Job Description

A.Job Title: Associate director/ Senior Manager

Location: Beijing/Shanghai

Report to: Executive Director, R&D China Innovation Collaboration Lead

B.Position Objective

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to lead and support the scientific evaluation and validation of innovative drug discovery and early development opportunities, with a primary focus on small molecule programs. The role will be involved in integrated evaluation and validation of project rationale, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, translational feasibility, and early development readiness, and for driving evidence-based recommendations on project selection and collaboration.

C.Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead scientific evaluation of drug discovery and early development opportunities, with small molecule programs preferred, from initial screening through IND-enabling readiness assessment.
• Involved in integrated assessment of target biology, disease relevance, mechanism of action, assay quality, pharmacology, translational strategy, compound properties, synthetic feasibility, DMPK, safety liabilities, and competitive landscape.
• Critically review and interpret internal and external data packages; identify key scientific, technical, and development risks; and recommend additional experiments or diligence activities to support robust decision making.
• Support portfolio and collaboration decisions by preparing clear evaluation reports, risk-benefit assessments, go/no-go recommendations, and development path proposals.
• Oversee follow-up evaluation activities for selected programs for internalization or collaboration advancement.
• Collaborate closely with biologists and chemists to design fit-for-purpose assays and experiments that address key evaluation questions and de-risk project progression.

D.Key Requirement

Education and Background:

• Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, with 3-10 years of relevant industry experience.
• For candidates with a chemistry or medicinal chemistry background, sufficient biology knowledge and practical exposure are required to enable integrated evaluation of target biology, assay data, pharmacology, and translational rationale.
• Hands-on experience in drug discovery and early development is required; experience with small molecule programs is preferred.
• Demonstrated capability of leading small molecule programs from screening, hit/lead identification, lead optimization, candidate selection, and advancement toward IND-enabling studies. Good understanding of disease biology, assay development, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, translational biomarkers, and IND-enabling requirements.
• Experience in scientific due diligence, external project evaluation, collaboration assessment, or portfolio decision support is preferred.
• Experience in evaluating patent coverage, freedom-to-operate considerations, or composition of matter patent strategy is a plus.
• Experience with AI-enabled drug discovery, data analytics, or computational approaches to project evaluation is a plus.

Communication and Presentation Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Chinese and English.
• Good presentation skills.

Required Skills:

Academic Conferences, Academic Conferences, Accountability, Bioanalytical Analysis, Bioanalytical Techniques, Biochemical Assays, Biomarker Development, Clinical Judgment, Creativity, Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented, Drug Development, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Compliance, Immunohistochemistry (IHC), In Vivo Pharmacology, Knowledge Graph, Mass Spectrometry Analysis, Microsoft Office, Office Tools, Pharmaceutical Development, Presentation Preparations, Project Management, Report Preparation, Report Presentations {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

no

Job Posting End Date:

12/31/2026

*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.