Executive Director, Medical Affairs - COPD
Merck
August 24, 2026
Remote friendly (Upper Gwynedd, PA)
United States
Medical Affairs
Primary Responsibilities
- Generate and execute global V&I (Value & Implementation) strategic plan for assigned therapeutic area(s), including global/regional rollout and integration with Outcomes Research for real-world data.
- Align global strategy with U.S., China, and Japan market needs; ensure two-way communication and local execution alignment.
- Allocate 50% focus to U.S. and 50% to rest of world; lead global planning and partner on payor strategies, precision-medicine initiatives, and congress deliverables.
- Partner with Product/Asset Development, Global Brand, and Outcomes Research to define clinical-development plans and brand strategies.
- Integrate country/regional knowledge gaps; apply medical-system and clinical-practice expertise to guide medical affairs leaders and inform adoption of innovations.
- Lead engagement with scientific leaders and stakeholders; ensure scientific exchange aligns to a single global scientific-communications platform.
- Lead/mentor team; run management reviews; support local data-generation concepts/protocols and Investigator-Initiated Study program.
- Manage assigned budget (target delivery within 3% variance); ensure financial stewardship.
- Travel up to 30%.
Education
- M.D., Ph.D., DDS/DMD, or Pharm.D. (M.D. strongly preferred).
Required Experience & Skills
- TA specialization; training/experience in pulmonology/pulmonary critical care or infectious disease.
- 3+ years in pharmaceutical medical affairs or clinical development.
- Demonstrated global team leadership; prioritization/decision-making; matrix collaboration; strong written/oral communication and project management.
Preferred Experience & Skills
- 5+ years global/U.S. medical affairs or clinical development; 5 years leadership in pharma; stakeholder/customer expertise; influence on lifecycle management and data generation; resourcing/budgeting.
Required Skills
- COPD, Clinical Development/Research, Enterprise Leadership, Leadership Management, Medical Affairs, Organizational Leadership, Scientific Communications, Strategic Leadership.
Benefits (explicitly stated)
- Eligibility for annual bonus/long-term incentive (if applicable) and comprehensive benefits (medical/dental/vision, retirement/401(k), paid holidays/vacation, sick/compassionate days).
Application Instructions
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on posting).
- Generate and execute global V&I (Value & Implementation) strategic plan for assigned therapeutic area(s), including global/regional rollout and integration with Outcomes Research for real-world data.
- Align global strategy with U.S., China, and Japan market needs; ensure two-way communication and local execution alignment.
- Allocate 50% focus to U.S. and 50% to rest of world; lead global planning and partner on payor strategies, precision-medicine initiatives, and congress deliverables.
- Partner with Product/Asset Development, Global Brand, and Outcomes Research to define clinical-development plans and brand strategies.
- Integrate country/regional knowledge gaps; apply medical-system and clinical-practice expertise to guide medical affairs leaders and inform adoption of innovations.
- Lead engagement with scientific leaders and stakeholders; ensure scientific exchange aligns to a single global scientific-communications platform.
- Lead/mentor team; run management reviews; support local data-generation concepts/protocols and Investigator-Initiated Study program.
- Manage assigned budget (target delivery within 3% variance); ensure financial stewardship.
- Travel up to 30%.
Education
- M.D., Ph.D., DDS/DMD, or Pharm.D. (M.D. strongly preferred).
Required Experience & Skills
- TA specialization; training/experience in pulmonology/pulmonary critical care or infectious disease.
- 3+ years in pharmaceutical medical affairs or clinical development.
- Demonstrated global team leadership; prioritization/decision-making; matrix collaboration; strong written/oral communication and project management.
Preferred Experience & Skills
- 5+ years global/U.S. medical affairs or clinical development; 5 years leadership in pharma; stakeholder/customer expertise; influence on lifecycle management and data generation; resourcing/budgeting.
Required Skills
- COPD, Clinical Development/Research, Enterprise Leadership, Leadership Management, Medical Affairs, Organizational Leadership, Scientific Communications, Strategic Leadership.
Benefits (explicitly stated)
- Eligibility for annual bonus/long-term incentive (if applicable) and comprehensive benefits (medical/dental/vision, retirement/401(k), paid holidays/vacation, sick/compassionate days).
Application Instructions
- Apply via https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on posting).