Job Description

Brand & Customer Manager, Gulf

The Brand & Customer Manager, Gulf plays a key role in driving the launch and growth of our new COPD brand across the Gulf region. This role is responsible for shaping and executing brand strategy, enabling strong field team performance, and ensuring effective cross-functional coordination to deliver business objectives and enhance customer engagement.

You will work closely with regional and local stakeholders to translate strategy into action, maximize brand performance, and support high-quality execution across markets. This is a highly collaborative, customer-focused role with responsibility for ensuring launch excellence, compliance, and impact across the Gulf.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Strategy & Execution

• Contribute to the development of regional brand strategy based on market insights, customer needs, and business priorities.
• Lead the execution of brand plans end-to-end, ensuring timely, high-quality, and compliant delivery.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable initiatives tailored to Gulf market dynamics.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead brand planning cycles, bringing insights, recommendations, and execution perspectives.
• Own key components of the brand plan, including campaigns, channels, and customer segments.
• Use data, field feedback, and market understanding to continuously strengthen brand impact.

Customer Engagement & Promotions

• Lead the development and localization of promotional and non-promotional materials aligned with brand strategy and regional requirements.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality communication of the brand value proposition across all customer touchpoints.
• Drive customer engagement initiatives that support brand growth and differentiation across the Gulf.

Sales Force Enablement

• Own the readiness and effectiveness of sales enablement tools and materials for the brand across the Gulf.
• Lead training initiatives to ensure field teams are equipped to execute with confidence and consistency.
• Serve as a trusted brand expert for the sales team, providing guidance and clarity on execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate closely with Medical, Market Access, Policy, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Sales teams to deliver assigned initiatives.
• Drive alignment and accountability across stakeholders to ensure seamless execution.
• Ensure strong integration between strategy and execution across all functions and markets.

Market & Business Insights

• Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitive dynamics across Gulf markets to identify opportunities for growth.
• Monitor brand performance and proactively recommend actions to improve outcomes.
• Translate insights into clear, actionable recommendations and initiatives.

Financial & Operational Management

• Track brand KPIs, performance, and budget utilization.
• Support forecasting and ensure alignment between demand planning and brand activities.
• Identify risks early and drive corrective actions as needed.

Compliance

• Ensure strict adherence to pharma marketing compliance, ethical codes, and internal SOPs.
• Ensure all promotional activities comply with regulatory and company standards.
• Maintain high standards of integrity, compliance, and ethical business conduct at all times.

Personal Development

• Continuously strengthen technical knowledge, marketing capabilities, and therapeutic area expertise through training, conferences, symposia, and self-study.
• Develop and maintain an individual development plan with manager agreement and quarterly progress review.

Skills and Qualifications Required

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in any relevant field (Pharmacy, Business, or related discipline).
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven experience in marketing and/or brand management with responsibility for both strategy and execution.
• Experience in COPD is a plus
• Experience in people management is a plus
• Direct experience working in the Gulf pharmaceutical market.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data and insights into effective strategies and actions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results in a matrix environment.

Location: UAE, Dubai

Required Skills:

Brand Marketing, Brand Strategy, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Data Analysis, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Market Research, Market Trends, Product Launch Marketing, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

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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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

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:

07/14/2026

*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.