Principal Scientist (Director) - Rheumatology Outcomes Research

Job Description

Role Summary

• Under the guidance of an Executive Director, the Principal Scientist/Director, has primary responsibility for developing value evidence strategies, and planning/managing real world and economic evidence activities for pipeline assets in rheumatology to meet the value evidence needs of clinicians, payers, policymakers, HTA/reimbursement agencies and health systems globally. The ability to participate and lead cross-functional teams is a critical part of this role.
• Types of studies executed include prospective and retrospective observational studies to characterize disease burden and epidemiology, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization and costs, physician and patient satisfaction surveys, clinical and patient reported outcomes assessments, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and economic modelling. Key responsibilities also include development of American Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) dossiers for US payers, and Global Value Dossiers for use by local subsidiaries in their HTA submissions. Incumbent is also expected to contribute to product development and marketing strategies throughout the lifecycle to ensure that product value is defined and developed to achieve optimal market/patient access and reimbursement. The incumbent is expected to work cross-functionally with clinical development, medical affairs, biostatistics, market access, commercial and country affiliates and may have direct interactions with health technology assessment (HTA) agencies, reimbursement decision makers and national immunization technical advisory groups.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

• Leads value evidence teams and develops value evidence strategies for in-line and pipeline products. Obtains senior management approval of evidence generation plans. Provides outcomes research leadership on cross-functional regional and global teams
• Critically assesses drivers and barriers to reimbursement and market access, and provides input into clinical, regulatory, payer/access, marketing and evidence generation strategies and programs
• In collaboration with internal teams and external partners, designs studies, authors study protocols, develops measurement questionnaires, case report forms, data analysis plans, final study reports, scientific presentations, and publications
• Responsible for study-related contracting, budgets, and vendor/partner management and to ensure study conduct is aligned with company Policies and SOPs and world-wide regulations and standards, including Good Pharmacoepidemiology Practice (GPP) for applicable work. 
• Develops American Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) dossiers for US payers, and Global Value Dossiers for use by local subsidiaries in their local HTA submissions
• Develops supplementary clinical data package in close partnership with markets and HTA statistics group for submission to HTA agencies
• Supports country affiliates to understand local evidence generation needs, adapts health economic evaluations, customizes outcomes research documents, such as protocols and reimbursement dossiers, according to local requirements
• Works closely with cross-functional teams to effectively communicate outcomes research and health economic modelling data internally and to external stakeholders
• Maintains awareness of new scientific and methodological developments within therapeutic area
• Builds relationships with scientific experts worldwide
• Presents outcomes research data at national and international congresses and publishes articles in scientific journals

 

Required Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

Minimum

• Doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, ScD, PharmD) in relevant discipline (health services research, outcomes research, epidemiology, public health, health economics, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacy administration)
• 7+ years experience post degree

Required Skills:

Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Medical Affairs, Outcomes Research, Product Marketing, Public Health, Public Health Research, Rheumatology, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning

Preferred Skills:

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

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.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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

Job Posting End Date:

07/10/2026

*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.