Executive Director, PDMB Outsourcing

MSD • Boston, PA

21h • Hybrid

About The Position

The department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics, Metabolism and Bioanalytics (PDMB) is seeking an Executive Director to lead the Outsourcing team within the Translational Sciences and Outsourcing (TSO) organization. The role leads scientists and operational staff across PDMB functions, including Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), vaccine regulatory bioanalysis, and therapeutics regulatory bioanalysis. The team manages sourcing, financial tracking and reporting to generate quality, timely, cost-effective, and compliant data from external partners that supports discovery and development decisions. It also tracks and forecasts outsourcing spend and maintains financial compliance.

The Executive Director will strengthen strategic partnerships with external providers and advance a digitally connected outsourcing model using automation, data integration, and fit-for-purpose AI. The role connects wet-lab experimentation with data science, modeling, and analytics to enable more predictive, efficient, and scalable workflows. The leader will work with partners to adopt interoperable technologies, modernize data exchange, and co-develop capabilities that complement internal science and accelerate portfolio delivery.

As a member of the TSO Leadership Team, the Executive Director contributes to global scientific and portfolio strategy across TSO and PDMB. The role leads a team of approximately 35 professionals, including Senior Directors and PhD- and BS/MS-level scientists, under the direction of the Associate Vice President of TSO. Responsibilities include people management, scientific and operational oversight, talent development, performance management, and alignment of departmental and portfolio priorities. The role oversees external research at more than 50 vendors worldwide and ensures quality, timeliness, compliance, and continuity of supply.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PharmD with at least 13 years of experience, or a PhD or equivalent degree with at least 10 years of drug discovery or development experience, including assay method development and validation.
• Broad experience in bioanalytical development, validation, and quality control.
• Expert knowledge of regulatory agency requirements for regulated clinical and GLP testing environments for small molecules and biologics.
• Business and financial acumen, including direct experience in forecasting, financial tracking, and strategic vendor management.
• Demonstrated ability to establish an inclusive, high-performance work environment by building talent, fostering collaboration, driving results, and managing teams to advance innovation and scientific excellence.
• Excellent technical, oral and written communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills; a positive attitude and a proven performance record.
• Required skills include DMPK, drug metabolism, external partners, financial acumen, outsourcing, pharmacokinetics, strategic leadership, and team management.

Nice To Haves

• Established leadership in bioanalytical science, with external visibility through publications, presentations, regulatory engagement, and/or involvement in professional organizations.
• Experience applying automation workflows in a regulated assay testing environment.
• Experience with vaccine research and assay development, including broad understanding of cell-based neutralization assays, ligand binding assays, and PCR/RT-PCR.
• Experience with DMPK workflows for both small and large molecules.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of approximately 35 professionals, including Senior Directors and PhD- and BS/MS-level scientists, providing people management and scientific and operational oversight.
• Provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for the PDMB Outsourcing organization, including vendor strategy, external capability development, assay and program placement, issue resolution, and budget and forecast guidance.
• Maintain flexibility and redundancy in the external network to mitigate geopolitical risks, external partner corporate changes, and vendor performance issues.
• Deliver outsourced work across discovery and development portfolios, therapeutic areas, and modalities, including DMPK assays and GLP and clinical regulatory bioanalysis assays for therapeutics and vaccines from first-in-human studies through registration and post-marketing.
• Collaborate with adjacent sourcing functions, functional leaders, and drug development teams to align strategy and ensure timely data delivery for critical milestones.
• Oversee external research at more than 50 vendors worldwide, ensuring quality, timeliness, compliance, and assurance of supply through the Vendor Performance Process and relationships with external partner leaders.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in external capabilities and internal sourcing and data processes in collaboration with DMPK, Regulatory Bioanalysis, Procurement, and Finance.
• Identify resource needs and contribute to internal resource allocation and business operations, including travel and outsourcing budgets.
• Work with TSO leadership to develop and execute departmental priorities and align team priorities and performance with the TSO and broader PDMB vision and mission.
• Contribute to strategic discussions and execution of PDMB priorities as a member of the PDMB extended leadership team.
• Strengthen external partnerships and advance digitally connected outsourcing through automation, data integration, fit-for-purpose AI, interoperable technologies, modernized data exchange, and co-developed capabilities.
• Develop talent, foster collaboration, drive results, and manage team performance.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
• Retirement benefits, including a 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, compassionate days, and sick days.
• Eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director