Job Description

The U.S. Director, Payor & Access Strategy Lead, Medical Affairs (PASL), position resides in the Value & Implementation (V&I) organization, which includes Global Medical and Scientific Affairs as well as Outcomes Research.

The US PASL is responsible for U.S. Field Medical (FM) strategy, training and prioritization of the V&I plan for U.S. Medical Affairs (USMA) Health Systems Oncology (HSO). The PASL for health systems oncology is an impactful member of USMA cross-functional teams, U.S. Medical Affairs Teams (USMATs), and Value Teams (VTs).

This US PASL role will be responsible for oncology biomarkers & precision medicine, pan tumor topics, and the HSO pipeline. As organizational needs evolve, the US PASL may assume selected asset-related responsibilities.

The US PASL drives U.S. HSO strategic excellence and optimizes HSO and USMA readiness in support of payor access and pharmacoeconomic and scientific exchange aligned to global V&I plan priorities. This is a regionally based position (U.S.) in our company’s Research and Development (R&D) division.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

• Is responsible for the direction, coordination, implementation, control, and execution of USMA and HSO payor and access strategy while remaining aligned to global medical and commercial strategy, commitments and goals. Leads the U.S. HSO integrated Field Medical (FM) plan process in collaboration with U.S. HSO Executive Director (US HSO ED), U.S. HSO Sr Director PASL, U.S. HSO Team Leads, and other members of the global and regional cross-functional teams.

• Develops and directs payor and access strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and unmet needs. This includes precision medicine-related biomarkers, companion diagnostics, and LDT-based diagnostic approaches.

• Collects, analyzes and communicates scientific insights from U.S. HSO Medical Affairs Director (MAD) field engagements to inform company strategies across R&D, which includes the V&I and Commercial organizations.

• Leads U.S. Payor Access Team (US PAT) to support prioritizing U.S. gaps/needs assessment as well as value-evidence strategy and tactical plan for global V&I annual planning input (e.g., one-pagers, V&I plans, and Country Medical Affairs Plan).

• Serves as U.S. Health Systems Oncology interface between V&I, Commercial, and other relevant headquarters (HQ) functions and the U.S. HSO Team.

• Identifies and prioritizes U.S. HSO field resources, training needs, and activities across the oncology portfolio to optimize HSO MAD Field Team readiness.

• Collaborates with key stakeholders to define/implement strategic congress priorities for U.S. HSO and coordinates planning of HSO MAD activities at key scientific congresses.

• Continuously scans the health-care environment and quality landscape to analyze emerging trends in the oncology, precision medicine, and competitive landscape, in addition to market access to optimize U.S. HSO Field Team capabilities.

• Represents USMA HSO, in partnership with global V&I, in Expert Input Forums or Advisory Boards, as needed.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Minimum

• Advanced health-care/science degree (MD, PhD, or PharmD) and recognized medical expertise in oncology precision medicine/biomarkers.

• Five or more years of prior pharmaceutical industry experience (preferably Field Medical experience or equivalent biotech/pharmaceutical/Medical Affairs strategy experience) within oncology and precision medicine; OR five or more years of experience working in quality/managed-care/cancer-center settings, with demonstrated oncology and precision medicine scientific acumen; OR Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP)/Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) with five or more years of clinical experience working within a cancer center; OR equivalent.

• Demonstrated ability to create and implement a strategic plan.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, networking, and results-oriented project-management skills.

• Strong understanding of the oncology diagnostics, biomarker, and reimbursement landscape. Thorough knowledge of clinical medicine, U.S. health-care delivery-system structure and function, pharmacoeconomics, population health management, quality management, value-based payment, and health-care delivery policy and trends.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a complex, matrixed environment (promoting inclusion, maintaining trust, and respecting others).

• Ability to network and partner with important internal and external stakeholders, including cross-functional teams, scientific leaders, and key decision-makers.

• Knowledge of national and society treatment guidelines related to oncology and precision medicine, clinical research processes, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, and Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other ethical guidelines, laws and regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and its external stakeholder environment.

• Embrace an AI-first mindset by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools and demonstrating a willingness to learn and implement new approaches, without requiring deep technical expertise.

Preferred

• Experience engaging US access stakeholders relevant to diagnostics and biomarker-driven care.

• Strategy experience for a specialty product approval where precision medicine played a role

• Prior experience leading complex projects with demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects and priorities simultaneously and function in a fast-paced environment.

• Formal training in pharmacoeconomics/outcomes research.

Required Skills:

Biomarkers, Companion Diagnostics (CDx), Cross-Functional Teamwork, Laboratory Testing, Leadership, Market Access, Medical Affairs, Oncology, Oncology Diagnostics, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Precision Medicine (PM)

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:

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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.

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The salary range for this role is

$210,400.00 - $331,100.00

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:

Remote

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/7/2026

*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.