Medical Science Liaison, Vaccines & Immunology

Job Description

Role Summary

• The MSL is a field-based (80% field based) medical professional whose primary responsibility is to engage in non-promotional peer-to-peer communication and provide medical/scientific information to Scientific Leaders (SLs) and Key Decision Makers (KDMs) based on cutting-edge scientific exchange and services oriented towards stakeholders’ professional interests and needs.
• The MSL is responsible for ensuring that he/she is fully versed in the assigned therapeutic area and up-to-date on all major studies, product information on our and other companies’ relevant therapies, clinical data, and relevant pipeline data to provide the most balanced data to SLs, KDMs, and the healthcare community to improve patient care.
• The MSL will develop and maintain highly effective relationships with new and existing SLs and KDMs and will also provide medical advice to internal stakeholders such as medical and access colleagues.
• The MSL proactively gathers, synthesizes, and communicates actionable field medical insights (e.g., unmet needs, treatment patterns, data gaps, and stakeholder feedback) to inform local medical strategy, evidence generation, and cross-functional decision-making.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

Engagement with External Experts

• Engaging in non-promotional peer-to-peer exchange of medical and scientific information with SLs or KDMs.
• Gaining deep insights on disease prevention, immunization practices, therapeutic area dynamics, healthcare needs, immune-mediated diseases, vaccination barriers, data gaps, and public health challenges.
• Representing V&I GMSA (Value & Implementation Global Medical Affairs) at local or regional non-promotional medical events (e.g., Medical Congresses and Symposia).
• Responding to unsolicited requests for medical, scientific, pipeline, or marketed product information or indications from SLs or KDMs.
• Responding to unsolicited requests for information on company research and/or grant activities.
• Responsible, along with the Field Medical & Health Systems Lead, for developing and following up on Scientific Leader (SL) engagement plans.
• Is recognized as the scientific expert in the disease, product, and therapeutic areas assigned by acting as speaker and/or discussant in external meetings.

Internal Support

• Participating in the development of Country Medical Affairs Plans (cMAP) and implementation of activities identified in the cMAP.
• At Global Clinical Trials Organization or Center for Observational and Real World Research personnel request, supporting the identification of potential study investigators for sponsored studies, Local Data Generation (LDG).
• Providing insights internally on scientific gaps, ideas, and other topics gathered from scientific exchange.
• Supporting company colleagues by providing on-label or disease-state scientific training in the therapeutic area when requested and where allowed.

Medical Functional Expertise

• Builds and maintains expertise and knowledge of scientific gaps in immunology, infectious diseases, immune-mediated diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, epidemiology, product(s), and indication(s) assigned.
• Identifies, implements, and supports investigator-initiated studies, local epidemiologic, and non-interventional data-generating opportunities.
• Ensures 100% compliance with all applicable company SOPs and guidance, local and international industry regulations, and standards.

Strategic Medical Support

• Implements local medical affairs activities within agreed timelines and budget, utilizing knowledge of our and competitors’ products and therapeutic options within the indications.
• Provides medical input into medical plans, market access strategies, uptake of our products in guidelines, and the selection of the most relevant and current data and references.

Tactical Medical Support

• Provides input on and drafts local publications, abstracts, reports, medical reviews, and medical training materials.
• Reviews expert reports to support reimbursement or formulary listing processes and is involved in the development of value dossiers.
• Evaluates the scientific value of projects for which support is requested from the company.

Required Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Minimum (Required)

• Medical Doctor/Specialist, Pharmacist (QFB/QFI/QBP), Biologist, Biotechnologist, or a related biomedical degree; valid professional license as applicable.
• ≥1.5 years of experience in a field medical role (MSL, Medical Advisor with field responsibilities, clinical/scientific liaison) or equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and interpret clinical and scientific data with healthcare professionals (HCPs).
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Willingness to travel up to 35% (or as business needs require) in a field-based role.
• Proven ability to conduct non-promotional, peer-to-peer scientific exchange.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical compliance principles and ethical standards.

Preferred

• Postgraduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, or related disciplines.
• Previous experience as an MSL or field medical professional in vaccines, immunology, infectious diseases, inflammatory or immune-mediated diseases, public health, preventive medicine, or related therapeutic areas.
• Experience in vaccines, immunology, infectious diseases, immune-mediated conditions, immunization programs, and/or preventive health strategies; strong understanding of vaccination pathways, immunization policies, disease prevention frameworks, patient journeys, and multidisciplinary healthcare models.
• Track record of publications, abstracts, posters, or meaningful scientific congress involvement.
• Experience supporting investigator-initiated studies (IIS) and/or real-world evidence and local data generation activities.
• Strong facilitation skills for advisory boards and medical education programs; ability to engage credibly with senior clinical experts.
• Experience providing medical support for market access activities (value dossiers, reimbursement discussions, guideline inclusion support).
• Familiarity with field medical tools/CRM, compliant documentation, and use of metrics to improve planning and insights quality.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (1:1, small group, advisory board settings).
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including KOL mapping and engagement planning across accounts and regions.
• Strong planning and prioritization skills, with the ability to synthesize field insights into clear internal recommendations within a matrix environment.

Skills / Knowledge / Competencies

• A team player with excellent interpersonal skills and a proactive “can do” attitude.
• Strong scientific baseline knowledge in vaccines, immunology, infectious diseases, immune-mediated diseases, and preventive medicine, including understanding of immune mechanisms, inflammation, vaccine development, epidemiology, and disease prevention; understanding of clinical trial design and conduct, implementation and interpretation of clinical data, sound scientific and clinical judgment, and eagerness to continue learning in assigned therapeutic areas.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and listening skills.
• Delivers value to internal and external stakeholders through innovation and collaboration and by understanding and meeting their needs; acts with candor and courage.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix organization.
• Has solid business acumen and an excellent understanding of core systems and metrics.
• Makes, strengthens, and maintains contact with those that can contribute to achieving set goals and utilizes the network purposefully.
• Ability to simultaneously handle multiple tasks and work effectively under pressure.
• Works to develop new skills and abilities and seeks and accepts feedback on performance.
• Demonstrates corporate culture competencies, Leadership Behaviors, and high ethical standards.

Inclusive Mindset and Behavior

• Demonstrates eagerness to contribute to an environment of belonging, inclusion, equity, and empowerment.
• Leads by example and serves as a role model for creating, leading, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Advisory Board Development, Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Data, Clinical Study Design, Clinical Trials, Data Analysis, Disease Prevention, Epidemiology, Ethical Standards, Healthcare Education, Health Economics, Immunizations, Infectious Disease, Medical Affairs, Medical Marketing Strategy, Medical Writing, Oncology Marketing, Pharmaceutical Industry, Project Management, Scientific Communications, Scientific Publications, Stakeholder Management {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

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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:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

Yes

Hazardous Material(s):

na

Job Posting End Date:

08/15/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.