Commercial Operations Manager

Job Description

Reporting to the Oncology Business Unit Director, the Oncology Commercial Operations Lead is  responsible for driving performance and maximization of the Oncology portfolio by identifying and executing on growth opportunities, while working closely together with the Oncology Franchise Leads on strategic priorities including strategic collaborations, data analytics, executional excellence and operating model optimization to turn Oncology into a high-performance organization and maximize the growth of our portfolio. Commercial operations manager helps the oncology business unit to strategize structuring and implementing our business opportunities while aiming at executional excellence.

Responsibilities:

Sales Forecasting and Tracking Across Unit

• Drives and is responsible to ensure forecasting is completed for all indications for all
• forecasting rounds as well as ad-hoc requests and long-range plans.
• Coordinates the forecasting process, manages key stakeholders in and above country, organizes and facilitate alignment and review meetings.
• Continuously adapts and tracks current performance vs the various forecast inputs.
• Align in-market vs to market figures and adjust assumptions accordingly while comparing to real world evidence.

Strategic Planning & Performance & Event Management

• Coordinates the L3Next strategic planning process across Franchises (timelines, templates, workshops, presentations).
• Coordinates the Performance management and review process, set ups quarterly performance management x-functional meetings to review actual performance and resource allocations, keeps track of actions and drives execution of them.
• Keeps track of promo spend / budget across the Business Unit and Franchises Up to date and sets up and coordinates monthly budget reviews with FLs.
• Facilitates OKR’s related Key Results building and drives frequent reviews and updates in the system.
• Creating yearly event plan, supervises plan execution

Growth Project Management

• Measures, monitors and keeps track of BU key growth driver projects portfolio & keeps projects successfully on track.
• Closely works and supports franchise leads in the development of new initiatives that will deliver on the strategic goals.
• Guides and assists the teams on how to use agile methodologies and values (e.g. Scrum/Kanban) to improve quality, speed and outcome of innovation projects to foster new ways of working.
• Fosters experimentation and learnings dissemination across the BU and the organization.
• Takes ownership and drives few key growth and transversal projects for the business unit.
• Prepares and distinguishes launch mechanisms of new oncology indications and potential new brands.
• Planning and managing operational aspects of alliances, including joint governance committees, ensuring alliances effectiveness, appropriate communications, coordination of activities, managing escalation, solving business problems, and negotiating with the partners on ongoing agreements.

Data analytics

• In charge of all market research finds new relevant data sources by collaborating with external stakeholders in the ecosystem (hospitals, health authorities, EMR providers, startups etc.)
• Keeps track & measures performance, activities towards KPIs.
• Act as data steward.

Requirements:

Education

• University Degree in business or life sciences is required

Skills Required:

• Several years of experience in Pharma/Biotech industry or in Strategic Consulting
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English a must.
• Strong ability to navigate in a science-driven, quickly developing environment and to work smoothly across multiple matrix structures at all levels.
• Strong project management/ operational leadership experience related to building winning strategies, defining well-structured plans.
• Strong project execution and coordination skills.
• Proven analytical capabilities, ability to set up forecast models & make robust business cases.

Competencies:

• Strong project and resource management
• Prioritizing and planning; establishing an action plan for self and others to complete work efficiently and on time by setting priorities, establishing timelines and leveraging resources.
• Customer and stakeholder engagement
• Having patient and customer orientation, placing a high priority on the internal or external customer’s perspective when making decisions and taking action; implementing service practices that meet the customers’ and own organization’s needs
• Productive communication and strong influential skills, using effective involvement and persuasion strategies to gain acceptance of ideas and commitment to actions that support specific work outcomes.
• Ability to solve problems, create order and simplicity out of complex problems.
• Applying creative courage; proactively confronting difficult issues; being willing to offer creative alternatives; making valiant choices and taking bold action.
• Organized, results-oriented, and strategic thinker.
• Taking ownership; setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks;
• Working across Boundaries
• Proven analytical capabilities, ability to set up forecast models & make
• robust business cases.
• Ability to think creatively and develop innovative marketing strategies.
• Strong business and financial acumen.
• Curiosity and capacity to identify, size, communicate clearly and implement great
• opportunities. Can bring both creativity and focus.
• Ability to think out the box and quickly deep dive into new domains.
• Proven ability to effectively navigate matrix organization are crucial.
• Demonstrating adaptability; maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment, adjusting effectively to change by exploring the benefits, trying new approaches and collaborating with others to make the change successful.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Benchmarking, Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR), Business Requirements Management, Change Management, Data Analysis Tools, Data Analytics, Data-Driven Decision Making, Data Stewardship, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Growth Management, Information Technology Applications, Interpersonal Relationships, Life Science, Market Research, Organizational Performance Management, Prioritization, Productivity Initiatives, Quality Control Management, Quality Improvement Programs, Sales Forecasting, Six Sigma, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management {+ 1 more}

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:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/18/2026

*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.