Associate Director, Launch Excellence

Job Description

The US Human Health Division (US-HH) has undergone significant transformation over the past few years, driven by an effort to shape our company's future by building or enhancing core commercial capabilities.

As we continue our transformation journey, the US Market has identified a need to focus on industry leading Commercial Agility and Launch Excellence capabilities to maximize growth of product launches and to drive broader organizational impact.

The Associate Director, Launch Excellence will be part of the US Commercial Agility and Launch Excellence organization and will play a crucial role in preparing for and accelerating the growth of Agile launches in 2023 and beyond. Specifically, this role will partner with leaders across the enterprise to develop the launch strategy, launch execution plan and launch KPIs to effectively manage launches across all interfacing workstreams.

The opportunity to work on product launches is unique within the pharmaceutical industry, and is a highly valued experience for future leaders.

Primary Activities:

• Build strategic and fully integrated launch plans – Partner with Marketing leadership and key functions/stakeholders across the enterprise to create, advance, and adjust launch plans while leveraging Agile strategies and methods

• Serve as a Launch Excellence subject matter expert

• Drive transparency, inspection, and adaptation of launch plan progress - ensuring tactical execution plans aligns with brand strategy

• Track progress and identify risks and cross-functional interdependencies across all launch workstreams

• Lead scenario planning, risk assessments, and prioritization of critical launch activities

• Create end-to-end launch KPIs and post launch hyper care plan

• Facilitate brand level planning and launch meetings with the Core and extended teams

• Actively manage appropriate cross-functional involvement in launch activities and decision making

• Work closely with cross-functional teams and Global COEs

Success Metrics:

• Achievement of launch plan KPIs (i.e, revenue, access, and customer engagement)

• Lead the team to effectively meet launch timelines

• Operational effectiveness and efficiency

• Delivery of work consistent with quality and compliance standards

Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelor’s Degree, required

• Master’s Degree, preferred

Required Experience and Skills:

• 3-5 years of professional work experience

• Pro-active “self-starter” with strong leadership skills, executive presence, and cross-functional influencing skills

• Demonstrated proficiency in project management and execution of plans across a broad group of stakeholders/functions (Marketing, HQ, Field, COEs, etc.)

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal

• Documented success in developing strategies and executing tactical plans with cross-functional teams in matrixed organizations

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives at once

• Strong understanding of compliance-related concepts

• Travel as needed for meetings / conferences

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Success in launching new brands, indications, or commercial programs in a lead role within the pharma/biopharma space

• Understanding and application of pharmaceutical marketing/commercialization methods and techniques, tools and concepts. (e.g. market research, strategic planning, multichannel execution, consumer and HCP marketing, etc.)

• Understanding and application of Agile strategies, methods, and practices

Our Human Health Division maintains a “patient first, profits later” ideology. The organization is comprised of sales, marketing, market access, digital analytics and commercial professionals who are passionate about their role in bringing our medicines to our customers worldwide.

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.

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. Expected salary range: $127,120 - $182,735.

StrategyandPlanning

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.

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.

For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit:

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

Residents of Colorado:

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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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Number of Openings:

Requisition ID:R211812