Executive Director, Business Technology Partner, Discovery, Preclinical and Translational Medicine

Job Description

Reporting to the Research and Development Sciences (RaDS) Value Team lead within Research and Development (R&D) IT, the Discovery, Preclinical Translational Medicine (DPTM) Business Technology Partner will lead the team accountable for partnering with DPTM to shape business strategy, define the future-state digital ecosystem, and deliver the capabilities needed to advance discovery science. The role be the primary point of contact for senior DPTM leaders, translate scientific priorities into product and investment strategy, and drive transformation through data, analytics, AI/ML, and modern research platforms. Success will require connecting end-to-end business strategy to technical solutions, reducing functional silos, simplifying the system footprint, and securing investment in the highest-value transformational opportunities. The incumbent will also have overall IT accountability for the Discovery AI ‘Lighthouse’ initiative, one of five enterprise investments focused on accelerating value realization through AI and lab-in-the-loop automation.

The successful candidate will help define the next evolution of Digital Solutions, moving beyond traditional technology partnership toward accountable product leadership for research capabilities that accelerate scientific understanding, scientific design, and data-driven decision-making. The role may assume ownership of product capabilities and teams aligned to Discovery and Translational Science outcomes, working with Scientific Data & Analytics and Lab Operations & Platforms to deliver integrated capabilities across evidence generation, information generation, and insight generation. This leader will shape strategy, define product vision, establish outcome-based roadmaps, and build product organizations that can respond with speed and agility to evolving scientific and technology opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Own and continuously strengthen the strategic relationship with the DPTM leadership team, serving as the primary digital partner for translating scientific priorities into product strategy, capability investments, and measurable delivery outcomes.

• Lead Discovery and Translational Science product strategy, including product vision, capability roadmaps, investment priorities, and tradeoff decisions that maximize scientific and business value.

• Build and evolve high-performing product teams that accelerate scientific understanding, candidate design, and decision-making through innovative use of data, analytics, AI, and experimental evidence.

• Inspire and lead through influence across scientific, business, and technology organizations.

• Resolve competing stakeholder priorities by creating shared understanding of scientific value, delivery tradeoffs, and decision criteria.

• Develop talent and organizational capabilities that strengthen product management, scientific informatics, and digital innovation.

• Create an environment that encourages experimentation, rapid learning, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

• Build strong cross functional relationships with various business stakeholders and IT teams, applying expertise to resolve complex scientific technology and data problems.​

• As Digital Solutions evolves, the role may take on direct ownership for selected Discovery and Translational Science product capabilities

• Partner with RaDS product leaders and scientific leadership to define product strategy, prioritize capability investments, establish outcome-based roadmaps, and negotiate tradeoffs that maximize scientific and business value realization.

Education Minimum: ​

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or Life Science​

​

Required Experience and Skills: ​

• 10+ years prior experience in leadership roles in life sciences or technology, including management and development of teams and people managers.

• Broad understanding of drug discovery and early development processes, technologies and data types

• Demonstrated ability to articulate strategy, translate to technology roadmaps, and influence enterprise technology strategy.​

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with and through others to achieve shared goals​

• Strong problem-solving skills with a pragmatic approach to addressing challenges and negotiating collaborative approaches to shared outcomes​

• Outstanding executive communication skills, with the ability to listen with empathy, simplify complex scientific and technology concepts, and influence stakeholders toward the highest-value opportunities.

• Self-directed, motivated leader who can operate with limited direction, identify what is needed, and drive results through ambiguity.

• Demonstrated experience translating enterprise strategy into measurable business and scientific outcomes.

• Experience operating across executive stakeholder groups and influencing prioritization, investment, and organizational change.

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through ambiguity and transformation.

• Experience balancing short-term value delivery with long-term product and platform strategy.

​ Preferred Experience and Skills: ​

• Business consulting experience, including large program management​

• Experience with AI/ML, genomics, research information systems, lab automation​

• ​Business process design & Change management

• Product leadership experience in scientific, research, data, or technology domains.

• Demonstrated experience moving innovation programs from concept through adoption, scaling, and value realization.

Required Skills:

Benefits Management, Benefits Management, Business Alignment, Business Analysis, Business Consulting Services, Business Decisions, Business Metrics, Business Models, Business Process Improvements, Business Writing, Change Management, Competency Management, Executive Presence, Expectation Management, Governance Management, Management Consulting, Metrics Development, Product Roadmap, Program Management, Sales Process Development, Solutions Delivery, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Alignment, Strategic Consulting, Strategic Planning {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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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

$231,900.00 - $365,000.00

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

You can apply for this role through (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.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

09/25/2026

*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.