Digital, Data and AI Lead

Merck; Paço de Arcos; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Portugal (Paço de Arcos) is seeking a Digital & Data Lead to shape and operationally drive the market's integrated Digital, Data, Automation, AI, Customer Engagement, and Business Insights agenda. You will translate business priorities into a strategy, roadmap, and portfolio, aligning with regional/global teams to deliver measurable value.

You will lead omnichannel engagement, transform data into insights, and accelerate AI adoption across CRM, Market Research, and Digital capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Marketing, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Life Sciences or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in Digital, Data, Customer Engagement, Commercial Excellence or related transformation roles.
• Track record of defining and delivering digital, analytics, automation and AI strategies that create measurable business impact.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English; strong communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Shape the market's Digital, Customer Experience, Data, AI and Automation agenda and identifies technology and innovation opportunities to drive business growth and customer value, within the pharmaceutical/biotech landscape.
• Lead omnichannel engagement, Customer Experience and commercial effectiveness initiatives, as Product Owner for Digital and Data cross-functional teams.
• Transform data into actionable insights that inform strategy and decision making.
• Accelerate AI and automation adoption to improve productivity, execution and operational excellence.
• Oversee CRM, SFE, Market Research, Data, AI, Automation and Digital capabilities within an integrated operating model.
• Manage internal resources, vendors and partners, to achieve desirable outcomes, while ensuring internal efficiency.
• Establish governance, prioritize investments and ensure measurable value realization.
• Develop high-performing teams and strategic partnerships to deliver sustainable transformation.
• Ensure Digital Stewardship and compliance at a subsidiary level

Skills

Business Analysis

Data Science

Demand Management

Innovation

Requirements Management

Sourcing and Procurement

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Strategic Planning

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree

Job description

Shape the future of customer engagement, data-driven decision making, automation and AI.

Position Overview

The Digital & Data Lead is responsible for shaping and operationally leading the market's integrated Digital, Data, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Engagement, Experience and Business Insights agenda.The role translates business priorities and enterprise direction into a clear local strategy, capability roadmap and portfolio of initiatives. It partners with the business units to connect commercial strategy, customer insights, omnichannel engagement, data and analytics, CRM and sales force effectiveness, marketing technology, automation and AI into one coherent operating model.Working side-by-side with Commercial, Market Access, and other local units, and regional or global teams, Digital, Data and AI Lead ensures that digital and data investments address meaningful business and customer needs, are deployed responsibly, and generate measurable value and impact while continuously fosters activation of partnerships with technology providersReporting to the Commercial Operations Director, this person acts as the local nexus between enterprise standards and market execution, setting digital strategy, orchestrating internal and external capabilities, governing delivery and accelerating adoption while ensuring correct execution of the Commercial Excellence and Sales Force Effectiveness processes.

• Shape the market's Digital, Customer Experience, Data, AI and Automation agenda and identifies technology and innovation opportunities to drive business growth and customer value, within the pharmaceutical/biotech landscape.
• Lead omnichannel engagement, Customer Experience and commercial effectiveness initiatives, as Product Owner for Digital and Data cross-functional teams.
• Transform data into actionable insights that inform strategy and decision making.
• Accelerate AI and automation adoption to improve productivity, execution and operational excellence.
• Oversee CRM, SFE, Market Research, Data, AI, Automation and Digital capabilities within an integrated operating model.
• Manage internal resources, vendors and partners, to achieve desirable outcomes, while ensuring internal efficiency.
• Establish governance, prioritize investments and ensure measurable value realization.
• Develop high-performing teams and strategic partnerships to deliver sustainable transformation.
• Ensure Digital Stewardship and compliance at a subsidiary level

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Marketing, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Life Sciences or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in Digital, Data, Customer Engagement, Commercial Excellence or related transformation roles.
• Track record of defining and delivering digital, analytics, automation and AI strategies that create measurable business impact.
• Expertise in omnichannel engagement, customer experience, CRM/SFE, business insights and data-driven decision making.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence senior stakeholders across local, regional and global organizations.
• Strong understanding of AI, automation, analytics, governance and value realization frameworks.
• Strategic mindset combined with strong execution capabilities, change leadership and a passion for innovation.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum with a bias towards speed and agility.
• Above-market experience leading projects implementation.
• High levels of self-awareness and strong communication skills. Portuguese and English language fluency.

Required Skills

• Business Analysis
• Data Science
• Demand Management
• Innovation
• Requirements Management
• Sourcing and Procurement
• Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Strategic Planning

Job Posting End Date: 10/25/2026 *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.