Job Description

The Associate Director leads strategic communications to position our company as a trusted partner in advancing global health equity and enabling sustainable access to our medicines and vaccines. By unifying enterprise‑wide storytelling, the role drives a global communications strategy that elevates our company commitments to expanding patient access and strengthening health systems across both commercial and noncommercial initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver internal and external communications supporting major enterprise initiatives including the Impact Report, philanthropic programs, quarterly results and high-visibility events (e.g. BIO, UNGA, WHA).

• Contribute to a multi‑year global health equity communications strategy aligned with our company commercial, therapeutic area and sustainable access goals.

• Partner with teams across our company value chain – including Corporate Affairs, Research, Manufacturing, country managers and commercial – to translate complex access strategies, R&D initiatives, technology initiatives and partnerships into compelling stories.​

• Execute integrated external communications (media, digital, thought leadership) to highlight impact through affordability initiatives, partnerships, strategic investments and health system–strengthening programs.​

• Support development of thought‑leadership platforms for senior leaders, including speeches, op-eds, external panels, investor and policy forums.​

• Lead internal communications to build engagement and understanding of sustainable access commitments and progress.​

• Track communications performance using insights, with a focus on qualitative impact and reputation outcomes.

• Ensure aligned, consistent messaging across regions, franchises and corporate affairs while enabling local adaptation in priority markets.​

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required

• 8–10+ years of progressive experience in communications, public affairs, or corporate affairs, with significant time in a global pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare setting.

• ​High emotional intelligence, discretion, and professional maturity.

• Ability to effectively execute complex, multi‑market communications strategies.

• Experience working with next-generation technologies and financing models developed for diverse (High, Mid, low) markets, highly desired.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate scientific and policy complexity into accessible, engaging narratives for diverse stakeholders.​

• Experience managing media relations and issues/crisis communications in a highly regulated environment.​

• Track record of effective relationships with internal teams and managing external agencies and budgets.​

• Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and operate with a high degree of ownership.

• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to anticipate needs and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Required Mindset

• Strong commitment to ethical storytelling, especially in diverse markets and marginalized community contexts.​

• Comfort working in complex, matrixed, and multicultural environments with multiple stakeholders, including external partners, policymakers, NGOs, multilaterals and peer companies.​

• Data‑driven mindset, with experience using insights and measurement to refine communication strategies and demonstrate impact.​

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25%

Required Skills:

Business Communications, Business Communications, Communication, Communications Planning, Communications Strategy, Content Creation, Crisis Communication Management, Crisis Management, Crisis Public Relations, Environmental Social And Governance (ESG), Event Planning, External Communication, Global Health, Health Equity, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Market Access, Media Production, Media Relations, Organizational Communications, Policy Development, Policy Knowledge, Project Management, Public Speaking, Research Development {+ 5 more}

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

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/1/2026

*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.