Director, Discovery Chemistry
$194.1k - $305.6kFull-time
Merck
Job Description Are you ready to embark on an exciting career journey where your expertise in medicinal chemistry can drive groundbreaking discoveries and have a lasting impact on global healthcare? Our Discovery Chemistry team in South San Francisco, CA is looking for a collaborative and creative Director to join us. In this role, you will have the opportunity to develop people, lead transformative projects, influence scientific strategy, set departmental vision, and expand your network. As a leader in our organization, you will leverage your talent across the following principal responsibilities: Leverage your people leadership talent to enable the growth and development of a team of exceptional scientists. This includes fostering their scientific curiosity, guiding their career paths, and promoting continuous learning. By embracing a culture and modeling inclusive behaviors, you will create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Lead Drug Discovery Projects: Utilize your expertise in bioconjugate drug discovery to lead high-impact research drug-conjugates projects across multiple therapeutic areas. Collaborate with cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams, leveraging their skills and knowledge, to achieve project goals and milestones. Your strategic thinking, innovative problem-solving, and incisive decision-making will drive outcomes that can transform the lives of patients. Contribute to Scientific Strategy: Shape our scientific strategy by applying your deep knowledge of bioconjugate chemistry, staying informed on and sharing industry trends. Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify promising biological targets, innovative technologies, and cutting-edge research approaches. Provide strategic guidance and data-driven recommendations that align with our mission and goals, driving scientific innovation and enhancing our competitive position. Influence the internal and external scientific community: Leverage your strong network and effective communication skills to foster collaborations with partners, thought leaders, and stakeholders within and outside of our company. Actively participate in conferences, industry events, and scientific forums to stay informed about emerging trends, expand our visibility, and establish strategic alliances that amplify Discovery Chemistry's impact at our company and on the broader scientific community. Cultivate relationships that reinforce our leadership in drug discovery and create opportunities for transformative partnerships. Lead and Develop Scientific Talent: Build, lead, and develop high-performing scientists and teams, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning. Through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning, empower individuals to achieve their full potential and advance their careers. Create an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, healthy debate, and shared ownership, while ensuring the organization has the capabilities, talent, and leadership needed to deliver on current and future strategic objectives. As a people manager, you will shape the culture of Discovery Chemistry and help develop the next generation of scientific leaders. To excel in this role, you will need strong skills in scientific and people leadership, strategic thinking, effective communication, collaboration, balanced risk-taking, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Your passion for science, unwavering commitment to patients, and ability to inspire and empower others and dedication to developing talent will set you apart. Embark on a career journey where your expertise and leadership will shape the future of medicinal chemistry, driving innovations that transform healthcare. Together, let's push the boundaries of scientific discovery and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people worldwide. QUALIFICATIONS: Education:--
Bioconjugation, Chemistry, Drug Discovery Research, Leadership, Medicinal Chemistry, Project Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Synthetic Chemistry 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: EEOC Know Your Rights 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 The salary range for this role is
$194,100.00 - $305,600.00 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 . 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 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/International VISA Sponsorship:
Yes Travel Requirements:
10% Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable Shift:
1st - Day Valid Driving License:
No Hazardous Material(s):
N/S Job Posting End Date:
08/20/2026
*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. Requisition ID: R412433
- Bachelor's (with 13+ years), Master's (with 9+ years) or Ph.D. (with 7+ years) in chemistry or related field with relevant industry experience in drug discovery
- Experience in bioconjugate chemistry, linker and payload design and drug discovery
- Demonstrated experience in leading drug discovery projects.-
- Proficiency in complex problem-solving and the ability to influence strategy across organizational boundaries
- Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills
- Proven track record of influencing teams, departments, and the enterprise, with the ability to work and influence across functional boundaries
- Proven managerial experience with a track record of training, developing talent, and mentoring team members in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
Bioconjugation, Chemistry, Drug Discovery Research, Leadership, Medicinal Chemistry, Project Leadership, Strategic Thinking, Synthetic Chemistry 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: EEOC Know Your Rights 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 The salary range for this role is
$194,100.00 - $305,600.00 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 . 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 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/International VISA Sponsorship:
Yes Travel Requirements:
10% Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable Shift:
1st - Day Valid Driving License:
No Hazardous Material(s):
N/S Job Posting End Date:
08/20/2026
*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. Requisition ID: R412433
Vacancy posted 6 days ago
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