Associate Director, US Scientific Strategy & KOL Engagement – HIV Prevention
Merck
June 24, 2026
Remote friendly (North Wales, PA)
United States
Medical Affairs
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead development of scientific narrative for HIV prevention (PrEP) in partnership with Medical Affairs, Outcomes Research, Global Marketing, HCP Marketing, and other stakeholders.
- Integrate scientific narrative into brand strategy; define/prioritize evidence needs to support clinical positioning, payer value, and pipeline decisions; translate gaps into evidence-generation and advocacy plans.
- Monitor emerging science, guidelines, and competitive data; educate marketing/engagement teams and update narrative/materials.
- Own identification, mapping, and profiling of US HIV prevention KOLs and society contacts; maintain a prioritized, dynamic KOL landscape aligned to brand/portfolio objectives.
- Design and execute compliance-aligned engagement plans (advisory boards, expert meetings, group input meetings, site visits, customer strategy sessions) linked to business questions and evidence needs.
- Lead development of omnichannel medical education aligned to scientific narrative/brand priorities; ensure educational and compliance standards.
- Build and manage a US HIV PrEP speaker bureau (identify faculty, onboarding/training, ensure speakers use approved platforms/messaging).
- Develop and lead congress strategies (sponsorships, programming, satellite activities) to maximize scientific impact and insights capture.
- Capture, synthesize, and operationalize qualitative/quantitative insights from KOL interactions, GIMs, speaker feedback, and field inputs.
- Ensure engagements/speaker/congress activities comply with policies, industry codes, and regulatory requirements; oversee vendor/agency relationships.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA/MPH/PharmD/MD/MS or equivalent) preferred.
- 5+ years healthcare industry experience; at least 3 years in strategic marketing or Scientific Leader-facing role.
- Strong strategic acumen for evidence-driven scientific narratives.
- Proven ability to build/maintain scientific relationships; excellent communication.
- Cross-functional partnering and influencing without authority.
- Experience managing external vendors/agency partners; fiscal responsibility.
- Deep US compliance/regulatory knowledge for scientific engagement and HCP-facing activities.
- Travel readiness (including occasional evenings/weekends).
Preferred
- HIV treatment/prevention or public health experience; product launches/pre-launch commercialization.
- Hands-on self-starter; omnichannel/digital marketing familiarity.
- Track record designing speaker programs, advisory boards, and congress strategies.
Location/Work Model
- Upper Gwynedd, PA – Hybrid (3 days on-site/week); Travel: 25%.
Application
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on posting).
- Lead development of scientific narrative for HIV prevention (PrEP) in partnership with Medical Affairs, Outcomes Research, Global Marketing, HCP Marketing, and other stakeholders.
- Integrate scientific narrative into brand strategy; define/prioritize evidence needs to support clinical positioning, payer value, and pipeline decisions; translate gaps into evidence-generation and advocacy plans.
- Monitor emerging science, guidelines, and competitive data; educate marketing/engagement teams and update narrative/materials.
- Own identification, mapping, and profiling of US HIV prevention KOLs and society contacts; maintain a prioritized, dynamic KOL landscape aligned to brand/portfolio objectives.
- Design and execute compliance-aligned engagement plans (advisory boards, expert meetings, group input meetings, site visits, customer strategy sessions) linked to business questions and evidence needs.
- Lead development of omnichannel medical education aligned to scientific narrative/brand priorities; ensure educational and compliance standards.
- Build and manage a US HIV PrEP speaker bureau (identify faculty, onboarding/training, ensure speakers use approved platforms/messaging).
- Develop and lead congress strategies (sponsorships, programming, satellite activities) to maximize scientific impact and insights capture.
- Capture, synthesize, and operationalize qualitative/quantitative insights from KOL interactions, GIMs, speaker feedback, and field inputs.
- Ensure engagements/speaker/congress activities comply with policies, industry codes, and regulatory requirements; oversee vendor/agency relationships.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA/MPH/PharmD/MD/MS or equivalent) preferred.
- 5+ years healthcare industry experience; at least 3 years in strategic marketing or Scientific Leader-facing role.
- Strong strategic acumen for evidence-driven scientific narratives.
- Proven ability to build/maintain scientific relationships; excellent communication.
- Cross-functional partnering and influencing without authority.
- Experience managing external vendors/agency partners; fiscal responsibility.
- Deep US compliance/regulatory knowledge for scientific engagement and HCP-facing activities.
- Travel readiness (including occasional evenings/weekends).
Preferred
- HIV treatment/prevention or public health experience; product launches/pre-launch commercialization.
- Hands-on self-starter; omnichannel/digital marketing familiarity.
- Track record designing speaker programs, advisory boards, and congress strategies.
Location/Work Model
- Upper Gwynedd, PA – Hybrid (3 days on-site/week); Travel: 25%.
Application
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on posting).