Executive Director, Regional Medical Strategy Leader

Job Description Role Summary

The Executive Director, Regional Medical Strategy Leader (ED RMSL), position resides in the Value & Implementation (V&I) organization, which includes Global Medical and Scientific Affairs as well as Outcomes Research. The ED RMSL is a Senior Medical Leader and point of contact for the Pharma and Specialty therapeutic areas (TAs) portfolio, including pipeline related to the TAs in the Asia Pacific (AP) and Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) countries. The ED RMSL reports to the Global TA Vice President and is a member of the Global TA Leadership Team. While the ED RMSL supports the TA assets, there is also a strong focus on anticipating the pipeline assets and new launches. Additional important activities include supporting the region on data-gap analyses, local data generation (LDG) considerations, scientific leader (SL) interactions, interfacing global to regional teams, strategic Insights reviews, regional projects, and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) related topics. The ED RMSL helps assure the tight vertical alignment of the TA in headquarters and across geographies, while continuing to provide the critical interface with cross-functional colleagues including Human Health (HH), Market Access, Regulatory Affairs, Communications, Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), V&I Outcomes Research, Policy, and Patient Advocacy with the goal of improving communication of strategy and priorities, in order to meet internal and external expectations. The ED RMSL represents the vision of the region on key Leadership Teams, through a strategic mind-set and the bidirectional vision between regional and global Leadership Teams, to accelerate results that will benefit patients, health-care providers, alliances, and institutions.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

Key Functions

• Aligns, prioritizes and customizes strategy to the region.
• Helps ensure bidirectional communication and implementation of Global TA strategy via matrix leadership of country TA Leads.
• Serves as core member of Regional Medical Affairs Leadership Team(s).
• Collaborates with Executive Directors of Medical Affairs (EDMAs), Executive Directors of Scientific Affairs (EDSAs), Global Directors of Medical Affairs (GDMAs), and Regional Directors Medical Affairs (RDMAs) to help ensure understanding and execution of regional priorities.
• Interacts closely with the Global TA Team and Product Development Teams (PDTs) around regional priorities.
• Serves as a key stakeholder in Regional Value & Implementation Team (RVIT) and Global Medical Affairs Team (GMAT) meetings and an important point of contact for the V&I Plans and Country Medical Affairs Plans (CMAPs), supporting inputs and prioritizations.
• Works closely with V&I Global Medical & Value Capabilities (V&I GMVC), including Regional Hubs, for delivery of key initiatives.
• Functions as point of contact for regional alliances medical affairs teams for strategic discussions.
• Creates an environment for participation, alignment, and open discussions to share best practices across TAs and region.
• Supports RDMA integration and alignment across the region, TA and divisions.

Cross-functional Activities

• Participates on Region Cross-Functional Teams (CFT), providing a holistic view across the TA and supporting prioritizations and decisions.
• Works with regional Market Access and Policy teams to ensure regional advisory groups and HTA-related needs are considered by the PDTs and the added value of our medicines is fully recognized by regional stakeholders with the aim of securing access for appropriate patients in the region.
• Provides key input to Regulatory Affairs as a part of the cross-functional regional team that drives input to regulatory submissions.
• Partners, as needed, with clinical development team and GCTO in solving complex issues and to ensure strategic alignment.
• Supports data-gap analyses and the Road Map to the development of LDGs, working collaboratively with RDMA colleagues and V&I Outcomes Research.
• External Stakeholder Engagement: Drives and leads company relationships with key regional professional societies for TA.
• Provides guidance on Advisory Boards and Input Meetings.
• Works with company Policy/Access on interactions with governments, payers and other external stakeholders.
• Innovation and Digital Solutions: Explores novel innovative and digital solutions both internally and externally.
• Inclusive Mindset and Behavior: Demonstrates eagerness to contribute to an environment of belonging, inclusion and empowerment. Leads by example and serves as a role model for creating, leading and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience Minimum

• Minimum M.D., PhD or PharmD and recognized TA expertise (additional advanced degrees, entry on a Specialist Register such as Pharmaceutical Medicine, or a relevant clinical specialty are strong additional considerations).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in global pharmaceutical industry in Clinical Development and/or Medical Affairs with a demonstrated successful track record.
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead by influence.
• Demonstrated effective organizational skills, including ability to set goals and align priorities.

Preferred

• Previous leadership experience managing a team and being part of executive committees.
• Strong knowledge of the local compliance environment in which Medical Affairs functions.
• Strong business acumen, ethics, and credible reputation with the external scientific community.
• Demonstrated track record of success in Medical Affairs with industry-leading performance.
• Proven track record of meaningful contributions to an executive leadership team beyond the Medical Affairs function such as Clinical, Commercial, or Outcomes Research.
• Demonstrated creativity and effectiveness in addressing strategic challenges.
• Entrepreneurial mindset; capable of thinking out of the box and taking measured risks.
• Experience working in global and regional Medical Affairs functions.
• Ability to understand issues across a global affiliate network and contribute relevant insights as appropriate.
• Experience managing a matrix organization.

Employee Status and Placement

• Regular
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: 25%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
• Shift: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): n/a
• Job Posting End Date: 09/13/2026

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.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.