Director, Science and Regulatory Policy Europe in London

The Science and Regulatory Policy (SRP) team advocates for policy priorities that support the pipeline and portfolio for Research & Development and our company’s business goals, developing wider support for our causes and maintaining a strong reputation as a science-led biopharmaceutical innovative leader. We work in partnership with all of the R&D divisions to define and implement a prioritised policy and advocacy plan that advances business goals.

Our team is expanding hence we are recruiting for a Director, Science and Regulatory Policy Europe to be based in Moorgate, London as a primary location. Other locations in Europe, such as Spain and Portugal, will be considered. The successful candidate will perform the role from their respective country. Travel for this role is approximately 30% of the time. We operate on a hybrid working policy across our company locations.

The Science Regulatory Policy team comprises of four contributing teams:

• Global Regulatory Policy (SRP)
• Data & Advanced Digital Technology Policy (DADTP)
• Evidence Policy
• Clinical Research Policy

What you will do in this role:

• Develop and deliver strategic leadership for policy priorities to support our pipeline and portfolio.
• Advocate for and anticipate policy change that affects our research and development activities worldwide and innovation environment.
• Advise and provide insights for our research and development senior leadership on critical developments in the global policy environment that impact our pipeline and portfolio.
• Take leadership for coordinating and aligning policy development and activity across research and development, with focus on the Development and Regulatory organisations.
• Leadership for strategy and coordination of R&D External Policy relationships to meet priorities.
• Building our company’s share of voice and influence extramurally to support the company enterprise policy agenda.

You will:

• Shape and influence European science, evidence, and data/digital policy agendas to proactively enable R&D productivity, scientific leadership, and competitive pipeline advancement.
• Drive early translation of emerging policy, legislative, and regulatory developments into decision‑ready insights, risks, and strategic options for pipeline, portfolio, evidence generation, and access.
• Set and advance company policy priorities on European science, evidence, data governance, and advanced digital technologies, ensuring alignment with R&D scientific strategy and enterprise innovation objectives.
• Lead the development and execution of coordinated company policy positions and advocacy strategies on European legislative and regulatory initiatives, mobilising cross‑functional alignment to shape outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership on European data and advanced digital technology policy, including data integrity, privacy, security, AI/ML, digital health, and cloud‑enabled collaboration, to accelerate science and scale innovation.
• Build and leverage strategic relationships with European and globally influential policymakers, regulators, research institutions, and multilateral organisations to anticipate inflection points and influence policy direction.
• Position the company as a science‑led industry leader by representing our company in external policy forums, industry associations, and professional settings.
• Deliver forward‑looking policy analyses and executive briefings that inform senior R&D and company leadership on strategic choices, trade‑offs, and actions.

What you need:

Required qualifications, experience and skills:

• University Degree is required, preferably in science, health care, public health or health policy; may be accompanied by a master’s degree in science, health care, public health, health policy, or law.
• Substantial experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, regulatory, or science policy environments.
• Proven experience in developing and articulating science‑based policy positions, white papers, comment letters, and briefing materials for senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Experience engaging in global science policy environments, including US and European legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks.
• Experience advising senior leaders on science policy implications, risk, and strategic positioning.

Preferred:

• Postgraduate degree in science policy, health policy, or law.
• Skilled with AI, Data and Real World Evidence.
• Broad understanding of pharmaceutical R&D, including clinical development, evidence generation, or innovative development approaches.
• Demonstrated leadership or active participation in industry trade associations, scientific societies, or multi‑stakeholder policy initiatives.
• Experience in working in the field of pharmaceutical/biotechnology development.

Competencies/Skills:

• Strong relationship management and interpersonal skills with superb written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, writing, and communication skills with ability to demonstrate analytic thinking, excellent presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to thrive in a cross-functional team environment with a global mindset.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken).
• Data savvy with an eye for detail.

Required Skills: Adaptability, Detail-Oriented, Regulatory Experience, Regulatory Law, Regulatory Policies, Regulatory Strategy Development, Science, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking.

Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE 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 no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.