Executive Director, Systems Oncology Analytics Group Job

Executive Director, Systems Oncology Analytics Group-BIO004804

Description

Merck is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio
of prescription medicines, vaccines and consumer health products, as well as
animal health products. Today, we are building a new kind of
healthcare company – one that is ready to help create a healthier future for
all of us.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge,
imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of people like you. To this
end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and
teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to
collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and
expanding your career.


We are currently recruiting for a key individual to lead
computational biology and data analysis activities for Merck’s oncology programs,
and to contribute to efforts in other immune-related therapeutic areas. This
Executive Director must have scientific excellence in the field of
computational biology, leadership and management skills to direct a growing group
of individuals, and excellent communication skills. This individual will have a
critical strategic and tactical role in overseeing the scientific direction of
programs involving immuno-oncology, molecular oncology and cross-therapeutic
area initiatives. The Executive Director will have the opportunity to guide the
collection and analysis of an unprecedented wealth of translational data from
Merck’s oncology programs and partnerships, and to lead initiatives with
relevance for other immune-related disciplines such as vaccines, infectious
diseases and autoimmunity/ inflammation.
More broadly, computational biology is a key area of growth for Merck,
and the Executive Director will have significant leadership responsibilities in
shaping the enterprise-wide direction of these activities.

This Boston or South San Francisco-based position will report into
the VP of Genetics and Pharmacogenomics (GpGx). The qualified
individual will be a recognized expert in field of computational biology with deep
experience in systems immunology, oncology and/or immuno-oncology. This
individual will assume a leadership role in a dynamic cross-functional
environment, developing experimental and bioinformatic approaches to understand
the immune context and molecular underpinnings of cancer, and using the
insights to inform novel therapeutic and biomarker strategies. The
candidate will also develop other projects focused on cross-functional,
immune-related efforts. In addition to
providing strategic and operational leadership, the incumbent will lead a team
of multiple direct reports with significant growth potential. Additionally, the
candidate will be a member of the Translational Oncology Leadership Forum,
consisting of key functional area leaders including discovery biology, GpGx,
computational biology, discovery biomarkers, statistics and IT, and companion
diagnostics. This group coordinates cross-functional activities and sets and
executes the strategic vision for oncology translational research. The
candidate will also participate in other cross-functional strategy forums. He/she
will be expected to operate in a highly collaborative and matrixed environment,
partnering with peers on site and at other locations in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and globally. This position will also require leadership
to deepen and expand an already extensive network of external partners,
including leading academics, nonprofits, and technology/informatics
companies.

Key
responsibilities:

Interface and collaborate internally and
externally with biologists, geneticists, physicians, pathologists, and other
bioinformatics scientists to investigate mechanisms of antitumor immunity,
tumor immune evasion and oncogenesis, and define novel immune-relevant or
molecular targets. Use translational datasets to help set strategy for Merck’s biomarker
discovery and patient stratification approaches in oncology, and guide
experimental and clinical study design as appropriate.

Lead a growing group of world-class computational biologists,
who will analyze an extensive and rapidly expanding body of genomics and
biomarker data from internal and external clinical and pre-clinical genomics
data sources. This dataset is expected to be of unprecedented wealth and
complexity, deriving from Merck’s industry-leading immuno-oncology clinical
development programs as well as an extensive network of external
partnerships. Provide insights into
novel mechanisms of response and resistance that will support target
identification and validation, and growth of the Merck oncology portfolio. Identify and develop novel predictive,
pharmacodynamic and safety biomarkers, generate hypotheses relating to patient
stratification, and inform indication selection and clinical trial design. Lead
partnering efforts with external academicians, nonprofits and technology
companies to support these efforts. Present results and provide scientific
reports and strategic recommendations as needed or requested by project teams
as a component of project reviews, milestones, governance and external
interactions related to portfolio.

Influence and shape company-wide bioinformatics
strategy. Provide regular input to the larger team and drive strategy around
the acquisition and sharing of information regarding specialized biomedical
databases, innovative computational methods and advances in genomics.
Facilitate bringing in data / knowhow or learning into the broader organization—in
particular, by leveraging activities in Oncology to facilitate
cross-therapeutic area initiatives.

Qualifications

Education Requirement:

A minimum of a PhD
degree (with at least 10+ years' experience) in bioinformatics, immunology,
computational or statistical sciences or related field with research in one or
more aspects of cancer immuno-biology.

Specific
responsibilities include:

- Participating
as part of 8-person leadership team (including VP) in developing, and
driving, the strategy to identify and prioritize programs entering the
early pipeline across all therapeutic areas.

- Leading a growing
team– including the hiring of new, outstanding scientists in computational
biology

- Participate
in the Translational Oncology Leadership Forum, including ~12
cross-functional scientists

- Working
with information technology and statistical sciences colleagues, develop
best practices and expand capacity for data storage, sharing and
stewardship and data visualization.

Desired attributes:

- Prior experience in related
areas with expertise in computational methods, tools and databases
utilized in genomic and genetic data analysis. Relevant academic or industry
experience is highly desired.

- Specific expertise in systems immunology, oncology and/or immuno-oncology is
highly desired.

- Project experience in biomarker
discovery, mechanisms of action of drug candidates, correlating
genomic/genetics data with clinical and biochemical phenotypes.

- Proven ability to provide
testable hypothesis to project teams based on systematic analysis of data
from pre-clinical and clinical studies.
Expertise in a range of biological databases (e.g. TCGA, ICGC,
etc.) and use for translational or basic research. Experience with
publicly and commercially available bioinformatics pathway/network
analysis tools, genomics and genetics databases.

- Experience in applying
computational systems biology or integrative analysis approaches to
facilitate interpretation and hypothesis generation from results of
genetics, genomics and epigenetics studies, preferably in a cross
functional setting.

- Hands-on experience of
analyzing data generated using one or more of the following:

- Microarrays
-- Expression / Genotyping,

- Next
Generation Sequencing platforms,

- Flow
cytometry with emphasis on immunophenotyping,

- Proteomics.

- Single-cell-based
analytics (genomics and proteomics).

- Experience to include pathway
level data analysis and interpretation. Familiarity with one or more
genomics platforms from vendors such as Illumina, Complete Genomics,
Affymetrix etc. around applications such as WGS, Exome Capture-Seq,
RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq, Microarray based Expression, micro RNA, DNA
Methylation and Genotyping.

- Outstanding computational
biology programming skills in scripting or programming languages such as
R, Python, Perl, C/C++ etc. and related bioinformatics packages.
Contributions to external scientific community through presentations and
participation in appropriate scientific conferences and through other
avenues such as journal articles, book chapters.

- Experience managing a team of
bioinformaticians

- Experience in cross-functional,
highly matrixed collaborative groups

- Excellent communication skills
that can cross technical areas

Our employees are the key to our company’s success. We demonstrate our commitment to our employees by offering a competitive and valuable rewards program. Our Company’s benefits are designed to support the wide range of goals, needs and lifestyles of our employees, and many of the people that matter the most in their lives. If you need an accommodation for the application process please email us at staffingaadar@merck.com.

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully:

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Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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Merck is an equal opportunity employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran – proudly embracing diversity in all of its manifestations.


Job: Biology-Discovery

Job Title:Executive Director, Systems Oncology Analytics Group

Primary Location: NA-US-MA-Boston

Other Locations: NA-US-CA-San Francisco

Employee Status: Regular

Number of Openings: 1

Company Trade Name:Merck