Associate Director, Data Strategy, Foundational Data

Job Description We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. Join our team and contribute to our mission of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. This role will reside within our human health division US DSPI team for Across Brand Data Strategy. This team operates as part of the US commercial team, providing strategic thought-partnership to US commercial stakeholders through understanding brand strategy and developing data strategy based on the business strategy. The incumbent is responsible for supporting a human health division in having an industry-leading strategy and approach to sourcing & creating commercial data assets to inform business critical decisions and actions. Under direction of the Data Strategy & Innovation Leader, the incumbent will be assigned to create & implement the divisional data asset strategy & innovation agenda, as assigned, for foundational data. Foundational data includes but is not limited to claims, customer and subnational sales data. The individual in this role will be an independent contributor as well as lead a team, supporting all commercial Data Strategy needs for US marketing teams. The preferred candidate will have an entrepreneurial spirit, understanding of healthcare & technology (AI, agentic etc). The candidate will need to comprehend the nuances of different product lines and possess strong expertise in the Life Science commercial space. They will have demonstrated consistently strong leadership skills, an ability to work objectively and deal well with ambiguity and strong partnership skills. They will empower a growth mindset and inspire a culture of continual learning. This role will require interfacing and collaborating with many teams requiring strong communication skills. Responsibilities Actively maintain an understanding of the divisional commercial data landscape, including assigned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party data assets, spanning HCP, consumer, payer, patient, account, etc. Partner with various stakeholders and vendors to successfully onboard and enable data. Continually scan the external environment for new valuable data assets and potential data partnerships in the assigned area. Conduct data needs assessments in assigned areas using input from key analytics and business stakeholders, identify gaps in current data strategy versus ideal state, and prioritize identified gaps. Build and execute plans to fill prioritized data gaps, including acquisition of new assets from external sources, identifying partners to create needed assets, or enacting internal initiatives such as gathering new 1st party assets. Partner with internal teams to ingest/review external data sources for use by the analytic teams. Conduct data innovation analytics including data quality assessments, fit-for-purpose analyses, and proof-of-concept use case tests. Work in close collaboration with the analytics and master data management teams to ensure appropriate data implementation, use, and value realization. Form and maintain productive working partnerships with assigned data providers. Create an environment of high-performance collaboration by building strong cross-functional teams. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Data science, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Statistics, Decision Science, Marketing, Engineering, or Public Health. Minimum of five or more (5+) years of relevant delivery of complex analytical projects in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry using large patient or physician databases; facility with understanding and appropriately leveraging healthcare data and insights to inform business decisions Strong business acumen with a keen ability to understand how data (HCP, consumer, payer, patient, account, engagement, etc.) can be leveraged to inform critical commercial decisions and actions. Proven ability to analyze and assess the commercial value of data assets. Strong business acumen necessary to understand business stakeholders' (marketing, sales, account management, operations, etc.) needs. Proven potential to effectively collaborate with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. Intellectual curiosity and ability to identify innovative approaches to addressing data needs. Excellent presentation, analytics, and communication skills, both written and oral, are required to synthesize key issues and communicate/persuade constituencies towards specific actions and initiatives. Ability to attain “trusted advisor” status with key stakeholders and business clients. Ability to operate in a dynamic, transforming environment. Preferred MBA, MS, or PhD degree. Prior hands-on experience working with healthcare data. Required Skills: Business Acumen, Business Analysis, Data Science, Demand Management, Innovation, Requirements Management, Sourcing and Procurement, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning 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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement 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. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts The salary range for this role is $156,900.00 - $247,000.00 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 You can apply for this role through (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: 1st - Day Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): n/a Job Posting End Date: 07/11/2026 *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. 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.