Associate Director, Patient Programs

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Associate Director, Patient Programs will serve as the Program Owner for Financial Patient Programs (FPP) and Therapy Patient Programs (TPP) in China. This role is accountable for the end‑to‑end strategy, governance, and execution of patient affordability and therapy support programs, ensuring they are compliant, sustainable, audit‑ready, and digitally enabled.

The role leads a dedicated team and cross‑functional partners to deliver on‑time launch readiness, improve patient access and adherence, enhance patient experience, and maintain zero critical audit findings with efficient operational costs.

Key Responsibilities

1. FPP & TPP Program Ownership (Core Accountability)

• Act as the official Program Owner for all Financial Patient Programs (FPP) and Therapy Patient Programs (TPP) in the China market.

• Own the full lifecycle of FPP and TPP programs, including:

  • Program design and eligibility criteria

  • Business case development and sustainability planning

  • Internal review, approval, renewal, modification, and exit strategy

• Ensure all programs strictly comply with Patient Program standards, local regulations, and internal policies (Legal, Compliance, Privacy, PV).

2. Patient Affordability & Access Strategy

• Lead affordability strategies for new product and indication launches,

• Ensure FPPs effectively address bridging access, reimbursement gaps, and affordability barriers without promotional intent.

• Partner closely with both internal and external stakeholders to align FPP strategies to execution

3. Therapy Support & Patient Adherence (TPP)

• Design and oversee TPPs that provide therapy adherence support, monitoring tools, and patient services, consistent with approved product labeling.

• Ensure TPPs enhance patient outcomes and experience without interfering with HCP‑patient medical decision‑making.

• Govern appropriate data collection and use strictly for program implementation and performance validation, not commercial purposes.

4. Compliance, Governance & Audit Excellence

• Ensure 0 critical audit findings across all patient programs.

• Lead Local Review Board (LRB) submissions, responses, and renewals for FPP and TPP.

• Ensure pharmacovigilance (PV), privacy, and digital governance requirements are fully embedded into program design and operations.

• Serve as the primary point of accountability for internal and external audits related to patient programs.

5. Digital Patient Experience & SI Initiative Leadership

• Lead patient experience digitalization initiatives, leveraging the China WeChat ecosystem and approved digital platforms.

• Drive patient journey optimization across awareness → enrollment → therapy → follow‑up.

• Partner with IT, digital governance teams, and external vendors to ensure compliant, scalable digital solutions.

6. Launch Readiness & Cross‑TA Expansion

• Ensure FPP and TPP readiness for new products and new indications, including partners onboarding, SOP readiness, and training.

• Support cross‑TA expansion (e.g., Oncology, CVM) by adapting patient program models and best practices.

• Deliver launch milestones on time with clear KPIs and governance.

7. Team & Vendor Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing patient programs team.

• Oversee third‑party partnes and service providers through compliant procurement and performance management.

• Foster strong collaboration with Medical, Legal, Compliance, Finance, PV, IT, and external partners.

Qualifications

Experience

• 8–12+ years in pharma, healthcare, or patient solutions

• Proven experience owning patient or equalent programs, or therapy support initiatives

• Strong exposure to compliance‑driven environments

• Experience working with digital patient and HCP platforms in China

• Demonstrated people leadership and partnership management experience

Key Competencies

• Strong program ownership and governance mindset

• Deep understanding of patient access and affordability

• Excellent cross‑functional leadership and stakeholder influence

• High compliance awareness with pragmatic execution capability

• Strategic yet hands‑on leader

• Fluent in Mandarin and English

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Budget Development, Communication, Compliance Awareness, Decision Making, Digital Healthcare, Innovative Solutions, Leadership, Partnership Development, Patient Services, Program Implementation, Project Planning, Regulatory Compliance, Team Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/31/2026

*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.