Director – Commercial Operations

MSD Malaysia; Mumbai; Hybrid; INR 3,500,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD Malaysia in India seeks a Director - Commercial Operations to provide strategic direction, leadership, and governance for India's Commercial Operations. The role partners with Human Health leadership and business units to enable growth through commercial excellence, launch readiness, patient access solutions, and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities cover SFE, BPO, NPP, FPP, and Commercial Administration & Operations, building integrated operating models and leading a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning and business acumen capabilities.
• Excellent communication, executive presence and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Commercial Operations organization in India.
• Lead SFE, BPO, NPP, FPP and Operations to drive performance and governance.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, R&D, HR and Supply Chain to align objectives.
• Develop launch excellence, patient access solutions and data-driven decisions.
• Build integrated operating models and lead a high-performing team.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic planning

Business acumen

Executive communication

Influencing skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Tools

Digital tools

Automation

Advanced analytics

Job description

Job Description Job Title: Director - Commercial Operations, India

The Director, Commercial Operations is responsible for providing strategic direction, leadership, and governance for our company India's Commercial Operations organization. This role serves as a critical business partner to the Human Health Leadership Team and Business Unit Leaders, enabling sustainable business growth through commercial excellence, launch readiness, patient access solutions, operational rigor, and data-driven decision-making. The role leads a broad portfolio encompassing Sales Force Effectiveness (SFE), Business Practices (BPO), New Product Planning (NPP), FPP (Financial Patients Program), and Commercial Administration & Operations. The incumbent is expected to establish integrated operating models, build future-ready capabilities, and lead a high-performing organization that supports both current business priorities and future growth opportunities. The Director acts as the enterprise integrator across Commercial, Legal, Finance, our Research & Development Division, Human Resources, Supply Chain, and Regional/Global teams to ensure alignment, execution excellence, and delivery of business objectives.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Commercial Operations Leadership

Provide strategic leadership for the Commercial Operations organization supporting company India's Human Health business. Develop and execute a multi-year Commercial Operations strategy aligned with business growth priorities and enterprise objectives. Partner with Business Unit Directors and the Country Leadership Team to strengthen commercial execution, customer engagement, launch excellence, and patient access. Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement across commercial processes, systems, and governance frameworks. Support FC, annual strategic planning, resource prioritization, business reviews, and performance management processes. Act as a key advisor to CLT by translating market insights, performance analytics, and business intelligence into actionable recommendations.

Sales Force Effectiveness (SFE)

Lead the organization's Sales Force Effectiveness strategy and capabilities. Drive and optimize customer segmentation, targeting, territory alignment, and resource deployment strategies. Oversee SIP design, field force productivity programs, sales analytics, and performance management frameworks. Leverage digital tools, omnichannel capabilities, automation, AI and advanced analytics to enhance customer engagement and field execution. Establish meaningful performance metrics and dashboards that support data-driven decision-making. Suggest productivity improvements and drive execution excellence across customer-facing teams.

Business Practices (BPO)

Provide oversight of commercial governance, business practices, and operational compliance. Ensure adherence to company policies, industry regulations, legal requirements, and ethical standards. Partner closely with Compliance, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders (locally, regionally and globally) to strengthen operational controls. Support and lead the HH audit process. Process Development: Design, implement, and optimize strategy business processes related to commercial interactions with HCPs to enhance efficiency and effectiveness to ensure all commercial activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, including anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. Strategy execution includes creating the internal control process to ensure the good governance process by conduct regular audits and assessments of commercial interactions with HCPs to identify compliance risks and areas for improvement in collaboration with cross-functional teams, including legal, marketing, and sales, to ensure alignment on compliance matters and business objectives. Continuous Improvement: stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory changes related to HCP interactions and compliance and to identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.

New Product Planning (NPP)

Lead the development and execution of new asset launch excellence and pipeline readiness capabilities for India market. Partner with global, regional, and local stakeholders to prepare the organization for successful commercialization of new assets and indications including frequent engagement with the medical, clinical operation and regulatory teams. Drive launch governance, opportunity assessment, forecasting support, scenario planning, and capability readiness. Build integrated launch plans encompassing market access, stakeholder engagement, customer experience, field force readiness, and business performance measurement. Ensure launch learnings and best practices are institutionalized across the organization.

FPP (Financial Patients Program)

Provide strategic leadership for patient access and patient support programs. Drive and enhance initiatives that improve patient access, affordability, treatment initiation, and therapy continuity. Execute FPP excellently and ensure leveraging platforms across TAs. Ensure effective governance and operational management of patient support partners and service providers. Monitor program effectiveness, patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and compliance standards. Collaborate with Legal, Commercial, LRBs and external stakeholders to strengthen patient-centric solutions.

Operations

Lead administration and operational support functions that enable efficient execution across the Human Health business. Oversee sales administration, field operations support, meeting and event governance, vendor management, procurement coordination, and operational planning activities. Ensure effective management of commercial systems, business processes, operational policies, and support services. Drive service excellence through simplification, standardization, and digitization of operational processes. Establish robust business continuity, risk management, and operational resilience practices. Ensure seamless execution of commercial processes while maintaining governance, efficiency, and customer focus.

Talent & Enterprise Leadership

Build and lead a high-performing Commercial Operations organization through strong people leadership and talent development. Establish clear organizational priorities, governance, accountabilities, and operating rhythms. Develop succession plans and strengthen leadership pipelines across all functions within Commercial Operations. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning. Coach and develop leaders to maximize organizational effectiveness and employee engagement. Serve as a key member of cross-functional leadership forums and contribute to overall business strategy. Drive collaboration between Commercial, Legal, Medical, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, External Affairs, Policy and Market Access, Supply Chain, and Region/Global teams. Support transformation initiatives, capability building programs, and future operating model evolution. Act as a champion of company's culture, values, Ways of working and Leadership Standards.

Key Stakeholders

Direct team: SFE, FPP, BPO, NPP, Operations. Indirect (local) team: Country Leadership Team, Legal, Finance, BUs, Medical, Regulatory Affairs, GCTO, PHI, HR, Supply Chain Cluster/Global team: Cluster Commercial Operations, Global Launch Excellence teams, Global HH teams External team: Agency partners, key customers and industry players, industry groups, OPPI, societies, advocacy groups, policymakers.

Skills, knowledge, Experience & Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree required
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred
• 12+ years of progressive experience within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, biotechnology, or life sciences industry
• Demonstrated experience leading Commercial Operations, Sales Excellence, Commercial Excellence, BPO, Operations, Launch Excellence, or related functions preferred
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical commercial models, customer engagement strategies, and healthcare market dynamics
• Proven track record of driving commercial effectiveness, operational excellence, and business transformation
• Experience leading large, multi-functional teams and influencing across matrix organizations
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and business acumen capabilities
• Experience managing complex stakeholder environments and driving alignment without formal authority
• Demonstrated success leading capability-building and organizational development initiatives
• Strong understanding of compliance, governance, and risk management requirements within the pharmaceutical industry
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and influencing skills
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution

Leadership Standards

• Shape Strategy
• Focus on customers
• Act with candor and courage
• Make disciplined decisions
• Deliver Impact
• Unlock potential

Who we are

We are global pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and company everywhere else. For more than a century, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

Required Skills

• Business Analysis
• Marketing
• Researching
• Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Supplier Management
• User Research
• Waterfall Model

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: Domestic
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: No Travel Required
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
• Shift: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 10/15/2026

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.