Overview
Role Summary
- The Medical Advisor/Senior Medical Advisor holds primary responsibility within the country for the development and execution of the Medical Affairs strategic plans and is expected to spend up to 50% of their time in external engagements.
- The role focuses on cross-functional strategy collaboration and execution, building trust with the medical/scientific community, facilitating peer-to-peer medical and scientific exchange, and providing asset issue resolution support.
Responsibilities and Primary Activities
Asset Management & Business Leadership
- Consolidates actionable medical insights from the country that can help inform company strategies
- Translates Global Medical Goals and Strategies into research, data analysis, scientific communication, education, and other solutions that improve patient outcomes and enhance access in their country
- Follows up on investigator-initiated study proposals they receive that are aligned with the MISP (Investigator Studies Program) areas of interest as per guidance and instructions in the MISP manual
- Supports execution of and quickly adapts tactical plan to business realities in country
- Acts with ethics and integrity; provides non-promotional, balanced, reliable, and scientific information; follows strictly company standards and local regulations
Scientific & Technical Leadership
- Infuses country’s scientific and healthcare environment perspective into Regional Medical Affairs Team
- Communicates both scientific and business needs credibly, appropriately, and effectively across a variety of internal and external stakeholders at all levels
- Builds trust with external scientific community via peer-to-peer scientific exchange, research, and educational collaborations, and via interactions with scientific societies, health organizations, publications, etc.
- Provides therapeutic/functional training to assigned teams and affiliate functions
- Develops and executes country medical educational programs and symposia
- Leads country advisory boards and expert input forums to inform company strategy
- Participates in and contributes significantly to professional organizations and academic or regulatory working teams
Asset Regulatory Management
- Successfully collaborates with and leads resolution of Regulatory, Reputational (i.e., Public Relations), Compliance, and other asset issues management
- Collaborates in the successful management of asset safety or quality issues (i.e., contributes content and strategy in regulatory responses and interactions, risk management planning, and implementation)
Medical Information
- Provides prompt medical information support, such as research and answering of medical inquiries from external and internal customers, and reviews/approves local response documents
Management
- Leads MSL (Medical Science Liaison)
- Works closely with human resource team in the hiring and recruitment of direct reports
- Provides support for direct reports’ onboarding, ongoing training, assessment, and field coaching
- Provides timely and constructive feedback
- Provides guidance for ongoing development of direct reports
- Receives timely follow-up from direct reports in accordance with deadlines
Required Qualifications, Skills, & Experience
Minimum
- Medical Doctor (MD), Master or PhD (in clinical science) is an advantage
- Recognized expertise through 2-3 years of clinical and/or research experience in therapy area
- Experience with local pharmaceutical industry guidelines, regulatory/reimbursement framework, and clinical research guidelines
- Ability to think strategically, specifically in relation to asset value proposition and clinical and value evidence
- Ability to develop a network of scientific leaders and successful interactions with other key stakeholders (public groups, government officials, medical professional organizations) in therapy areas
- Proven ability to effectively communicate information at country management level, with public groups and to scientific leaders
- Excellent interpersonal, analytical, communication (written and oral), and results-oriented project management skills
- Strong prioritization skills and ability to understand how decisions fit into the broader context of corporate strategies
- In a matrix environment, ability to effectively collaborate across functions
Preferred Skills
- Adaptability
- Asset Management
- Asset Management Operations
- Clinical Medicine
- Clinical Research
- Clinical Sciences
- Communication
- Data Analysis
- Healthcare Education
- Internal Customers
- Medical Affairs
- Medical Communications
- Medical Knowledge
- Medical Review
- Medical Writing
- Pharmaceutical Guidelines
- Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs
- Professional Integrity
- Project Management
- Project Prioritization
- Promotional Review
- Public Relations (PR)
- Regulatory Frameworks
- Risk Management
Travel & Other Details
Current Employees apply
Current Contingent Workers apply
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
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.
Job Status: Regular
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date: 11/7/2025
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.
Requisition ID: R360675