacturing, Regulatory, and Marketing organizations to accelerate vaccine development and commercialization.
• Provide scientific leadership on critical CMC strategies, program decisions, regulatory interactions, and business initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and contribute to enterprise-wide scientific direction.

External Scientific Engagement

• Expand and strengthen strategic collaborations with leading academic institutions, industry partners, consortia, and global health organizations.
• Elevate organizational visibility through publications, conference keynote presentations, scientific forums, and thought leadership activities.
• Represent the organization in due diligence assessments, external partnerships, and scientific advisory engagements.

Technical Excellence & Program Advancement

• Guide teams through complex scientific and technical challenges across all phases of development and lifecycle management.
• Provide expert consultation on upstream, downstream, analytical, and manufacturing strategies.
• Enable successful regulatory submissions and support global market launches.

Talent Development & Culture

• Mentor, coach, and inspire scientists and leaders at all levels.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Build organizational capabilities that ensure long-term success and scientific leadership.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of industry experience in vaccine and/or biologics drug substance process development.
• Deep expertise spanning the full product lifecycle, from early development through commercialization with significant experience in upstream and downstream development.
• Broad understanding of drug product and analytical development as well as clinical and commercial manufacturing.
• Experience leading CMC strategies and/or development programs that have resulted in successful regulatory submissions and approvals.
• Strong understanding of modern development technologies, including modeling, automation, AI/ML, and systems biology.
• Extensive knowledge of global regulatory frameworks governing vaccine development and manufacturing.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategy across complex, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated success building, mentoring, and developing high-performing scientific teams.

Technical Expertise

Experience with major expression systems and cell substrates, including:

• E. coli
• Yeast systems
• HEK293
• Vero
• CHO

Experience across a range of vaccine and biologics modalities, including:

• Viral vectors
• Lentiviral vectors (LVV)
• RNA-based technologies
• Protein subunits
• Conjugates
• Related advanced biologics platforms

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be recognized as a leading authority in vaccine or biologics process development, with evidence of scientific impact and external recognition.

Examples include:

• Significant contributions to the advancement of vaccine or biologics development and manufacturing.
• Strong publication record, invited presentations, patents, awards, or professional society recognition.
• Successful collaborations across industry, academia, or global health organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate emerging science into practical manufacturing and development solutions.
• Working knowledge of adjuvant development and associated drug product strategies.
• Proven ability to solve highly complex scientific and organizational challenges through innovation, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
• Track record of leading through ambiguity, driving transformation, and delivering breakthrough outcomes aligned with business objectives.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a leadership role—it's an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on global public health.

You will:

• Help shape the future of vaccine science and manufacturing.
• Lead scientific strategies that impact patients around the world.
• Collaborate with some of the brightest minds across research, development, and manufacturing.
• Drive innovation across cutting-edge vaccine platforms and emerging technologies.
• Mentor and develop the next generation of scientific leaders.
• Thrive in a culture that values scientific excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth.

Join us and help transform groundbreaking science into life-changing vaccines for millions of people worldwide.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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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The salary range for this role is

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

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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. 

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