Job Description

The Senior Director of Human Factors (HF) will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the HF function within our company. This role leads a center of excellence team within Device Development & Technology (DD&T) engaged across the entire product lifecycle—from early development through commercialization and post-market activities—ensuring integration of HF principles to enhance patient safety and product usability. The Senior Director will champion enterprise-wide HF strategy, foster cross-functional collaboration, and represent the company externally to influence industry standards and regulatory practices.

Primary Scientific & Leadership Requirements

HF Influence

• Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to the HF team and key stakeholders across R&D, clinical, regulatory, marketing, manufacturing, and quality functions.

• Educate and build awareness of HF principles to foster alignment and commitment at all organizational levels.

• Develop and communicate a compelling HF vision and strategy that inspires collaboration and drives adoption of best practices.

• Empathize with diverse stakeholder concerns and involve cross-functional partners in exploring innovative solutions.

• Steer commitment to implementation and action, ensuring HF considerations are prioritized in decision-making and product lifecycle activities.

• Serve as a trusted HF subject matter expert via engagements with Health Authorities and Industry Trade Organizations.

HF Ownership & Accountability

• Instill a culture of accountability within the HF team and broader organization by clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.

• Promote individual and collective ownership of deliverables, driving results with a bias for action and a willingness to go above and beyond to achieve goals.

• Provide support and resources to empower team members without diminishing their task ownership.

• Lead by example in owning the end-to-end execution of HF initiatives, from strategy through implementation and post-market follow-up.

• Foster transparent decision making, communication, and agreements to ensure alignment and shared responsibility for outcomes.

Additional Scientific & Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrate entrepreneurship and business savviness to identify opportunities for innovation and growth within the HF domain (beyond combination products).

• Apply strategic planning, rigorous budget management, and sound scientific business decision-making to balance short-term operational demands with long-term organizational goals.

• Champion talent growth through coaching, development, and fostering diversity and inclusion within the team.

• Build and leverage internal and external networks and partnerships to enhance HF capabilities and influence industry standards.

• Act as a change catalyst, driving execution excellence and continuous improvement in HF practices.

Education, Qualifications & Experience

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Human Factors, Ergonomics, Cognitive Psychology, Engineering, or related field preferred.

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in HF within pharmaceutical, medical device, or combination product development.

• Proven track record of leading and growing HF teams in a regulated environment.

• Deep knowledge of global HF regulatory requirements, FDA guidance, and industry standards.

• Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and communication skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

• Experience integrating HF into clinical trial design and execution.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Budget Management, Business Decisions, Cognitive Psychology, Conflict Resolution, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Customer-Focused, Design Control Process, Ergonomics Consulting, Human Factor Engineering, Human Resource Management, Innovation, Intellectual Property Management, Medical Devices, Mentoring Staff, Negotiation, Neuropsychology, Patient Safety, Post Marketing Surveillance, Prioritization, Process Engineering, Product Lifecycle, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Social Collaboration {+ 4 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

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, Monday - 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”.

The salary range for this role is

$153,800.00 - $242,200.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

11/21/2025

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