Job Description
Position Overview
At our Company, we are enhancing our investment in device development and commercialization capabilities to support our growing pipeline of drug-device combination products. Our integrated team is responsible for the entire spectrum of activities from innovation, development, commercialization, as well as product lifecycle management for drug-device combination products.
Reporting to the Sr. Director of Device Product Assessment & Innovation (DPAI), the Director, Lead of Strategy for Device Product Assessment & Innovation will define and build strategic roadmaps to manage governance, operations, and cross-functional processes that drive efficient, discovery facing innovations and decision-making strategy for all elements of early development. They will lead various early development and innovation initiatives to support continuous improvement that translates DPAI strategy and objectives to execution.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership, Business Acumen & Innovation
Define strategic priorities and roadmaps aligned with portfolio and business objectives.
Build the framework for, and operationalize, a Device Target Product Profile (DTPP) with insights from the Target Candidate Profile (TCP) and Target Product Profile (TPP) to define clear device requirements aligned with commercial and clinical goals.
Construct overall development strategies, timelines, and transition plans into fully commissioned Device Development Working Groups, including resource planning projections.
Monitor industry trends, state of the art, and emerging technologies to inform and evolve strategic direction.
Stakeholder Engagement, Partnerships & Influence
Identify key stakeholders/opinion leaders across our company to establish network mapping.
Drive engagement sessions to identify gaps and challenges in the device innovation space; lead efforts to co-develop solutions.
Advocate for early consideration of device usability, human factors, and differentiated product attributes, leveraging knowledge of competitive and commercial landscapes and through work with the broader DPAI team.
Establish means to engage with development and in-line product support teams to identify lifecycle management opportunities for assets currently in development and/or marketed.
Develop and execute communication plans that ensure stakeholder alignment and foster commitment across divisional/departmental stakeholders.
Decision Making & Continuous Improvement
Develop and implement governance structures and operating models for early device development and innovation.
Integrate elements of local governance into the border our Company governance structures (ex. DCRC, LDRC, CMC-wide).
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress towards organizational goals and drive performance excellence.
Drive continuous improvement across processes and decision-making frameworks that include end to end (from early discovery to lifecycle management).
Required Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree required with a concentration in a scientific-related discipline strongly preferred
Advanced scientific degree (e.g., MS, PharmD, Ph.D.) preferred
Project Management certification / training (PMP) and / or coursework & training in Project Management preferred
Experience
Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical/medical device industry with at least 5 years in project or program management roles
Demonstrated experience in leading organizational transformation initiatives and driving strategic change
Experience with drug-device combination product development, regulatory requirements, and commercialization strongly preferred
Track record of successfully managing complex, cross-functional projects and initiatives
Experience in building and leading high-performing teams
Skills and Competencies
Strategic thinking and independent decision-making abilities with excellent business acumen
Demonstrated ability to develop strong, trust-based collaborative relationships to drive change and execute priorities with diverse stakeholders
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and tactfully at all organizational levels
Strong understanding of GMP and regulatory requirements for drug-device combination products
Proven ability to identify risks to project timelines, scope, or deliverables and escalate appropriately
Experience in designing governance processes that provide executive visibility and decision support
Demonstrated situational leadership in high-ambiguity settings and creative problem-solving
Effective at energizing others, establishing clear goals, delegation, mentoring, and coaching
Strong facilitation skills for leading cross-functional meetings and workshops
Required Skills:
International Product Development, Leadership, Leadership Training and Development, Management Process, Medical Devices, Medical Product Development, People Management, Product Demonstrations, Product Development Consulting, Product Development Design, Product Development Quality, Safety Needles, Team ManagementPreferred 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:
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
U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$153,800.00 - $242,200.00This 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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:
RegularRelocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
RemoteShift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
11/16/2025*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.