Associate Director, HCP Marketing

Job Description Associate Director, Marketing - Healthcare Professional (HCP) Strategy Lead, HPV Adult Role Summary The Associate Director, HCP Strategy Lead for the HPV Adult segment is the strategic owner of HCP marketing for the adult HPV vaccination business. This role drives the end-to-end HCP approach - from insight generation to strategy development, path-to-recommendation and content & channel plans through omnichannel (Sales Force and NPP) delivery - to increase intent to recommend/refer/administer adult vaccination in alignment with brand, enterprise, and public health objectives. The role requires deep expertise in HCP behavior, sales force execution, digital engagement, and agile marketing, as well as the ability to translate insights into campaigns and plans that motivate HCPs to initiate and complete the HPV vaccine series for adults. As the adult HPV landscape evolves, this role also leads scenario planning, cross-functional alignment, and innovation across channels, path-to-purchase, messaging, and measurement frameworks. Given the dynamic nature of marketing tech, the vaccines legal & policy environment and our company's approach to Capabilities (OMM) and Content (Strategy & Accelerator), the successful candidate will need a high level of learning agility, resilience, comfort with ambiguity, experience navigating a heavily matrixed organization and willingness to pioneer new approaches. Key Responsibilities Own Adult HCP Strategy for the US HPV franchise, including insights, strategic priorities, target-setting and short- and long-term plans. Recommend Adult HCP strategic priorities (in collaboration with MPO, xFranchise and xF teams members) to USCL and G9 LT. Define learning objectives and work with DHH, Hub and Agency teams to set and execute insight and learning plans. Scope includes foundational/ongoing insights (target development, drivers, barriers etc), marketing performance analytics (to be specified via OGSTMAs), business performance (including sub-targtets and channels) as well as synthesis and integration across different measurement domains. Drive translation from data/learning to insights, strategies, forecasts and action plans. Lead day-to-day engagement with creative, media, research, and digital agencies. Lead work through insight, brief, development, validation, approval, primary production and delivery. Partner with MPO and Hub teams to support pull-through of key and amplify content to deliver on full requirements of marketing plans. Partner with Sales and Pharmacy teams, MPO, agencies, Adolescent team, Global Franchise, Hub and analytics teams to deliver plans, campaigns and content that match channel, content and consumer job-to-be-done to drive measurable progress against objectives. Coordinate with HCC marketing counterpart to ensure message consistency and strategic alignment across consumer and professional channels. Ensure seamless pull through for consumers, HCPs (including Pharmacists and Pharmacy staff) in Pharmacy channel. Manage assigned marketing budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to maximize ROI. Ensure ongoing budget tracking, forecasting, and scenario planning to support financial stewardship. Ensure all marketing activities comply with company policies, industry regulations, and DTC guidelines. Anticipate regulatory risks and proactively adjust strategies to maintain compliance. Education Required: BA/BS Preferred: MBA or equivalent Required Experience & Skills Minimum 7 years of marketing experience, preferably in healthcare marketing Demonstrated expertise and experience in HCP activation/engagement, agency management and campaign development/delivery The ability to translate scientific information into our strategy including actionable and clear messaging and talking points, and the ability to interpret scientific data into actionable insights. Deep knowledge of professional marketing channels, sales force engagement, content strategy, social media ecosystems, performance marketing and measurement frameworks Strong analytical skills and comfort with data-driven decision-making Excellent communication, presentation, and project management skills Experience with collaboration, influencing without authority, and working successfully in highly cross-functional teams including IT, Data Analytics, Agencies, Promotions, Medical Affairs, Sales, Channel Marketing, Market Access, Policy Familiarity with compliance, regulatory processes, and DTC marketing requirements Experience working in agile marketing environments Preferred Experience, Skills and Attributes Openminded and intellectually curious; deeply familiar with “how we do things at our company's” and at the same time thirsty to learn more about our customers and willing/able to consider novel or new-to-our companyapproaches to tackle challenges and unlock growth Shows tenacity and willingness to challenge the status quo, while demonstrating maturity in understanding that sometimes “no” is a key step on the path to landing big opportunities. Ability to think and approach complex problems in a structured way Strong aptitude and high levels of curiosity about the science Willing and able to integrate HCP engagement/activation best practices from other vaccine/therapeutic areas into the HPV environment. Location & Work Model Upper Gwynedd, PA - Hybrid (3 days on-site per week per U.S. Hybrid Work Model) Travel: <10% Required Skills: Adaptability, Adaptability, Brand Management, Budget Management, Change Agility, Channel Partner Marketing, Content Creation, Creativity, Cross-Functional Alignment, Cross-Functional Leadership, Customer Insights, Digital Consumer Engagement, Digital Marketing, Learning Agility, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Budgets, Marketing Data Analytics, Market Research, Market Segmentation, Medical Affairs, Omnichannel Marketing, Product Launches, Product Management, Regulatory Risk, Scenario Planning {+ 2 more} 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 $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 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: Domestic 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: 06/15/2026 *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.