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Merck

Director, Strategic Planning

Merck, Rahway, New Jersey, us, 07065

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Job Description The Enterprise Strategy Office (ESO) develops, implements, and drives enterprise strategy in support of our company, its customers, and other stakeholders. The scope of this group includes strategy development, strategy execution and value realization, enterprise strategic planning, risk management, and strategic venture investments in healthcare as part of our Global Health Innovation fund. Together, we identify business‑critical opportunities, frame and evaluate options, and ensure effective implementation and cross‑functional engagement to realize impact.

Oncology is a key area of focus for our company, and our portfolio is large, diverse and evolving rapidly. Within ESO, we provide deep strategic partnership in developing, assessing and shaping our strategy at the portfolio, indication and asset level, as well as the capabilities we need to continue delivering transformative therapies to patients.

Position Description The person in this role will help develop and drive Oncology R&D strategy priorities, tackling complex and often ambiguous questions that have significant upside for our Company. They will work with senior leaders to identify and frame important topics, conduct rigorous assessments that can inform leadership decision‑making; develop, refine and lead Oncology strategic initiatives across our Company; and help evolve and establish capabilities needed for our Company’s Oncology Research & Development to be successful.

This individual will collaborate cross‑functionally with Oncology leaders across our Company and will be a critical partner across multiple teams. They will be charged with solving problems, driving value, and building a coalition of support that is needed for the creation and adoption of change. This individual will foster a psychologically safe, diverse, and inclusive environment by leading teams both directly and indirectly and mentoring special assignment partners.

Primary Responsibilities

Partner with Oncology senior management and leaders to identify high‑value strategic imperatives

Lead the framing, assessment, and recommendation of key initiatives in collaboration with executive leaders across oncology

Develop fact‑bases using internal and external data sets to support leadership decision‑making

Interrogate a deep and broad R&D portfolio to aid in resource allocation, prioritization and maximization of patient impact

Bring to bear experience in oncology (across discovery, translational sciences, development, and commercialization) to identify capability gaps and ways to evolve

Lead internal and external teams to drive ideas from conception to implementation

Partner with cross‑functional teams to support implementation and deliver on key objectives

Drive cultural engagement with diverse and inclusive teams

Position Qualifications Education and Industry Experience Requirement

PhD in a relevant scientific discipline (Oncology preferred) or MD from a top‑ranked program, equivalent experience considered

4+ years of strategy management consulting experience from a top‑tier firm (e.g., BCG, McKinsey, Bain) or equivalent strategy experience driving R&D programs

Minimum of 5+ years of biopharma‑related experience post PhD/MD in a relevant strategy consulting or industry context, with deep expertise in Oncology R&D

Experience managing teams as well as external vendors

Required Skills

Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) with demonstrated capability across diverse roles and functions

Problem solving and insight generation – ability to frame and conceptualize complex, ambiguous questions and drive toward clear, substantiated answers relevant to the questions at hand

Strong analytical skills with ability to efficiently interrogate different types of data to deliver relevant, high‑quality insights

Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written skills; ability to communicate effectively with senior management and across all levels of the business

Demonstrated leadership qualities with the ability to empathize, listen, and enable other colleagues to thrive

Ability to influence decision‑making in a highly matrixed organization

Strong business acumen, with ability to build consensus

Demonstrated ability to prioritize and solve problems, focusing on the highest‑impact initiatives

High emotional intelligence; growth mindset with strong curiosity and intrinsic motivation

Collaborative team player who is organized, coachable, and driven to improve

Location Rahway, NJ preferred with the potential opportunity for placement in Boston

Salary $169,700.00 – $267,200.00

Benefits 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.

Application Instructions 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.

Work Model Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office‑based positions in the U.S. will be working a hybrid model consisting of three total days on‑site per week (Monday–Thursday), with Friday designated as a remote‑working day, unless business‑critical tasks require an on‑site presence. This model does not apply to field‑based positions, facility‑based, manufacturing‑based, or research‑based positions where work is performed 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 determines that the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely.

Travel Requirements 10%

Requisition ID R372942

Equal Employment Opportunity 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 the EEOC website. Key resources include:

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.

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