Senior Director, Discovery Biology - Oncology Small Molecule

About the role

Discovery Oncology is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to shape and drive the discovery and advancement of the next generation of our Company's Oncology small molecule therapeutics. Come join an incredible team steeped in a history of scientific excellence and successful drug discovery.

The successful candidate will lead a team at our company's Boston site delivering on the small molecule Oncology pipeline. They will be the strategic leader for Oncology small molecule therapeutics in Boston, with opportunities to contribute across additional modalities. They will develop and execute a comprehensive pipeline strategy, partnering across our company to expand our portfolio.

This leader will work tightly with chemistry, clinical, translational, and business development to build and progress an effective pipeline of compelling medicines, from discovery through late-stage development. The successful candidate will have a strong record of scientific excellence, thoughtful strategic planning, late-stage research and IND experience, and inspiring people leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a forward-thinking pipeline strategy, shaping the future of our Company's Oncology therapeutics with a focus on small molecules.
• Be a strategic thought leader for the employment of small molecules to create effective, tolerable, and combinable medicines that are both first-in-class and best-in-class.
• Leverage your deep understanding of cancer biology (including intrinsic pathways and key cancer drivers) and the current internal and external oncology landscape to evaluate the opportunity of new therapeutics and drive portfolio decisions.
• Provide strategic oversight for programs as they transition from early discovery into and through late-stage clinical development, ensuring continuity and alignment with the overall asset strategy.
• Drive key milestones for pipeline advancement, from preclinical candidate selection through to IND-enabling studies and support for early clinical development. Ensure compelling engagement with regulatory agencies.
• Lead business development evaluations from a scientific perspective, identifying and championing external assets and platforms that align with our strategic vision.
• As a member of the Discovery Oncology Leadership team, meaningfully contribute to the development and execution of strategy and the growth and development of staff. Act as an experienced Program Lead and mentor others to become strong Program Leaders.
• Foster a high-performance culture of collaboration, engagement, self-accountability, and inclusion. Establish strong relationships within highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to effectively drive drug discovery initiatives.

Required Qualifications / Education

• Ph.D. in Biology, Oncology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Biophysics, Immunology, or a related STEM subject area with 10+ years of post-degree experience in industry or equivalent.
• An extensive background in cancer biology with a proven ability to translate deep scientific insights into drug development strategies from discovery through late-stage development.
• Evidence of innovative approaches to small molecule design, particularly induced proximity.
• A proven track record of successfully advancing multiple well-designed investigative small molecule drug candidates into the clinic, with a focus on patient experience and successful clinical execution.
• Clear experience in late program leadership partnering with regulatory, translational sciences, and clinical development. Direct, hands-on experience writing IND modules and filings.
• Experience managing a group of senior and junior scientists with a track record of achievements, including project leadership and strategic contributions.
• Ability to build strong relationships within highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams to effectively drive drug discovery initiatives.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong communication (oral and written) skills.
• Highly self-motivated and capable of prioritizing deliverables.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Preference will be given to candidates with a large breadth of small molecule experience, including novel approaches.
• Experience with modalities beyond traditional small molecules is beneficial, particularly including small molecule payloads.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills

Cancer Research, Drug Development, External Collaboration, High Performance Team Building, Immunotherapy, IND Submission, Innovation, Investigational New Drug (IND), Motivation Management, Multidisciplinary Collaboration, Oncology, People Leadership, Program Leadership, Project Leadership, Small Molecules, Strategic Management, Strategic Planning

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.
• 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 primary location for this posting is: USA - Massachusetts - Boston (MA Parcel B Laboratory)

Pay and benefits

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is

$194,100.00 - $305,600.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

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: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): n/a
• Job Posting End Date: 11/13/2026

Additional information

*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.