Associate Director, Protein Sciences (Billerica MA)

The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany•Billerica, MA

16d•$165,500 - $248,300•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director, Protein Sciences leads the design, development, expression, purification, and biophysical characterization of challenging protein targets supporting discovery and development programs. The role calls for deep expertise with membrane proteins, intracellular proteins, receptor fusions, and other difficult-to-express or difficult-to-purify constructs, along with scientific judgment to select and optimize fit-for-purpose strategies. The successful candidate combines hands-on technical depth with people leadership and cross-functional collaboration, translating complex protein-science challenges into practical, high-quality solutions. The position leads a team of at least five and represents protein sciences in project reviews, internal meetings, external collaborations, and scientific discussions with senior stakeholders. Success involves building and leading a high-performing team, delivering reproducible, well-characterized proteins for demanding research programs, establishing solutions for difficult-to-purify targets, and providing scientific leadership that advances projects from early discovery through key development milestones. The position is onsite in Billerica, Massachusetts. The stated base pay range is $165,500–$248,300; the role may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits include health insurance, paid time off, retirement contributions, and other perquisites.

Requirements

Ph.D. in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, protein science, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline, with relevant postdoctoral or industry experience; equivalent experience may be considered.
At least 10 years of relevant experience in protein expression, purification, and characterization in an academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or related research environment.
Demonstrated expertise expressing and purifying multiple challenging protein classes, including membrane proteins, intracellular proteins, receptor fusions, and other multidomain, unstable, aggregation-prone, or difficult-to-purify proteins.
Hands-on experience with multiple expression systems, including cell-free protein-expression systems and at least two additional heterologous or eukaryotic platforms.
Strong practical knowledge of protein purification development, optimization, troubleshooting, and scale-up considerations.
Proficiency in protein characterization using several listed methods, with demonstrated strength in SPR, intact-mass spectrometry, top-down mass spectrometry, bottom-up mass spectrometry, SEC-MALS, size-exclusion and related chromatography, thermal-shift or differential scanning fluorimetry, dynamic light scattering or related particle-sizing methods, and orthogonal purity, identity, and stability assays.
Experience interpreting complex analytical data and integrating results across complementary techniques.
Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing a team of five or more individuals.
Strong scientific communication skills, including presenting technical findings and recommendations to expert and non-expert audiences.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, make sound technical decisions, and deliver results in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting structure-based drug discovery, biologics discovery, protein therapeutics, or other translational research programs.
Experience with membrane-protein stabilization, detergent and lipid screening, nanodisc or other reconstitution approaches, or receptor-complex assembly.
Familiarity with construct engineering, protein-design approaches, and sequence- or structure-informed optimization.
Experience establishing new protein-science capabilities, analytical workflows, or laboratory infrastructure.
Experience with automation, high-throughput experimentation, or data-driven optimization of expression and purification processes.
Record of scientific publications, patents, conference presentations, or other contributions demonstrating expertise in protein sciences.

Responsibilities

Lead protein-science strategies for membrane proteins, intracellular proteins, receptor fusions, and other complex or challenging targets.
Design and optimize expression and purification workflows across mammalian, insect, bacterial, yeast, and cell-free expression systems.
Develop scalable approaches for proteins with low expression, poor solubility, instability, aggregation, proteolytic sensitivity, or challenging post-translational requirements.
Guide construct design, tag selection, buffer optimization, detergent and lipid screening, stabilization strategies, and formulation development.
Establish and implement robust purification workflows, including affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic-interaction, size-exclusion, and other appropriate chromatographic methods.
Plan and interpret characterization studies assessing identity, purity, homogeneity, oligomeric state, folding, stability, and functional integrity.
Apply and oversee advanced analytical techniques, including SPR, intact-mass spectrometry, top-down and bottom-up mass spectrometry, SEC-MALS, and other relevant biophysical and biochemical methods.
Define analytical strategies for difficult-to-purify proteins and make evidence-based recommendations on construct, process, and assay selection.
Troubleshoot complex expression, purification, and characterization problems and communicate recommendations to project teams and leadership.
Lead or contribute to technical strategy, experimental planning, data review, milestone planning, and scientific decision-making across multidisciplinary teams.
Build partnerships with structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, assay development, analytical sciences, and project or program leadership groups.
Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop protein-science scientists and research associates.
Lead a team of at least five individuals, setting clear priorities, fostering accountability, and creating an inclusive, collaborative, and scientifically rigorous environment.
Maintain standards for data quality, documentation, scientific integrity, laboratory safety, and relevant regulatory or quality expectations.
Represent protein sciences in internal meetings, project reviews, external collaborations, and scientific discussions with senior stakeholders.