Job Description

Our Company a global healthcare leader, is seeking an Associate Principal Scientist to join our collaborative, dynamic, and inclusive Laboratory Animal Resources Team at the West Point, PA, USA location.

The successful candidate will be integral in developing research models in rodents and non-rodents, as well as some routine veterinary and animal colony management tasks.  This dynamic role will involve supporting preclinical projects across our Company’s Research portfolio in early discovery and in the GLP environment. On-site and hands-on study-related lab work will be a crucial part of the role. Additionally, the individual will collaborate cross-functionally with ongoing in vivo discovery research and development projects, as well as initiate, develop, and implement special projects to facilitate advancements in laboratory animal care or use that align with ophthalmic research requirements. It is crucial for this individual to exercise care to ensure both personnel safety and animal welfare. The role also requires occasional on-call rotation weekend support, and the ability to apply sound technical skills to assigned tasks, often with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities:

Team player who is a creative, independent thinker, thrives in a widely interdisciplinary environment, and enjoys working closely and communicating effectively with colleagues in extremely diverse fields. Experience working with various species in the laboratory animal field providing scientific and technical support to biomedical research projects, collaborating with researchers and research staff, training and teaching research and lab animal staff, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and AAALACi standards. Willingness to perform, refine and develop existing and new surgical modes in various preclinical species. Provide excellent preventative, clinical, diagnostic, and surgical care and services to a diverse, dynamic, AAALACi-accredited animal research institution. Collaborate cross-functionally with principal investigators, scientific staff, toxicologists, pathologists, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, IACUC members, facility managers, and animal care technicians. Maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized records of animal treatments, study data, procedures, inventories, research protocols, and reports in both non-GLP and GLP platforms. Independently recognize study/project hurdles (operational, technical and scientific) and propose solutions. Train veterinary and technical staff on various handling and clinical procedures as they relate to laboratory animal medicine.  Advise investigators regarding animal model selection or development.  Develops novel approaches to establish unique animal models as required. Communicate any project work, study results, and data interpretation to cross-functional project teams as needed. Comply with US and company-specific rules and regulations, e.g., Animal Welfare Act, The Guide, 3Rs principles, FDA and other regulatory bodies.

Qualifications:

Required:

You hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, VMD or equivalent) from an AVMA-accredited or recognized school of veterinary medicine.

Completed a residency in Laboratory Animal Medicine.

You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

You will have experience in building and leading teams, managing people and animal research facilities.

Demonstrable passion for animal care and welfare.

Willingness to learn technical and scientific skills and a comprehensive understanding of the R&D process.

Initiative seeking, innovative, and solution-oriented mindset.

Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

Commitment to maintaining highest safety and regulatory standards.

Ability and readiness to participate in weekend on-call rotation schedule.

Preferred:

Diplomate of ACLAM or ACLAM board-eligible.

Our Company values collaboration, coordination, and communication. We aim to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and provide a vibrant learning environment where new skills can be honed, and innovative solutions can be explored. If you are interested in contributing to our research within a dynamic team that prioritizes respect and collaboration, we would love to hear from you.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.  This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

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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:

Relocation:

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Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

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Requisition ID:R309337