Associate Director, Patient Support Data Strategy & Management

Merck & Co.; North Wales (Montgomery County); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co. seeks an Associate Director to lead the end-to-end data strategy for the Patient Support Program, spanning hub services, specialty pharmacies, adherence programs, and emerging channels.

You will design the data foundation, measurement framework, and reporting to track patient progression from prescription to access, onboarding, fulfillment, and persistence. The role partners with Patient Experience, analytics, hub and specialty pharmacy operations, field access, and external vendors

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceuticals or healthcare, with patient support program experience.
• Ability to translate data into actionable recommendations for program design and investment.
• Experience defining KPIs, business requirements, data specifications, and dashboards for complex programs.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills for senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end data and insights strategy for the Patient Support Program across hub services, specialty pharmacies, adherence programs, and new channels.
• Partner with Patient Experience, data & analytics, hub operations, field access, marketing, and external vendors to ensure data integrity and actionable insights.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Data strategy

KPIs & dashboards

Storytelling to executives

Program analytics

Data integrity

Patient access knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent (BA/BS)

Tools

Power BI

CRM systems

Data modeling

Job description

Job Description

Role Summary

Our company is dedicated to delivering innovations that extend and improve the lives of patients worldwide. We are committed to ensuring that patients can access and benefit from our therapies through thoughtful, patient-centered solutions and strong cross-functional collaboration. The Associate Director, Patient Support Data Strategy & Management - Our product will lead the end-to-end data and insights strategy for the Patient Support Program across hub services, specialty pharmacies, adherence programs, and emerging support channels. This individual will design the data foundation, measurement framework, and reporting approach needed to understand patient progression from prescription through access, onboarding, fulfillment, adherence, and persistence.

Serving as the brand-specific Patient Support Program data subject matter expert, the Associate Director will translate data structure, availability, and patient-level signals into recommendations that inform program design, channel investment, patient engagement, and operational action. The role will partner across Patient Experience, data and analytics, hub and specialty pharmacy operations, field access, marketing, and external vendors to ensure data integrity, operationalize data flows, identify emerging risks and root causes, and close the loop between insight and action.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent (BA/BS) required

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceuticals or healthcare, with experience in patient support programs, patient experience, data and analytics, access and reimbursement, specialty pharmacy, or related areas.
• Deep understanding of hub services, specialty pharmacy operations, patient status codes, prescription fulfillment workflows, and Patient Support Program reporting.
• Demonstrated experience using operational, journey, or customer data to identify barriers, assess performance, and drive measurable process or program improvements.
• Experience defining KPIs, business requirements, data specifications, and dashboards for complex cross-functional programs.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to translate complex data and insights into actionable business recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence without direct authority in a matrixed environment.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and delivering results in a fast-paced, complex environment.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, including the ability to synthesize insights, implications, and recommended actions for senior stakeholders.
• High degree of integrity, attention to detail, and accountability.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in respiratory, specialty therapeutics, or complex reimbursement and access environments.
• Experience with Patient Support Program data models, vendor data feeds, data aggregators, and data-quality management.
• Experience with customer experience and analytics tools, including journey mapping, CRM or case-management systems, call analytics, and business intelligence platforms such as Power BI.
• Experience developing patient segmentation, predictive analytics, or risk-scoring approaches.
• Experience managing vendors and external partners, including data requirements, contracts, service levels, and performance management.

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00.

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.- Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively.

Leadership Profile

• Demonstrate a strong patient-first mindset and passion for improving real-world outcomes
• Thrive in ambiguity and complexity, bringing structure and clarity to evolving initiatives
• Balance strategic thinking with executional excellence
• Exhibit strong collaboration and influence skills, building alignment across stakeholders
• Embrace a growth mindset, continuously seeking opportunities to learn, innovate, and improve
• Ability to synthesize complex data into clear narratives for stakeholders.

Required Skills

Adaptability, Adaptability, Advertising Campaign Development, Agile Methodology, Business Decisions, Complex Analysis, Creative Campaign Development, Data Aggregation, Data Integrity, Data Management Platforms, Decision Making, Digital Analytics, Influencing Skills, Liaison Work, Managing Ambiguity, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Market Research, Multitasking, Partner Relationship Management (PRM), People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM), Pricing Strategies, Principles of Marketing {+ 7 more}

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

San Francisco Residents Only

We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Shift

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Job Posting End Date

10/23/2026

*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.

Requisition ID

R421548