Associate Director Marketing, Vaccines Retail Customer Marketing

Job Description

This is an exciting time to be joining the Retail Pharmacy team, as pharmacy continues to be a growing and important segment for our Company Vaccines and vaccination in pharmacy continues to increase each year for adult vaccines. As our portfolio evolves and business opportunities are identified, the Pharmacy Marketing Team is focused on supporting retail pharmacy growth and adoption of adult vaccinations to improve patient health.

The Retail Pharmacy Team in U.S. Vaccines is seeking an Associate Director Marketing, who will be accountable for developing key contributions in support of the Retail Pharmacy segment strategy and implementation. The individual will work closely with members of the Pharmacy and Brand team as well as other stakeholders across the U.S. Vaccines organization. 

The role requires an externally focused mindset, and this individual should be adept at understanding trends and advances in digital/technological capabilities, in order to innovate and develop tactics that leverage new and emerging technologies.  Acting with agility and urgency, this individual will create and implement patient focused, customer-inspired solutions that also align to the Company’s business objectives.

The Associate Director Marketing, Retail Customer Marketing will serve as the subject matter expert on the retail strategy and customers, providing expertise to the brand teams, and developing solutions based on brand and business priorities.   This individual should possess the capabilities to assess the changing healthcare landscape and how it is affecting the retail care environment (pharmacy and clinics).  They should be able to anticipate the responses by customers in the retail segment and understand how vaccines play a role in population health management.

As a strategic marketing role, this individual will make recommendations that will help shape the direction of the US Vaccines organization as the retail healthcare segment evolves.   The role will provide experience in marketing strategy development, innovative solution design and execution, cross-functional collaboration, and customer engagement.   

Specific position tasks include but are not limited to the following:

• Primary liaison to key stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and development of above brand solutions for retail segment.

• Partner with marketing and sales to develop and launch resources in support of expanding our Company Vaccines.

• Assess and support opportunities with Independent Pharmacy Networks through collaboration with the Account Executive and external customers.

• Headquarter liaison for select customer accounts in support of Account Executive and when working directly with customer on agreed upon initiatives.  Participate in key meetings with customers (in collaboration with the Account Team and HQ colleagues) to assess and identify customer needs and develop innovative actionable solutions that are aligned with organization strategies and policies. 

• In collaboration with the Vaccines Portfolio Marketing Digital Engagement Team, lead development of portfolio resources to support business objectives and ongoing field activities.

• Direct the development and updates to our Company's Adult Vaccine Program for Pharmacists on our Company vaccines.com site.

• Guide the development of annual promotion plan for the retail segment, working closely with brand teams, customer operations, promotions, and sales teams to ensure actionable customer insights are incorporated into specific segment strategies.

• Direct planning for key conferences as we prepare for the launch of new pneumococcal vaccines & anticipated new CDC Guideline as well as continued efforts to grow our mid-adult market for our HPV franchise.

• Through the refinement of Pharmacist Personas, Archetypes and Journey Partner with the Pharmacy Innovation team to provide ongoing field support and actionable insights for the Field Sales Organization

• Direct sales meeting planning for the Retail Pharmacy team

• Ensure timely delivery of innovative, high-quality solutions in-line with approved plans by managing appropriate agencies and creative resources to conceptualize, develop, and gain final approval of solutions.

• Facilitate cross-functional team interactions (e.g., Brand Teams, Field, Market Research, Digital Engagement Team, Promotions and Medical-Legal review team) required for the delivery of high impact, optimized solutions. 

• Coordinate Service Agreements, develop Statement of Work and Fair Market Value assessments to ensure timely execution of projects.  Manage process with customers & vendors as appropriate including all required legal, procurement, finance, and compliance reviews.

• Lead projects and programs through end-to-end process including appropriate medical-legal approvals and production/implementation.

• Ensure appropriate measurement of promotional activities’ effectiveness and leverage information for ongoing optimization of promotional efforts.

• Demonstrate operational efficiency by leveraging best practices and facilitating cross-divisional learning.

• Develop and demonstrate a deep understanding of the Retail Customer segment; Develop and maintain expert knowledge of customer solutions, internal resources and retail market environment and apply this understanding to anticipate market opportunities and/or support customer needs.

• Budget management and agency relationship management.

• Ensure all activities are in alignment with applicable laws, regulations, company policies and ethical business practices in conjunction with internal Business Practice & Compliance and Medical-Legal-Regulatory review process.    

Qualifications:

Education:

• BA/BS

• Preferred:  MBA/MS

Knowledge & Skills:

• 5 years combined in healthcare, pharmaceutical or vaccine industry including: sales, marketing, market research, or sales/marketing support or other relevant role.

• 10-20% travel.

Preferred Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong strategic thinking skills, innovative mindset, and results-orientation.

• Prior knowledge of Promotion or Brand/Marketing Management; Segment or Customer Facing Role (e.g. Solutions Consultant, Account Executive, or Customer Team Leader); Strategy Realization; Market Access; Contracting/Payer Marketing; or Global Marketing.

• Ability to work successfully with cross-functional teams and influence others effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

• Knowledge of the healthcare environment including current trends in healthcare, managed care, and retail segment.

• Understanding of commercial and regulatory requirements within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Knowledge of Company’s internal structure, policies, operations, and approval processes.

• Demonstrated project management, problem solving and analytical skills.

• Strong business acumen and critical thinking skills.

• Demonstrated external mindset – understanding of digital/technological trends, focused on consumer/patient, and customer oriented.

• Ability to prioritize and align work with organization priorities and collaborate across team lines internally within the Company and externally with customers.

• Strong networking /relationship building skills, teamwork, and written/verbal communication skills.

• Adaptability and resourcefulness.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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”.

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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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid, Remote Work

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Requisition ID:R274857