Director, Global Forecasting, Oncology

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United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

The Director, Oncology Forecasting Lead, Global Strategic Insights (GSI) reports to the Vice-President and Head, Oncology GSI. This individual is accountable for anticipating, assessing, and addressing the global strategic forecasting needs of the Oncology Franchise KGaA. In this capacity, they will be a trusted thought partner to select Brand Teams and early pipeline asset project teams.

Your Role:

The Oncology Forecasting Lead will directly deliver forecasts for key priority brands in the Oncology Franchise. They will also provide training and coaching for other forecasters who provide topline forecasts to support necessary business cases and to quantify the impact of various market and asset events. On an ad hoc basis, they will occasionally support business cases for pipeline assets and help in evaluation of specific external business development (BD) opportunities.

On a day-to-day basis, they will primarily interface with Global Brand Teams, counterparts responsible for market access & pricing, Controlling, and other GSI colleagues who provide insights through performance analytics, market research and competitive intelligence. They will also work closely with forecasters in the top 8-10 major markets for key brands. Occasionally they might interact with functions like Medical Affairs, manufacturing & supply, adverse event reporting, etc.

This role requires a combination of Oncology forecasting excellence, insights expertise and strategic thought partnership

• They are directly responsible to deliver analytics and insights for key business decisions for pre-launch and launch oncology assets including
  • Help identify, evaluate and purchase global secondary data reports and databases and recommend appropriate uses to assess patient opportunity
  • Leverage competitive intelligence to characterize the threat from key competitors and the impact of differentiation on market share
  • Collaborate with market access/pricing colleagues to model the impact of net price evolution, and document the drivers of such change
  • Integrate insights from performance trackers across key markets
  • Appropriately model, quantify and communicate the risks and opportunities associated with the ‘base case’ topline forecast
• During the annual long-range topline planning process (Strategy Development or SD), this individual will coordinate the development and integration of Oncology topline forecasts across all relevant brands, indications and regions
  • Liaise with the Business Franchise, Market Access & Pricing, Controlling and GSI Insights leads, at both Global and Regional/Major market level
  • Ensure functional inputs and outputs for long range forecasts are well coordinated
  • Organize the systematic exchange of assumptions underlying long-range and launch forecasts for key markets with the Regional and Affiliate forecasters in the commercial organization to help generate high quality operational short-term forecasts
• As the lead expert in Oncology forecasting
  • Generate and share standardized Oncology topline forecasting models, tools, methods and training materials that enable Merck forecasters to generate high-quality opportunity assessments
  • Help identify, evaluate, and purchase global epidemiology reports and databases that support the Oncology portfolio
  • Monitor and ensure appropriate level of rigor is applied in GSI forecasting activity depending on business needs and the decision to be made
  • Help the company maintain pace with current industry best practices for quality business analysis
• They are also responsible to deliver analytics and insights for key business decisions for select Oncology pipeline assets on an ad hoc basis. The Merck KgaA pipeline includes multiple assets, including those that affect DNA Damage Response pathways, several Antibody-Drug Conjugates, and several unique targeted oncology therapeutics. Necessary activities may include
  • Help identify, evaluate and purchase global secondary data reports and databases and recommend appropriate uses
  • Leverage internal resources and CI agencies to identify and characterize key competitors, predict competitor launch timing and potential drivers of differentiation
  • Analyze, integrate and interpret results from analytics, CI and MR to support business decisions for pre-launch assets
  • Support strategic exercises including indication prioritization and business case development
In addition, they may be asked to support business opportunity assessments for specific external business development (BD) opportunities, with the insights tailored to the urgency and scope of the specific BD decision

This individual will have the opportunity to represent GSI in cross-therapy area and company-wide projects with broad strategic or tactical objectives beyond Oncology, to enhance their visibility in the organization and to help them continue to work on career development

Location: Hybrid- The office is currently located in Rockland, MA but is moving to the Boston, MA Seaport in mid-2024.

Travel : This position will require 15%-20% domestic and international travel for conferences and internal meetings

Who you are:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 8-12 year of experience in science or equivalent experience
• 5-8 years of relevant experience in data analytics and forecasting, including in the design and building of necessary models and tools
• 2+ years of Oncology experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of recent experience forecasting for Oncology assets
• Experience with key forecasting methods including market and patient-based forecasting, to generate both operational (short-term) and strategic (long-range) forecasts
• Knowledge of oncology or specialty pharmaceutical drug development and commercialization
• Ability to work effectively on a global team with key stakeholders located across different geographies
Knowledge of global secondary data sources (IQVIA, Clarivate, Cerner Enviza) and syndicated databases

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We celebrate all dimensions of diversity and believe that it drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!
Apply now and become a part of our diverse team!

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