Oncology Regional Medical Scientific Director - Head and Neck/Melanoma - Boston/New England

Merck Oncology Regional Medical Scientific Director - Head and Neck/Melanoma - Boston/New England

Our Medical Affairs team advances patient care by engaging in scientific exchange with external medical experts and industry professionals ensuring the scientific value of our products is realized. We engage and train internal employees to ensure that they thoroughly comprehend the science behind the medicine and review further unmet medical needs to bolster collaboration and further differentiate our portfolio.

Location: This is a field-based role and candidates must reside in the assigned territory (Boston area).

Role Summary

The Oncology Regional Medical Scientific Director - Head & Neck Cancers/Melanoma is a credentialed (i.e., PhD, PharmD, DNP, MD) oncology expert who engages in bidirectional exchange of scientific or medical information with Scientific Leaders (SLs). The role provides balanced, factual, scientific information about non-product areas of interest to the company and replies to scientific questions from SLs, including questions about company products. The work of an Regional Medical Scientific Director is aligned to: Scientific Exchange, Research, Scientific Congress Support, and Scientific Insights.

The Regional Medical Scientific Director liaises between the scientific community and the company to enhance the comprehension of scientific foundations and goals for approved, in-development, and active company-sponsored trials and/or investigator-sponsored research studies. The Regional Medical Scientific Director serves as a role model for other field medical team members in ways that include on-boarding and/or sharing of therapeutic expertise.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

Scientific Exchange

1. Develops professional relationships and engages with national and regional SLs to ensure access to medical and scientific information on areas of Head & Neck Cancers, Melanoma and company products.
2. Conducts peer-to-peer scientific discussions and maintains a reliable presence with those SLs to ensure they have a medical contact within the company.
3. Addresses scientific questions and directs SL inquiries on issues outside of Regional Medical Scientific Director scope (e.g., grants) to appropriate company resources consistent with applicable policies.
4. Maintains current knowledge and comprehension of dynamic scientific and clinical environment in the Company's Areas of Interest (AOI).

Research

1. Upon request from Global Center for Scientific Affairs (GCSA).
2. Initiates discussions with SLs and/or potential investigators that include scientific/data exchange within our AOI to determine the alignment with our research strategies, studies concepts, scientific merit, and qualifications for a specific compound or trial.
3. Enhances the comprehension of the scientific foundations and goals of investigator-sponsored research.
4. Identifies barriers to patient enrollment and retention efforts to achieve study milestones.
5. Upon request from Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO).
6. Recommends study sites and identifies potential investigators to participate in phase II-IV clinical development programs, conducts Site Initiation Visits (SIVs), and detects barriers to patient enrollment and retention efforts to achieve study milestones.
7. Addresses questions from investigators and provides information regarding participation in company-sponsored clinical studies.

Scientific Congress Support

• Engages in scientific congresses and medical meetings, facilitates scientific and data exchange for both company and competitor data.

Scientific Insights

• Gathers feedback, data, or information during routine activities that can help the company better comprehend medical or scientific needs, priorities, or concerns of SLs and/or patients.

Inclusive Mindset and Behavior

Demonstrates eagerness to contribute to an environment of belonging, inclusion, equity, and empowerment. Leads by example and serves as a role model for creating, leading and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Required Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

Minimum

1. PhD, PharmD, DNP, or MD.
2. Proven competence and a minimum of 3 years of relevant oncology experience beyond that obtained in the terminal degree program.
3. Ability to conduct doctoral-level discussions with key external stakeholders.
4. Dedication to scientific excellence with a strong focus on scientific education and dialogue.
5. Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and networking skills.
6. A thorough comprehension of FDA, OIG, HIPAA, and other ethical guidelines, laws, and regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and its customers.
7. Ability to organize, prioritize, and work effectively in a constantly changing environment.
8. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access).

Desire to contribute to an environment of belonging, engagement, equity, and empowerment by:

1. Working to transform the environment, culture, and business landscape.
2. Leveraging diversity and inclusion to increase competitive advantage, per global diversity and inclusion strategy.
3. Ensuring accountability to drive an inclusive culture.
4. Strengthening the foundational elements of diversity.
5. Consistent adherence to field and corporate policies and Global Medical Scientific Affairs (GMSA) strategy, including field standard operating procedures (SOPs), Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, and administrative/operational responsibilities.

Preferred

1. Field-based medical experience.
2. Head and Neck Cancers and Melanoma expertise.
3. Research Experience.
4. Demonstrated record of scientific/medical publication.