Principal Scientist, Regulatory Liaison Full-time

Regulatory Affairs Headquarters Principal Scientist

The Regulatory Affairs Headquarters Principal Scientist is responsible for development and implementation of global regulatory strategy for their assigned projects in the Vaccines and Infectious Disease therapeutic area.

Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

• Functions with a high degree of independence and provides regulatory oversight for assigned products, functioning as the single, accountable, global regulatory point of contact on those projects within Global Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Safety (GRACS) and external to GRACS.
• Develops worldwide product regulatory strategy to optimize label and obtain shortest time to approval by regulatory agencies for multiple indications simultaneously.
• Provides expert advice to Product Development Teams and subsidiaries on regulatory issues as they arise with the developmental compounds or marketed products throughout the entire life cycle of the drug.
• Provides leadership as head of the Global Regulatory Team, which coordinates cross-functional regulatory support for development programs and marketed products.
• Represents our company with external organizations through direct communication with the FDA, including telephone calls and e-mail; chairs meetings between our company and FDA; prepares our company teams for meetings with FDA at all phases of drug development.
• Leads cross-functional efforts to prepare for advisory committees and may speak at the advisory committee.
• Coordinates interactions with foreign agencies through Regulatory Affairs Europe and the subsidiary registration departments to support their interactions and provide strategic direction across multiple regions simultaneously.
• Reviews and provides final approval of Worldwide Marketing Applications, Clinical Study Reports, Protocols, Investigators Brochures before release from our company to external agencies and investigators.
• Represents Global Regulatory Affairs (GR) within internal committees to provide regulatory advice and approval according to the committee charters (therapeutic area Document Review Committees, Product Development Team, Early Development Team, and Label Evaluation and Development Team.
• Conducts initial Investigational New Drug application/Clinical Study Agreement content review and approval to facilitate initial approval by regulatory agencies for conduct of clinical trials.
• Participates in regulatory due diligence activities for licensing candidate review and works with business development partners in executing regulatory responsibilities to advance developmental compounds or support marketed products.

Required Experience and Skills:

• M.D. with minimum of 3 years relevant drug development or clinical experience required, or
• Ph.D. with minimum of 5 years relevant drug development experience required, or
• M.S. with minimum of 7 years relevant drug development or clinical experience, preference if this experience is in regulatory affairs.
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written).
• Good organizational skills with a proven ability to simultaneously balance activities or multiple projects.
• Flexibility required.
• Strong scientific and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to achieve optimal results with limited day-to-day direction from the manager.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Substantial experience in regulatory affairs.
• Therapeutic area experience in vaccines or infectious diseases. Experience with antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral agents.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Drug Development, Exercises Judgment, Infectious Disease, Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, Process Improvements, Regulatory Affairs Compliance, Regulatory Affairs Management, Regulatory Communications, Regulatory Issues, Regulatory Reporting, Regulatory Strategy Development, Regulatory Submissions, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

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:

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The salary range for this role is $173,200.00 – $272,600.00

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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.