Business Unit Director Vaccines
Riyadh - Saudi Arabia
Job Summary
Job Description
This position will be based in Riyadh.
Reporting to the Managing Director for Saudi Arabia the Vaccines Business Unit Director will lead the strategic and operational oversight of our companys Vaccines portfolio in Saudi Arabia. The role carries full business and P&L accountability and is responsible for accelerating growth across public and private vaccine markets driving inclusion and access strategies advancing vaccination policies and ensuring successful launch and lifecycle management of our companys vaccines portfolio.
The position requires strong collaboration with regional and global stakeholders health authorities and strategic partners to shape the vaccination landscape in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 priorities and public health objectives. You will serve as a member of the Saudi Leadership Team and champion our companys values culture and Ways of Working.
Key Responsibilities
Business Strategy and Execution
- Develop and execute the Vaccines business strategy to achieve sustainable growth and annual financial commitments.
- Maintain full accountability for the Vaccines P&L including revenue growth profitability market share and forecasting.
- Drive successful execution across public and private market segments maximizing performance of both pediatric and adult vaccine portfolios.
- Lead portfolio strategy across existing and future vaccine assets including launch readiness and lifecycle management.
- Identify and pursue innovative opportunities to increase vaccine uptake through customer-centric and patient-focused approaches.
- Partner closely with Market Access Policy Medical Affairs Commercial Operations and Strategic Accounts teams to enhance access and utilization of vaccines.
- Lead inclusion tender procurement and implementation strategies within national immunization programs and public-sector opportunities.
- Monitor healthcare trends competitive dynamics and regulatory developments to shape future business opportunities.
- Design and implement long-term strategic plans aligned with our companys growth ambitions and Saudi Vision 2030 healthcare priorities.
Team Leadership
- Serve as a member of the Saudi Arabia Leadership Team and role model our companys Ways of Working and leadership principles.
- Lead engage and inspire the Vaccines organization including sales marketing VIM and cross-functional teams.
- Establish a clear vision and strategic direction for the Vaccines business.
- Foster high levels of accountability collaboration innovation and execution excellence.
- Influence internal and external stakeholders beyond direct reporting relationships to achieve business objectives.
Talent Management and Development
- Attract retain and develop diverse and high-performing talent.
- Build a strong succession pipeline and leadership bench for critical roles.
- Coach and develop team members through meaningful learning opportunities stretch assignments and career development plans.
- Create a psychologically safe inclusive and high-performance culture.
- Effectively manage performance by recognizing excellence and addressing underperformance where needed.
External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strategic partnerships with key healthcare stakeholders.
- Represent our company with governmental and healthcare stakeholders to advance vaccination priorities and public health outcomes.
- Establish our company as a trusted partner in disease prevention and vaccine innovation.
- Collaborate with regional and global teams to bring best practices and strategic insights into the Saudi market.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Bachelors degree in pharmacy required.
- Advanced Degree in Life Sciences Pharmacy Medicine Public Health or related discipline preferred.
- MBA or equivalent business qualification preferred.
Experience
- Significant leadership experience within the pharmaceutical vaccines biotechnology or healthcare industry.
- Proven experience leading a commercial business unit with P&L accountability.
- Deep understanding of the Saudi healthcare ecosystem including MOH NUPCO HHC health clusters and Vision 2030 initiatives.
- Strong experience in vaccines infectious diseases public health programs preventive healthcare or related therapeutic areas.
- Demonstrated success in launch excellence market expansion and lifecycle management.
- Strong experience in market access pricing reimbursement tender management and public sector engagement.
- Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).
Critical Experience
- Leadership of a business unit with responsibility for revenue growth profitability and resource management.
- Successful delivery of commercial and organizational transformation initiatives.
- Experience managing public and private healthcare markets.
- Strong understanding of national immunization programs vaccination policies and public health priorities.
- Experience influencing healthcare policy and engaging with health authorities.
- Proven success leading multifunctional teams within a matrix organization.
- Extensive experience in marketing sales and people leadership.
- Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
Technical Competencies
- Strategic Thinking and Business Planning
- Commercial Excellence
- Strong Financial and P&L Acumen
- Vaccines Market and Public Health Expertise
- Change Management
- Cross-Functional Leadership
Behavioral Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- High Ethics and Integrity consistent with our companys values.
- Strong executive presence and leadership impact.
- Courageous and inclusive leadership.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Customer and patient focus.
- Agility and resilience in a rapidly evolving environment.
- Strong collaboration and teamwork.
- Ability to inspire and motivate large and diverse teams.
- Strong judgment and decision-making capabilities.
- Commitment to diversity equity inclusion and psychological safety.
Required Skills:
Collaboration Cross-Functional Teamwork Execution Excellence Innovation Leadership People Leadership Relationship Building Results-Oriented Strategic Planning Strategic Thinking Talent DevelopmentPreferred Skills:
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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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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:
RegularRelocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
07/16/2026*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
About Company
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