Associate Principal Scientist (Associate Director), Data Strategy & Partnerships Full-time

Associate Director, Data Strategy & Partnerships

In BARDS (Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences), a distinguished department within our company's renowned Research and Development division, quantitative scientists, in partnership with other subject matter experts, apply state-of-the-art scientific methodologies and tools to enable the discovery, development, regulatory approval, manufacturing, and marketing of medical drugs and vaccines for the benefit of patients and global human health.

The BARDS Real-World Evidence (RWE) Capabilities & Analytics team is looking for an Associate Director, Data Strategy & Partnerships with expertise in data strategy, advanced analytics, and partnership management to contribute to the development, exchange, and communication of evidence that demonstrates the value of our Company's pharmaceuticals and vaccines and provides our customers (payers, providers, patients, regulatory and policy makers) with transformative insights. The candidate filling this position will be working in a multi-faceted, fast-paced, cross-functional environment expected to interface both externally with partners or data vendors, and internally with Company leaders.

Primary responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Horizon scanning, developing, and managing strategic partnerships to accelerate and generate insights that inform healthcare decisions and policy through novel studies, methods, and technologies
• Managing collaborations and effectively identifying and communicating data needs and capabilities with extended stakeholders
• Leading knowledge management and data innovation initiatives to increase access to and interoperability of data, data strategy, models, analytics, and evidence
• Conducting data analytic projects using standard and advanced analytic methods to meet business objectives
• Partner effectively with Outcomes Research and Epidemiology teams to understand and address real-world data gaps and opportunities
• Maintaining awareness and communication of scientific and technologic developments within the fields of data science, informatics, and health technology assessment (HTA)
• Advancing, presenting, and publishing novel methodologies in the fields of data science and informatics at international/national congresses and in scientific and technology journals

We are seeking a collaborative individual that is comfortable working independently and can initiate and execute innovative projects that bridge data science, informatics, and emerging technologies. The individual should also be comfortable solving complex problems across matrixed and multi-functional teams (e.g., the Value & Implementation, Outcomes Research, and Epidemiology teams) and the product development lifecycle, bring a flexible mindset with the ability to identify, generate, and evaluate alternatives best suited to business needs, and have entrepreneurial perspective applied to research understanding and utilization of human health data in a rapidly changing environment.

Education minimum requirement:

• Doctoral Degree or Master's Degree from a recognized school of medicine, public health, management, or programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, economics, informatics, or related quantitative discipline

Required experience and skills:

• 3+ years with PhD, or 5+ years with Master's degree, hands-on experience in the design and implementation of quantitative science methods in the healthcare industry
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal communications (written and oral) and consistent ability to execute on objectives
• Outstanding organizational and time-management skills to manage multiple and competing priorities
• Entrepreneurial and evidence of intellectual curiosity

Preferred experience and skills:

• Doctoral degree
• Experience with epidemiology, outcomes research, real-world evidence, value implementation, and/or health and medical informatics
• Experience critically evaluating data vendors and capabilities
• Experience applying artificial intelligence (AI), Generative AI, predictive analytics, and emerging technologies
• Experience in business development and strategic planning

Required skills:

Accountability, Analytical Thinking, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Development, Business Strategies, Collaborating, Data Management, Data Science, Emerging Technologies, Epidemiological Research, Epidemiology, Health Informatics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Outcomes Research, Partnership Development, Predictive Analytics, Product Development, Product Lifecycle, Real World Data, Real World Evidence (RWE), Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning

Preferred skills:

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.

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 – $224,100.00. 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 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.

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: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: Not Indicated

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 03/15/2026

*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.