Director/Principal Scientist, Regulatory Affairs Liaison

At the heart of innovation, our Regulatory Affairs team plays a vital role in delivering new medical advancements to patients around the world. By facilitating seamless communication and establishing robust procedures, we ensure swift, organized compliance with global regulatory agencies. As an international network on the leading edge of healthcare, we bring safe, reliable, and compliant medical products, practices, and solutions to the global market.

Position Overview

The Global Regulatory Liaison is responsible for developing and implementing worldwide regulatory strategies for assigned projects within the Oncology, Immunology, and Devices therapeutic areas. Acting as the single, accountable global point of contact, the Liaison provides strategic regulatory oversight to accelerate approvals and optimize product labeling.

This position requires a proactive, self-motivated individual who can operate independently while managing complex programs that may involve multiple indications, formulations, or external partners. The Liaison engages directly with global regulatory authorities to ensure successful registration and compliance.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and lead global regulatory strategies to support multiple indications, optimizing labels and achieving timely regulatory approvals.
• Serve as the worldwide regulatory representative on Asset or Product Development Teams and act as the regulatory single point-of-contact for assigned products across GRACS and external partners.
• Provide expert regulatory guidance to cross-functional development teams and regional subsidiaries throughout the product life cycle.
• Oversee the preparation, submission, and follow-up of regulatory applications and ensure quality and compliance across all documentation.
• Interact independently with regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, etc.), including leading meetings, teleconferences, and written communications.
• Lead cross-functional teams in preparation for regulatory advisory committee meetings.
• Coordinate regional regulatory strategy and submissions through collaboration with Regulatory Affairs Europe (RAE) and local affiliate teams.
• Provide final regulatory review and approval of:
  
  • Worldwide marketing applications
  • Clinical study protocols and reports
  • Investigator brochures
  • Local registration study protocols for secondary markets

• Represent Global Regulatory Affairs on internal committees (e.g., DRC, ADT/PDT, EDT, LEAD) to provide strategic regulatory input and approvals.
• Conduct initial content review and approval for IND/CSA submissions to enable clinical trial initiation.
• Participate in regulatory due diligence activities for in-licensing opportunities.

Education Requirements

• B.S. in biological sciences, chemistry, or related discipline with 10+ years of relevant drug development, clinical, or regulatory experience.
• M.S. with 10+ years of experience.
• Ph.D. with 7+ years of experience.
• M.D. with 5+ years of experience.

Required Experience and Skills

• Proven ability to operate independently with minimal direction and deliver results.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and continuous learning mindset.
• Effective communicator-both written and verbal-with the ability to influence, lead, and negotiate across levels and functions.
• Experience leading or supporting direct interactions with major Health Authorities (e.g., FDA, EMA).
• Demonstrated success in managing regulatory filings across global regions.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Therapeutic area expertise in Oncology or Immunology.
• Experience with biologics, vaccines, or mRNA therapeutics.
• Significant regulatory affairs experience in major markets (U.S., EU, Japan, China).

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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.

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".

The salary range for this role is
$169,700.00 - $267,200.00

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 .

You can apply for this role through (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

Required Skills:
Clinical Judgment, Communication, Complaint Management, Compliance Programs, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Drug Development, Economic Impact Analysis, Exercises Judgment, Goal-Oriented, Legislative Testimony, Management Process, Regulatory Affairs Management, Regulatory Communications, Regulatory Filings, Regulatory Training, Social Collaboration, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:
08/23/2025
*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.

Requisition ID: R360407