Associate Director, Oncology Patient Support Strategy

Merck; Helena (MT); Remote; USD 157,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Annual bonus

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Merck in the U.S. Oncology unit is preparing for a potential U.S.

launch of an mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy for early-stage melanoma, requiring a coordinated hub and patient support model. The Associate Director will define strategy, enrollment, affordability, and data governance, partnering with internal teams and vendors to deliver compliant, patient-centered services and drive access across the patient journey.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology with experience spanning patient services, patient access, reimbursement support, affordability programs, or hub strategy.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and optimizing patient support programs, hub services, affordability solutions, or patient access capabilities.
• Strong understanding of the patient support and access landscape, including hub service models, payer dynamics, buy-and-bill reimbursement, medical benefit coverage, benefits investigation and verification, prior authorization, appeals, and patient enrollment requirements.
• Strong understanding of affordability program design, including copay program structures, financial assistance solutions, patient eligibility criteria, annual benefit limits, cost-share considerations, and program governance.
• Experience developing enrollment, consent, and patient data strategies, including programs involving patient support participation, privacy requirements, PHI, and complex data management considerations.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, with a demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, resolve complex operational challenges, and translate strategy into execution.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build alignment across a complex matrix organization.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the PSP strategy, service model, and capabilities, including benefits investigation, case management, prior authorization support, affordability services, and patient support workflows.
• Design patient enrollment and multi-consent processes to support participation in patient services programs, data collection, patient engagement, and treatment initiation.
• Define brand-specific hub governance, workflows, service requirements, and escalation pathways to align with therapy and patient journey.
• Develop and oversee the affordability strategy, copay program structure, and financial assistance solutions to reduce affordability-related barriers.
• Partner with Patient Access Support Center of Excellence and vendors to translate program strategy into operational execution reflecting desired patient experience.
• Support vendor selection and oversee hub and affordability partner performance, establishing service expectations and governance processes.
• Establish performance measures and reporting requirements, leveraging patient and operational insights to optimize program effectiveness.

Skills

Adaptability

Campaign Management

Channel Management

Data Analysis

Patient Engagement

Oncology

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

Merck in the U.S. Oncology unit is preparing for a potential U.S.

launch of an mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy for early-stage melanoma, requiring a coordinated hub and patient support model. The Associate Director will define strategy, enrollment, affordability, and data governance, partnering with internal teams and vendors to deliver compliant, patient-centered services and drive access across the patient journey.