Associate Director, New Product Planning

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to play a critical role in the US commercial development of our Company's pipeline assets. The role will report directly to the US Pharma Marketing Leader for New Products and has the primary responsibilities of developing the US market strategy to shape the environment for successful new product launches. The role will work across the enterprise to define value evidence and clinical development needs to support US commercial forecasts. As new products progress into Ph2B/3 the role is responsible for execution of market shaping strategies and measuring impact leveraging agile ways of working to evolve the strategy. Ideally, the candidate will have in-depth knowledge of the US market, strong scientific acumen, US policy/ advocacy experience and understanding of developing marketing strategies for new products.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop, evolve, and execute US strategy to shape the environment for pipeline products in cardiometabolic space.

• Represent the US market at various cross-functional product planning team meetings with global marketing, US policy/advocacy, US payer marketing, medical affairs, CORE, HHDDA, market research, GMAX, CI, and clinical.

• Lead the collection of customer insights and engage with scientific leaders to uncover customer needs to drive strategy.

• Inform target product profile and clinical development plans as part of the GCT.

• Assess future competitive landscape and scenario plan.

• Inform stage-gate and development plan go/no-go decisions.

• Partner to define and implement strategically aligned partnerships and solutions.

• Manage expense budget and participate in profit planning and LROP strategic and financial planning.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree

Required Experience and Skills

• A minimum of 7 years Pharma/ biotech experience OR a minimum of 5 years combined strategic marketing, brand management, sales or business support experience in any industry, is required.

• Strong written/ verbal communication skills as demonstrated through experience in strategy & marketing business case communication, sales interface, direct customer engagement and/or sales presentations.

• Demonstrates high degree of integrity and ethics.

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

• Experience building strategy with scientific thought leaders, US policy/ advocacy stakeholders or US market access.

• Demonstrated ability to leverage data analytics and/or customer and market insights to make business decisions.

• Strong project management skills as demonstrated by prioritizing activities, using resources optimally, establishing appropriate deadlines and ensuring on-time delivery.

• Experience influencing without direct authority, navigating complex or matrix organizations and working successfully with cross-functional teams.

• Ability to define, gather, and analyze information, opportunities and threats in the external environment including from competitors, policies and other market forces.

• Demonstrated ability to create solutions that drive value for our customers, incorporating innovative approaches where relevant.

• Demonstrates a flexible, growth mindset

Required Skills:

Accountability, Adaptability, Brand Management, Business Case Development, Business Decisions, Clinical Development, Cross-Functional Leadership, Customer Insights, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Marketing Strategies, Market Research, Market Segmentation, New Product Development, Product Launches, Product Management, Product Marketing, Product Strategies, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Planning Partnerships, Strategic Thinking

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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The salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

06/19/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.