Regional Medical Scientific Director (US Medical Affairs) Immunology - Gastrointestinal (Southern Midwest)
Listed compensation
$191k-$300k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
We are seeking a Growth and Improvement minded Regional Medical Scientific Director (aka Medical Science Liaison, MSL) in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Immunology that can help drive our Strategic Operating Priorities.
Summary, Focus and Purpose
The Regional Medical Scientific Director (Medical Science Liaison) is a credentialed (i. e., PhD, PharmD, DNP, MD) Director Level Medical Affairs position and gastrointestinal (GI) / inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapeutic and disease 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 is aligned to Scientific Exchange, Research, Scientific Congress Support, and Scientific Insights.
You will liaise 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 and serve as a role model for other field medical team members in ways that include on-boarding and/or sharing of therapeutic expertise. 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.
Responsibilities and Primary Activities
Scientific Exchange
Develops professional relationships and engages with national and regional GI/IBD SLs to ensure access to company-approved medical and scientific information on areas of therapeutic interest and Company products
Conducts peer-to-peer scientific discussions and maintains a reliable presence with those SLs to ensure they have a medical contact within the company
Addresses scientific questions and directs SL inquiries on issues outside of scope (e. g., grants) to appropriate company resources consistent with applicable policies
Maintains current knowledge and comprehension of dynamic scientific and clinical environment in the Company's Areas of Interest (AOI) for your specific therapeutic area
- Research
- Upon Request from Global Center for Scientific Affairs (GCSA)
- 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
- Enhances the comprehension of the scientific foundations and goals of investigator-sponsored research
- Identifies barriers to patient enrollment and retention efforts to achieve study milestones
- Upon Request from Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO)
- 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
Protocol Lead Responsibilities in Collaboration with GCTO
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
- Work Independently and as a Team member with Integrity | Precision | Accomplishment | Motivational Ambition | Respect | Inclusion
- Demonstrates eagerness to contribute to an environment of belonging, inclusion and empowerment
- Leads by example and serves as a role model for creating, leading, and retaining an inclusive workforce
- Motivation to contribute to an environment of belonging, engagement and empowerment
- Working to transform the environment, culture, and business landscape
- Leveraging inclusion to ensure business value, per global inclusion strategy
- Ensuring accountability to drive an inclusive culture
- Strengthening the foundational elements of inclusion
Required Location
- This role covers the Southern-Midwest region.
- Candidates must reside within the territory.
- Ability for travel up to 50% within the territory
Required Education
PhD, PharmD, DNP, DO, or MD
Required Experience | Skills | Knowledge
- Proven competence and 3 years of relevant Immunology (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) experience beyond that obtained in the terminal degree program
- Principled verbal and written communications
- Ability to conduct doctoral-level discussions with key external stakeholders
- Dedication to scientific excellence with a strong focus on scientific education and dialogue
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and networking skills
- Thorough comprehension of FDA, OIG, HIPAA, and other ethical guidelines, laws, and regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and its customers
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and work effectively in a constantly changing environment
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, OneNote)
- Familiarity with virtual meeting platforms
- Preferred Experience | Skills | Knowledge
- Additional experience in Immunology Rheumatology and/or Dermatology
- Field-based medical experience
- Research Experienced
- Demonstrated record of scientific/medical publication
#eligibleforERP
Required Skills
Clinical Trials, Gastrointestinal Disease, Immunology, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Inflammatory Diseases, Medical Affairs, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Rheumatology, Scientific Communications, Stakeholder Engagement
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 primary location for this posting is:
USA - Remote - Remote
Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.
The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$190,800.00 - $300,300.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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 jobs.merck.com.
Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
Additional Location(s) Compensation Information
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
Key Responsibilities
The Regional Medical Scientific Director engages in bidirectional scientific exchange with key opinion leaders to enhance understanding of company products and therapeutic areas. The role also supports clinical trial operations by identifying investigators, facilitating research discussions, and addressing scientific inquiries.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a terminal degree such as a PhD, PharmD, DNP, DO, or MD and possess at least 3 years of relevant immunology experience. Strong communication skills and a thorough understanding of pharmaceutical industry regulations are required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Practice Management & Operations Career Context
Practice Management & Operations pay on WeekdayDoc is down 22.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.8 / 10 · top 25% in practice management & operations (healthcare admin) | ranked against 131 Practice Management & Operations (Healthcare Admin) listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $191k–$300k | Practice Management & Operations median $85k (middle half $65k–$100k)11 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | sign-on bonus | US healthcare professional listings: 6% state a sign-on bonus (median $2k) · 6% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| Practice Management & Operations pay trend | −22.9% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Regional Medical Scientific Director (US Medical Affairs) Immunology - Gastrointestinal (Southern Midwest) at MSD a 6.8 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Practice Management & Operations (Healthcare Admin) — ranked against 131 active Practice Management & Operations (Healthcare Admin) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, remote work flexibility.
Top Healthcare Admin Jobs
12 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
8 jobsAnnual compensation range
Senior Director, Pod Leader – Clinical Intelligence (Independent Physician Groups)
Get Well Network · Bethesda, Maryland
Physician Relations Manager
UMass Memorial Health · Worcester, Massachusetts
Physician Relations Team Manager
$107k-$168kPhysician Relations Team Manager
$107k-$168k