Associate Director, Protein Sciences (Billerica MA)

Merck•Billerica, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director, Protein Sciences will lead the design, development, expression, purification, and biophysical characterization of challenging protein targets supporting discovery and development programs. The role requires expertise in membrane proteins, intracellular proteins, receptor fusions, and other difficult-to-express or difficult-to-purify constructs, as well as the scientific judgment to select and optimize fit-for-purpose strategies. The successful candidate will combine hands-on technical depth with people leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to turn complex protein-science challenges into practical, high-quality solutions. This leader will direct protein-science strategies and workflows across mammalian, insect, bacterial, yeast, and cell-free expression systems; guide construct design and purification and characterization approaches; and troubleshoot difficult protein targets. The role also includes leading experimental planning and scientific decisions across multidisciplinary teams, building partnerships with related functions, and recruiting, mentoring, and developing a team of at least five. The Associate Director will maintain high standards for data quality, documentation, scientific integrity, safety, and applicable quality expectations, and represent protein sciences in internal and external scientific discussions. The position is onsite in Billerica, Massachusetts. The anticipated base pay range is $165,500–$248,300. The position 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 and bottom-up mass spectrometry, SEC-MALS, size-exclusion chromatography, thermal-shift or differential scanning fluorimetry, dynamic light scattering or related 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.
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 protein-characterization studies to assess identity, purity, homogeneity, oligomeric state, folding, stability, and functional integrity.
Apply and oversee advanced analytical techniques, including SPR and related interaction analyses, intact-mass spectrometry, top-down and bottom-up mass spectrometry, SEC-MALS, and complementary 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 protein-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.
Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop protein-science scientists and research associates.
Lead a team of at least five individuals, establishing priorities, accountability, and an inclusive, collaborative, scientifically rigorous work 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.