Job Description

Medical Science Liaison (MSL)

Role Summary

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a credentialed therapeutic and disease expert (MD, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent) who engages in non-promotional, peer-to-peer scientific exchange with Scientific Leaders (SLs) and Key Decision Makers in the external medical community.

Operating as a trusted, field-based scientific partner, MSL provides balanced, factual, and cutting-edge scientific information aligned with the stakeholder’s professional needs and the Company’s Areas of Interest (AOI). MSL serves as a key scientific resource, aligning activities across four core pillars: Scientific Exchange, Research, Scientific Congress Support, and Scientific Insights, while acting as a role model for the field medical team. Hybrid Role that has contact with non-traditional SLs & KDMs, providing accurate information on the company’s therapeutic areas.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

1. Scientific Exchange

• Peer-to-Peer Engagement: Develop and maintain professional, non-promotional relationships with national and regional Scientific Leaders, ensuring active listening and strategic engagement.
• Scientific Inquiry Resolution: Respond to unsolicited requests for medical, scientific, pipeline, or marketed product information utilizing approved, high-quality scientific materials.
• Technical & Formulary Support: Provide rigorous medical/scientific support, including documentation and verbal interactions, for Health Technology Assessments (HTA) and formulary decisions.
• Compliance: Ensure all activities strictly adhere to local regulations, local industry codes, and the Guiding Principles for Ex-US Global Medical Affairs.

2. Scientific Congress Support

• Congress Strategy and Scientific Presence: Represent Medical Affairs at local, regional, or international medical events, collaborating on pre-congress scientific preparation and post-event scientific summaries. Staff congress exhibits booths as applicable.

3. Scientific Insights

• Insight Generation: Systematically gather feedback, data, and medical insights during routine activities to help the company better comprehend medical/scientific needs, diagnostic barriers, and priorities of healthcare practitioners and patients.

4. Inclusive Mindset & Leadership

• Culture of Belonging: Demonstrate eagerness to contribute to an environment of belonging, equity, and empowerment, serving as a role model for team collaboration.

Required Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

• Education: Medical Doctor (MD), PharmD, PhD, or equivalent terminal degree in Life Sciences.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 (three) years of relevant experience as an MSL or in Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, or Pharmacovigilance within the Pharmaceutical Industry or a CRO.
• Therapeutic Expertise: Proven competence and clinical or research experience in the assigned therapeutic area. Experience in Vaccines, Cardiovascular/Atherosclerosis, or Immunology is highly preferred.
• Language: Professional fluency (excellent verbal and written communication skills) in both English and Spanish.
• Compliance & SOPs: Strong working knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, clinical trial methodologies, and field standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Location: Must be based in Bogotá, Colombia, with availability to travel over 50% of the time (local and international).

Core Competencies:

• Ability to conduct high-level discussions with key external stakeholders (SLs, KDMs, Medical associations), and active listening skills
• A thorough comprehension of local/regional regulatory agencies, health care system and other ethical guidelines, laws, and regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and its customers
• Strong collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience in the Colombian health care system and Latam countries preferred.
• Proficiency in digital productivity tools and AI.

Preferred

• Medical or Clinical research experience
• Demonstrated record of scientific/medical publication
• Relevant therapeutic area experience
• Proven competence and a minimum of 3 years of relevant therapeutic area experience

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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. 

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