Epidemiologist - II

The Patient Health Innovation (PHI) team is seeking a remote Contractor within Insights & Capabilities to support evaluation methodology and measurement strategy for patient programs and digital health tools. Working directly alongside the PHI Analytic Lead, this role drives the design and implementation of evaluation frameworks, study designs, KPIs, and test-and-learn approaches across direct-to-patient and HCP-to-patient channels. By combining evaluation science with healthcare data analytics (such as claims, EHR, and real-world evidence), you will translate complex business questions into structured performance readouts and actionable insights. This position is vital to advancing Merck's mission to close gaps in care, advance health equity, and ensure scientific innovations deliver measurable impact to all patient populations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the PHI Analytic Lead to define program success metrics, KPI dashboards, end-of-program evaluations, and actionable measurement strategies.
• Design robust evaluation study methodologies, incorporating intervention/control groups, baseline tracking, target setting, and strategies to mitigate bias.
• Evaluate digital health programs and pharmaceutical media campaigns across vendor-supported channels to measure patient, business, and channel performance.
• Analyze diverse healthcare data streams-including claims, EHR, real-world evidence, and unstructured vendor data-to track patient behavior and outcome metrics.
• Support test-and-learn evaluation frameworks, impact assessments, and readout development to inform program optimization and future investment decisions.
• Translate technical evaluation science and complex analytic findings into clear, accessible guidance for non-data stakeholders and leadership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners, internal project leads, marketing teams, analytics partners, and external vendors across up to 10 key stakeholder groups.
• Participate actively in vendor and team stand-ups, offering proactive guidance and standing up for sound methodology in strategic meetings.

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Public Health, Evaluation Science, Healthcare Analytics, or a related field required.

Experience

• 4-6 years of relevant experience in evaluation science, digital program measurement, or health outcome measurement.
• Demonstrated expertise in study design, test/control methodology, and identifying/mitigating study bias.
• Proven fluency with pharmaceutical media approaches and vendor-supported patient engagement/digital support tools.
• Hands-on experience working with healthcare data types such as Claims, EHR, RWE, or vendor-provided dataset.
• Strong track record of cross-functional stakeholder management and consulting within matrixed, complex environments.
• Prior background in pharmaceutical/healthcare industry operations, public health, or health equity is highly desirable.

Additional Information

• Work Location: 100% Remote.
• Working Hours: Standard Eastern Standard Time (EST) schedule.
• Day-to-Day Rhythm: Meeting-heavy collaborative environment balanced with independent deliverable execution.
• Core Mindset: Growth mindset, comfort with ambiguity, strong initiative, and a commitment to advancing health equity and patient outcomes.