Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations
Merck
4 hours ago
Remote friendly (North Wales, PA)
United States
Operations
Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations
What You’ll Do
- Shape and drive integrated US launch plans across one or more US Pharma and Rare Disease assets, ensuring clarity, alignment, and readiness across functions
- Partner with launch teams to translate strategy into executable plans, milestones, and decision points
- Provide thought partnership and launch advisory support—helping teams anticipate risks, navigate tradeoffs, and stay focused on what matters most
- Serve as a connective tissue across marketing, access, sales, operations, medical, manufacturing, and enterprise partners
- Establish clear launch governance, roles, and operating rhythms to support timely decisions and accountability
- Elevate issues, risks, and interdependencies early—offering structured options and recommendations
- Oversee launch readiness activities, tracking progress against key milestones and highlighting areas needing attention
- Apply strong program management skills to keep complex efforts moving forward in a matrixed environment
- Support consistent use of launch tools, frameworks, and best practices while allowing flexibility where needed
- Capture learnings from launches and apply them to future efforts
- Contribute to the evolution of launch processes, playbooks, and ways of working across US Human Health
- Act as a trusted advisor to launch teams—balancing guidance with empowerment
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field)
- ~5+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical or life sciences industry
- Experience working in commercial, launch, or adjacent functions (e.g., marketing, market access, sales operations, commercial operations, strategy)
- Ability to be on-site at the North Wales (Upper Gwynedd), Pennsylvania office at least 3 days per week
- Strong collaboration, communication, and stakeholder-influencing skills
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex work across multiple teams and priorities
Preferred (not Required)
- Prior experience supporting or leading product launches
- Experience in a Specialty or complex therapeutic area
- Background in launch planning, commercialization strategy, or cross-functional program leadership
- Comfort using data and insights to inform decisions and recommendations
Required Skills
Accountability, Adaptability, Agile Project Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Developing Proposals, Employee Performance Evaluations, Environmental Scanning, Feasibility Studies, Innovation, Leadership, Market Research, Pharmaceutical Market, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Resource Allocation, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking
Application Instructions
- Apply through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if a current employee). Application deadline is stated on the posting.
What You’ll Do
- Shape and drive integrated US launch plans across one or more US Pharma and Rare Disease assets, ensuring clarity, alignment, and readiness across functions
- Partner with launch teams to translate strategy into executable plans, milestones, and decision points
- Provide thought partnership and launch advisory support—helping teams anticipate risks, navigate tradeoffs, and stay focused on what matters most
- Serve as a connective tissue across marketing, access, sales, operations, medical, manufacturing, and enterprise partners
- Establish clear launch governance, roles, and operating rhythms to support timely decisions and accountability
- Elevate issues, risks, and interdependencies early—offering structured options and recommendations
- Oversee launch readiness activities, tracking progress against key milestones and highlighting areas needing attention
- Apply strong program management skills to keep complex efforts moving forward in a matrixed environment
- Support consistent use of launch tools, frameworks, and best practices while allowing flexibility where needed
- Capture learnings from launches and apply them to future efforts
- Contribute to the evolution of launch processes, playbooks, and ways of working across US Human Health
- Act as a trusted advisor to launch teams—balancing guidance with empowerment
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field)
- ~5+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical or life sciences industry
- Experience working in commercial, launch, or adjacent functions (e.g., marketing, market access, sales operations, commercial operations, strategy)
- Ability to be on-site at the North Wales (Upper Gwynedd), Pennsylvania office at least 3 days per week
- Strong collaboration, communication, and stakeholder-influencing skills
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex work across multiple teams and priorities
Preferred (not Required)
- Prior experience supporting or leading product launches
- Experience in a Specialty or complex therapeutic area
- Background in launch planning, commercialization strategy, or cross-functional program leadership
- Comfort using data and insights to inform decisions and recommendations
Required Skills
Accountability, Adaptability, Agile Project Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Developing Proposals, Employee Performance Evaluations, Environmental Scanning, Feasibility Studies, Innovation, Leadership, Market Research, Pharmaceutical Market, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Resource Allocation, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking
Application Instructions
- Apply through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if a current employee). Application deadline is stated on the posting.