Executive Director, Regional Medical Strategy Leader

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp in Dubai is seeking an Executive Director Regional Medical Strategy Leader to guide regional medical strategy across APAC and EMEA therapeutic portfolios, interfacing with global teams to accelerate patient access and outcomes.

The role leads cross-functional collaborations with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Regulatory, and HTA teams, shaping data generation and advisory board activities while embedding an inclusive leadership style.

Qualifications

• MD/PhD or PharmD with TA expertise.
• 10+ years of experience in global pharmaceutical industry in Clinical Development and/or Medical Affairs.
• Strong communication and ability to lead by influence.
• Demonstrated organizational skills to set goals and align priorities.

Responsibilities

• Aligns strategy to the region and ensures bidirectional communication and implementation.
• Leads Regional Medical Affairs Leadership Team and regional priorities.
• Collaborates with EDMAs, EDSAs, GDMAs, and RDMA to ensure execution of regional priorities.
• Interacts with Global TA Team and Product Development Teams around regional priorities.
• Partners with cross-functional teams to support LDG data-gap analyses and HTA needs.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Global medical affairs

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

MD/PhD/PharmD

Job description

Role Summary

The Executive Director Regional Medical Strategy Leader ED RMSL position resides in the Value amp Implementation V amp I organization which includes Global Medical and Scientific Affairs as well as Outcomes Research The ED RMSL is a Senior Medical Leader and point of contact for the Pharma and Specialty therapeutic areas TAs portfolio including pipeline related to the TAs in the Asia Pacific AP and Europe Middle East Africa EMEA countries The ED RMSL reports to the Global TA Vice President and is a member of the Global TA Leadership Team While the ED RMSL supports the TA assets there is also a strong focus on anticipating the pipeline assets and new launches Additional important activities include supporting the region on data-gap analyses local data generation LDG considerations scientific leader SL interactions interfacing global to regional teams strategic Insights reviews regional projects and Health Technology Assessment HTA related topics The ED RMSL helps assure the tight vertical alignment of the TA in headquarters and across geographies while continuing to provide the critical interface with cross-functional colleagues including Human Health HH Market Access Regulatory Affairs Communications Global Clinical Trial Operations GCTO V amp I Outcomes Research Policy and Patient Advocacy with the goal of improving communication of strategy and priorities in order to meet internal and external expectations The ED RMSL represents the vision of the region on key Leadership Teams through a strategic mind-set and the bidirectional vision between regional and global Leadership Teams to accelerate results that will benefit patients health-care providers alliances and institutions

Responsibilities

and Primary Activities

Key Functions

• Aligns prioritizes and customizes strategy to the region
• Helps ensure bidirectional communication and implementation of Global TA strategy via matrix leadership of country TA Leads
• Serves as core member of Regional Medical Affairs Leadership Team s
• Collaborates with Executive Directors of Medical Affairs EDMAs Executive Directors of Scientific Affairs EDSAs Global Directors of Medical Affairs GDMAs and Regional Directors Medical Affairs RDMAs to help ensure understanding and execution of regional priorities
• Interacts closely with the Global TA Team and Product Development Teams PDTs around regional priorities
• Serves as a key stakeholder in Regional Value amp Implementation Team RVIT and Global Medical Affairs Team GMAT meetings and an important point of contact for the V amp I Plans and Country Medical Affairs Plans CMAPs supporting inputs and prioritizations
• Works closely with V amp I Global Medical amp Value Capabilities V amp I GMVC including Regional Hubs for delivery of key initiatives
• Functions as point of contact for regional alliances medical affairs teams for strategic discussions
• Creates an environment for participation alignment and open discussions to share best practices across TAs and region
• Supports RDMA integration and alignment across the region TA and divisions

Cross-functional Activities

• Participates on Region Cross-Functional Teams CFT providing a holistic view across the TA and supporting prioritizations and decisions
• Works with regional Market Access and Policy teams to ensure regional advisory groups and HTA-related needs are considered by the PDTs and the added value of our medicines is fully recognized by regional stakeholders with the aim of securing access for appropriate patients in the region
• Provides key input to Regulatory Affairs as a part of the cross-functional regional team that drives input to regulatory submissions
• Partners as needed with clinical development team and GCTO in solving complex issues and to ensure strategic alignment
• Supports data-gap analyses and the Road Map to the development of LDGs working collaboratively with RDMA colleagues and V amp I Outcomes Research

External Stakeholder Engagement

• Drives and leads company relationships with key regional professional societies for TA
• Provides guidance on Advisory Boards and Input Meetings
• Works with company Policy Access on interactions with governments payers and other external stakeholders

Innovation and Digital Solutions

Explores novel innovative and digital solutions both internally and externally

Inclusive Mindset and Behavior

• Demonstrates eagerness to contribute to an environment of belonging inclusion and empowerment
• Leads by example and serves as a role model for creating leading and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce

Required

Qualifications

Skills and Experience

Minimum

• M D PhD or PharmD and recognized TA expertise additional advanced degrees entry on a Specialist Register such as Pharmaceutical Medicine or a relevant clinical specialty are strong additional considerations
• Minimum 10 years of experience in global pharmaceutical industry in Clinical Development and or Medical Affairs with a demonstrated successful track record
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead by influence
• Demonstrated effective organizational skills including ability to set goals and align priorities

Preferred

• Previous leadership experience managing a team and being part of executive committees
• Strong knowledge of the local compliance environment in which Medical Affairs functions
• Strong business acumen ethics and credible reputation with the external scientific community
• Demonstrated track record of success in Medical Affairs with industry-leading performance
• Proven track record of meaningful contributions to an executive leadership team beyond the Medical Affairs function such as Clinical Commercial or Outcomes Research
• Demonstrated creativity and effectiveness in addressing strategic challenges
• Entrepreneurial mindset capable of thinking out of the box and taking measured risks
• Experience working in global and regional Medical Affairs functions
• Ability to understand issues across a global affiliate network and contribute relevant insights as appropriate
• Experience managing a matrix organization