Director, Oncology Forecasting (US Forecasting)

Job Description

Our Human Health Insights Analytics and Data (HHIAD) team is innovating how we understand our patients and their needs. Working cross-functionally we are inventing new ways of communicating, measuring and interacting with our customers and patients, leveraging digital, data and analytics.

Global Commercial Assessment & Forecasting (GCAF) - Oncology Forecasting is a headquarters-based function encompassing long-range pharmaceutical asset forecasting, pan-lifecycle, across our Company Oncology portfolio. Assets include early and late-stage molecules in clinical development and marketed. Forecasting deliverables feed cross-divisional planning and decision making for functional areas including finance, manufacturing, product development, and commercial. In addition to ensuring high quality deliverables, this role requires building deep knowledge of sub-cutaneous oncology products. The role will have to think critically about assumptions for the US, partner with US Marketing, and US Finance to track the Keytruda portfolio, highlight drivers and flag barriers to growth. Existing granularity of inputs to forecasting will have to be weighed and the cognitive burden evaluated. Collaborating with existing forecasting personnel will be a contributor to portfolio success. The person will also participate actively in appreciation of market dynamics and translate them for the capabilities team to upgrade the forecasting platform.

Long-range (strategic) forecasting for our Company’s growing oncology assets spans the entire lifecycle, from early clinical development through launch, commercialization, and end of lifecycle. Forecasts are regularly updated to promote planning and investment decisions based on both external and internal events, often directed by standardized governance reviews and established budget processes. Forecast horizons are typically 5 to 10 years for launch and in-line assets, through LOE for early clinical assets.

GCAF will partner with numerous centers of expertise such as brand marketing, Center for Real World Evidence (CORE), data and analytics, market access and pricing, finance, supply chain planning and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive valuations are conducted, socialized, and properly embedded within our planning processes to ensure reliable investment decisions.

The Oncology forecast team is globally deployed across the U.S. and India. The team size is roughly 20 people, currently consisting of 5 team members based in the US and the extended team in India, bolstered by dedicated contractors.

To ensure and improve quality and efficiency, key initiatives include adopting greater automation, standardization and process improvements elevating our forecasting deliverables to highlight source, overall quality and forecast certainty.

Primary Tasks:

• Direct the effort to comprehend the Oncology portfolio and its assets and socialize it within the US Marketing, US Finance and Tumor Leads within the wider Oncology Forecasting team

• Synthesize the recommended forecasting method into the platform and construct a process to inform assumptions

• Partner with US Marketing, US Finance, Strategy, Market research, and Forecasting Tumor Leads to increase appreciation of the shifting landscape and the role of each asset and forms in our Company’s Oncology Portfolio

• Back the use of analytics, drive scenario planning, highlights risks and opportunities, and sensitivities

• Advocate data-focused decision making

• Prioritize and manage complex forecasting projects with little / no guidance in an evolving, fast-paced, and increasingly complex oncology market environment

• Achieve critical business results while maintaining our company's Leadership Standards

• Oversee forecasting personnel in India-based Center of Excellence (COE) Work towards greater cross-functional and divisional and partnership in the areas of forecasting and analytics.

• Integrate and apply data science and advanced analytics capabilities in an easy to comprehend manner, driving strategic decisions

• Ensure effective alliance across GCAF and HHIAD, breaking down silos, sharing knowledge and best practices, ensuring use of best data sources and alignment of assumptions.

• Empower a growth mindset and inspire a culture of continual learning that strives for greater quality, efficiency, and innovation, ultimately improving team productivity and work product

• Prioritize and manage complex forecasting projects with little to no guidance

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to deliver solutions within complex organizations and markets by directing teams in promoting of agreed upon goals

• Strong knowledge of forecasting techniques / software and quantitative problem solving

• Strong analytical skills; an aptitude for critical thinking

• Proven ability to work collaboratively in large cross functional teams, make compelling calls to action and gain broad organizational promotion for new ideas

• Strong project management skills

• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear and actionable recommendations

• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word and forecasting tools/techniques

• Proven ability to work collaboratively across large & diverse functional teams and manage key business relationships

• Demonstrated management experience in delivering complex solutions, driving decision making and influencing perspectives supported with sound analytics

• Ability to manage in ambiguous environments, and to adapt to the changing needs of the business

• Proven ability to analyze and reliably translate key product attributes into robust forecast assumptions

• Strong knowledge of long and short-range forecasting techniques / software and quantitative problem solving

• Strong analytical skills; an aptitude for problem-solving and strategic thinking

• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear and actionable recommendations

Education:

Education: Bachelor’s degree; MS/MA/MBA degree, in marketing or analytic field (e.g., Statistics, OR, Finance, etc.)

• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word and forecasting tools/techniques

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for …

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

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.

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For positions located in the United States and Puerto Rico – Subject to applicable law, all new hires (including internal transfers) must demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement. New hires (including internal transfers) to a position that, as determined by the Company, requires routine collaboration with external stakeholders (such as roles in health services or customer-facing commercial or research-based roles) (“Customer-Facing Role”) who are not vaccinated must qualify for a medical or religious exemption and be in a position that the Company determines can accommodate unvaccinated employees without causing an undue burden to business operations. If, following dialog with the candidate as appropriate, it is determined that the candidate either a) does not qualify for a religious or medical exemption or, b) for candidates applying for Customer-Facing roles, it is determined that allowing the candidate to work without vaccination would cause an undue burden to the Company, the candidate will be ineligible for hire or transfer, or any offer of employment or transfer (if applicable) will be revoked. Please note that notwithstanding the approval of any reasonable accommodation, the Company reserves the right to monitor, modify, or revoke any such accommodation if it is determined, following dialog with the employee, that the accommodation is no longer effective or results in an undue burden to the Company.

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Under New York City law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

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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.

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Requisition ID:R196223