Executive Director, New Product Planning

Job Description

The Executive Director, New Products Leader is responsible for planning and overseeing the portfolio of pipeline products across the Pharma pipeline, with a focus on the US market. This role involves evaluating early-stage products developed by our Research and Development Division and providing commercial input into development decisions as well as assessing potential targets for Business Development activities. The Executive Director will also be responsible for leading key strategic initiatives defined by the Pharma BU leadership team.
 

This position will be based out of Upper Gwynedd, PA and will report into the Associate Vice President, CV/Metabolic in US Pharma BU.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. New Products Planning: Lead a team in assessing and shaping the viability and potential success of new products in the context of the US market. This includes:

• Understanding the therapeutic market landscape and competitive environment.

• Generating customer insights to identify unmet needs and market opportunities.

• Understanding patient journeys to inform product development and marketing strategies.

• Defining the value proposition required to effectively target key audiences, including physicians, consumers, and payers.

• Developing long-term forecasts for new products, considering market dynamics and potential revenue streams.

• Working collaboratively with Global New Product Leaders and Global Brand Leaders and serving on Global Commercial Teams (GCTs).

• Working collaboratively with Market Access, Finance, our Research and Development Division, Legal, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate feedback and input to Global Marketing teams, R&D teams and to BD. 

2. Portfolio Planning: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and maintain a comprehensive portfolio plan for new products. This includes:

• Identifying and prioritizing potential new product opportunities based on strategic objectives, market potential, and resource allocation.

• Conducting portfolio analysis to maximize the value and impact of the overall product portfolio.

• Monitoring and evaluating the progress of new product development initiatives and providing strategic guidance to ensure alignment with business objectives.

3. Business Development: Evaluate potential targets for Business Development activities, including licensing, partnerships, and acquisitions. This involves:

• Working collaboratively to assess external opportunities and conducting due diligence to identify strategic fit and potential value for high priority opportunities.

• Collaborating with Global marketing, Market Access and Business development to align on the overall product strategy and business goals.

4. Lead Key Strategic Initiatives. This includes:

• Collaborating with the leadership team of the US Pharma BU.

• Prioritizing strategic initiatives to support the growth and success of the US Pharma BU.

• Coordinating with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategic initiatives and track progress towards the goal.

5. Leadership and Mentoring: 

• Provide strong leadership and mentorship to team members, ensuring professional development opportunities within the team. 

• Foster a high-performing team and culture of inclusivity.

• Lead by example, setting expectations, and promoting a positive work environment.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree

• Preferred: Advanced Degree (e.g. Master’s Degree in Business Administration, etc.)

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry.

• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to assess market opportunities, develop product strategies, and evaluate forecasts.

• Strong leadership abilities, with the ability to motivate and align cross-functional teams.

• Strong collaboration skills, both within commercial teams and across enterprise.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to effectively communicate complex concepts to stakeholders and influence cross functional leadership.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, managing multiple projects and priorities.

• People management experience and demonstrated ability to develop team members and direct reports.

• Ability to work in a hybrid setting (i.e. 3 days per week in office).

Required Skills:

Accountability, Advertising Campaign Development, Brand Management, Communication, Customer-Focused, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Executive Presence, Innovation, Leadership, Market Analysis, Market Research, Omnichannel Marketing, People Leadership, Pricing Strategies, Professional Networking, Sales Collaboration, Strategic Thinking

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

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

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

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 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:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

NA

Job Posting End Date:

03/17/2026

*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.