Job Description
Our Company is passionate about bringing our medicines and vaccines to our customers around the world. Through market research digital listening and patient analytics we are able to understand our customers needs and strive to provide solutions to meet them. At our Company we are leveraging insights analytics and technology as we invent for life on behalf of patients around the world. We are seeking those who have a passion for using strategic insights data and analytics to drive decision making that will allow us to tackle some of the worlds greatest health threats.
As the Director Primary Market Research for Vaccines you will join a team of passionate data-driven strategists who partner with stakeholders at local regional and global levels to enable value-driven decision making. You will lead and coach a team of market research professionals (both US based and indirect team members based in India) responsible for planning prioritizing managing and executing work across the vaccines portfolio spanning pre- and post-launch as well as future assets.
You will manage a diverse set of stakeholders at all levels and collaborate closely with peers in the Primary Market Leadership team and across the Digital Human Health (DHH) organization. Your Market Research and Analytics expertise will position you as a strategic partner who proactively engages cross-functional brand teams to address key business questions.
You will be an exceptional leader and active member of the Primary Market Research leadership team. You will collaborate to define and maintain best practices and test and implement innovative approaches to generating and delivering insights in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is a subject-matter expert in market research methodology who partners closely with stakeholders across Business Insights & Analytics Pricing & Access Sales Promotion U.S. and Global Marketing Forecasting and other Digital Human Health teams to elevate the impact of the market research function. The Director consistently demonstrates strong leadership a transformational mindset cultural awareness and resilience and thrives in a rapidly changing environment.
Key responsibilities include and are not limited to the following:
Lead a team of market research professionals (US and global) to design and execute research plans across the product lifecyclefrom Business Development (BD) and early development through launch and mature phasesproviding strategic partnership to the business by:
Framing critical business questions and identifying information needs
Integrating considerations from other data sources and developing research/analysis plans
Managing the research process to deliver objective insights on customers competitors and market developments
Clearly articulating rationale hypotheses and methodology to leadership and franchise/client teams to ensure objectives are met and communicated across all levels
Assessing and directing vendor capabilities; managing analytic risks
Facilitating strategic discussions with marketing/commercial teams to drive datadriven decision-making and planning
Integrating multiple sources/studies to present strategic options
Providing consultative guidance to marketing/commercial teams
Take end-to-end ownership of team performance: ensure understanding of business challenges and information needs; evaluate alternatives; select appropriate methods; apply best practices; and champion new techniques/innovations to meet objectives.
Serve as a thought leader and strategic partner across commercial R&D and medical functions.
Embrace innovation and technology to modernize market research uncover growth opportunities and provide actionable brand- and portfolio-level insights in near real time.
Collaborate proactively with cross-functional partnersBusiness Insights & Analytics Marketing Marketing Communications Market Access Commercial and advertising agenciesto ensure integrated launch and postlaunch execution.
Partner with Forecasting to inform strategic assumptions brand forecasts KPI tracking and benchmarking dashboards.
Partner with analytic functions to expand the use of novel data sources including RealWorld Data (RWD).
Lead ad hoc initiatives as needed.
Work effectively across multiple time zones and geographies.
Mentor and develop junior researchers; support ongoing growth of the team.
Position Qualifications:
Education:
Required: BA/BS in Business / Marketing / Healthcare
Preferred: Advanced degree (e.g. MBA PharmD PhD)
Experience Knowledge and Skills:
Minimum 10 years of experience in global pharmaceutical marketing and/or market research
Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies; strong understanding of secondary datasets/analytics and epidemiology data
Exposure to adjacent functions such as analytics sales forecasting market access and pricing marketing or competitive intelligence
Knowledge of vaccines portfolio preferred; experience with global product launches is an advantage
Demonstrated ability to lead change: proactively prioritize drive efficiency challenge the status quo and apply innovative approaches
Proven strategic partner/consultant with the ability to quickly build trust and credibility and develop effective cross-functional relationships
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to think strategically and objectively; adept at communicating research outputs through storytelling that turns data into actionable insights
Technical proficiency and learning agility to master current and emerging market research techniquesincluding AIin a rapidly evolving ambiguous environment
Preferred Knowledge and Skills:
Launch excellence (e.g. go-to-market strategy cross-functional readiness post-launch optimization)
Early commercial development knowledge (e.g. target product profile shaping demand assessment value/Access inputs early forecasting)
Project management and stakeholder management (plan prioritize manage risks/dependencies drive alignment across functions)
Business acumen and strategic thinking (market sizing competitive assessment scenario planning portfolio trade-offs)
Marketing strategy development (positioning segmentation/targeting value propositions messaging)
Leadership that emphasizes customer focus decision making courage & candor and collaboration / teamwork
Ability to motivate teams and support/lead transformation in a fast-paced ambiguous environment
People leadership and management (coaching performance management talent development)
Required Skills:
Building Trust Business Analysis Business Development Communication Customer Insights Data Analysis Epidemiology Forecasting Go-to-Market Strategies Market Access Marketing Market Research Motivating Teams Project Management REMOTESKILLResearching Stakeholder Relationship Management Strategic Insights Supplier Management Talent Management User Research Waterfall ModelPreferred Skills:
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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 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:
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 anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights including under California Colorado and other US State Acts
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 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
$187000.00 - $294400.00This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employees 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 can apply for this role through (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:
RegularRelocation:
No relocationVISA Sponsorship:
YesTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
n/aJob Posting End Date:
12/26/2025*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Required Experience:
Director
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more