Associate Director, Patient Support & Pharmacy Solutions - US Marketing Immunology

Our company is dedicated to delivering innovations that extend and improve the lives of patients worldwide. Our team of dauntless, forward-thinking individuals achieves this through an unwavering commitment to supporting accessibility to medicine, providing new therapeutic options, and collaborating with governments and payers to ensure that people who need medicines have access to them. We have a proud legacy of developing novel therapeutics for people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and autoimmune-related disorders. With an advanced understanding of human biology, there's been an emergence of innovative medicines and new modalities that aim to change the way we approach treatment for immune disorders. Our scientists are investigating ways to modulate tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A) to potentially address inflammation and fibrosis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our scientists are investigating TL1A, which has been shown to be increased in inflamed intestinal tissue and in the systemic circulation of patients with IBD. IBD is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the digestive tract and impacting nearly three million people in the U.S. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are two of the most common forms of IBD. The unpredictable symptoms associated with IBD, which may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, unintended weight loss and fatigue, often create emotional and social challenges for those impacted.

The Associate Director, US Marketing Immunology, Patient Support & Pharmacy Solutions is responsible for defining the Immunology portfolio strategy across specialty pharmacy (SP), infusion service provider (ISP), and affordability solutions. This role translates patient support and brand objectives into clear strategic requirements for enhanced services, affordability offerings, and patient/provider hand‑offs, with a focus on improving access, continuity, and the overall support experience. The role partners closely with the Patient Access CoE, Integrated Account Management (IAM), Market Access, and other implementation teams to ensure solutions are strategically aligned, differentiated where appropriate, scalable, and launch‑ready. This individual works collaboratively with the Patient Support Strategy Lead and cross‑functional partners across Patient Access, IAM, Market Access, Brand Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Data Strategy, Procurement, and external service partners. The role will assess market dynamics, pharmacy‑channel capabilities, patient affordability barriers, program performance, and emerging models to evolve SP, ISP, and affordability strategy across the Immunology portfolio while maintaining consistency with enterprise patient support principles.

We highlight an agile way of working enabling marketers to adapt and respond to rapidly evolving customer needs while keeping pace with the digital evolution in the marketplace. The successful candidate embraces a growth mindset, a willingness to tackle challenges, and a passion for learning, development, and greater team achievement. The role is hybrid based on Upper Gwynedd, PA, with an expectation of working on‑site three days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Immunology strategy for specialty pharmacy, infusion service provider, and affordability support within the broader patient support program.
• Define the strategic role of core and enhanced SP/ISP services across the patient journey, including where differentiated services can improve access, education, adherence, and continuity.
• Translate brand objectives and patient/provider needs into high-level service requirements, experience principles, and decision criteria for SP and ISP partners.
• Partner with IAM and Patient Access to evaluate partner capabilities, channel considerations, and service-model options and to inform strategic recommendations.
• Shape the strategy and evolution of affordability solutions, including copay support, patient assistance programs, and approaches to emerging accumulator/maximizer challenges, in partnership with the Patient Access CoE.
• Ensure SP/ISP and affordability strategies are integrated with hub, nursing, digital, provider, and field-support experiences and support seamless patient hand‑offs.
• Provide strategic input to readiness planning, business requirements, performance measures, and governance so implementation teams can operationalize approved service models effectively.
• Use patient, provider, market, and program insights to identify unmet needs, assess service effectiveness, and recommend enhancements to SP/ISP and affordability offerings.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Procurement, and other stakeholders to ensure strategic concepts are developed within appropriate policy and regulatory guardrails.
• Bring outside‑in perspective on specialty distribution, ISP models, affordability trends, and innovative patient‑support services to inform future portfolio strategy.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent (BA/BS).
• MBA, MPH, PharmD, or other relevant advanced degree preferred.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, patient support, market access, patient experience, brand marketing, or related functions
• Experience shaping strategy for complex patient support programs, specialty products, or services across the patient and provider journey
• Demonstrated ability to translate patient, provider, market, and operational insights into clear strategic requirements and recommendations
• Experience leading cross‑functional initiatives and influencing without direct authority in a matrixed organization
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, strategic planning, and stakeholder‑management skills
• Demonstrated strategic thinking with the ability to balance patient experience, business objectives, compliance requirements, and operational feasibility
• Demonstrates high degree of integrity and ethics
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in ambiguity; growth mindset

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Awareness and understanding of U.S. commercial, legal, regulatory, privacy, and compliance considerations applicable to patient support programs
• Understanding of and/or experience directly working within the Immunology market
• Familiarity with biologic therapies and/or complex specialty patient support programs
• Experience supporting product launch readiness and lifecycle evolution of patient support programs
• Strong understanding of specialty pharmacy, specialty distribution, integrated specialty pharmacy, and patient‑support channel models
• Experience shaping affordability programs such as copay assistance, patient assistance programs, or other financial‑support solutions
• Experience evaluating vendor or channel capabilities and translating findings into strategic service‑model recommendations
• Understanding of payer, accumulator/maximizer, specialty pharmacy, and affordability trends affecting patient access

Required Skills

• Account Management
• Account Management
• Adaptability
• Advertising Campaign Development
• Agile Methodology
• Competency Management
• Corporate Ethics
• Creative Campaign Development
• Decision Making
• Digital Analytics
• Distribution Channels
• Ethical Standards
• Growth Mindset
• Managing Ambiguity
• Market Access
• Marketing Budget Management
• Marketing Strategies
• Marketing Strategy Implementation
• Market Research
• Patient Assistance
• Patient Engagement
• Patient Support
• People Leadership
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Pharmaceutical Sales {+ 10 more}

Preferred Skills

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.

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: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): N/A

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.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00. 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