Associate Director, Patient Support Program Strategy, US Oncology, Intismeran Marketing

Merck; United States; Remote; USD 157,000 - 247,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Associate Director, Patient Support Program Strategy to shape the vision and governance of a differentiated PSP for Russia? US-based role focusing on patient access, enrollment, affordability, and program analytics across vendors and internal partners.

The role partners with Market Access, Legal, Privacy, and Finance to ensure compliant implementation and successful execution of patient support programs in a dynamic oncology setting.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and optimizing patient support programs, hub services, or affordability solutions.
• Experience in enrollment, consent, data strategies including PHI and privacy requirements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management within a complex organization.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve PSP strategy, service model, and capabilities including benefits investigation and case management.
• Design enrollment and multi-consent processes for patient services and data collection.
• Oversee hub governance, vendor performance, and affordability program management.
• Develop and translate program requirements into operational execution and business rules.
• Establish performance measures and reporting to optimize patient access and outcomes.

Skills

Patient Support

Affordability Programs

Hub Strategy

Enrollment & Consent

Stakeholder Mgmt

Data Strategy

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

MBA or equivalent preferred

Job description

Job Description

The U.S. Oncology business within our company is a growing and dynamic organization committed to advancing innovative therapies for patients with cancer. We have an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic commercial team as we prepare for the potential U.S. launch of an mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy for early-stage melanoma, being developed through an alliance partnership. This novel product has the potential to redefine personalized cancer treatment and requires a highly coordinated operating model to support seamless therapy delivery across a complex treatment ecosystem.

Reporting to the Director, Patient Support Strategy Lead, the Associate Director, Patient Support Program Strategy will be responsible for establishing the vision, strategy, and governance framework for the Patient Support Program (PSP) supporting an individualized therapy. This role will oversee the development and continuous evolution of hub services, enrollment and consent processes, affordability solutions, and case management capabilities designed to help patients successfully navigate a complex treatment journey. The Associate Director will translate patient support priorities into scalable program requirements, service models, business rules, and performance standards while ensuring seamless integration across reimbursement, affordability, patient navigation, and support services. Through close partnership with internal stakeholders and external vendors, this individual will drive the development of innovative, compliant, and patient-centered solutions that support patient access and overall patient experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Patient Support Program Strategy: Define and evolve the Patient Support Program (PSP) strategy, service model, and capabilities, including benefits investigation, case management, prior authorization support, affordability services, and patient support workflows.
• Enrollment, Consent & Data Strategy: Design patient enrollment and multi-consent process that support participation in patient services programs, data collection, patient engagement, and treatment initiation.
• Hub strategy & Governance: Define brand-specific hub business rules, workflows, service requirements, and escalation pathways to ensure patient support capabilities are aligned to the unique needs of the therapy and patient journey.
• Affordability Strategy & Program Management: Develop and oversee the affordability strategy, copay program structure, and financial assistance solutions to reduce affordability-related barriers to treatment.
• Program Implementation: Partner with Patient Access Support Center of Excellence and vendors to translate program strategy into operational execution, ensuring services, workflows, and support capabilities reflect intended patient experience and business objectives.
• Vendor Strategy & Performance Management: Support vendor selection and oversee hub and affordability partner performance, establishing service expectations, performance metrics, governance processes, and continuous improvement plans.
• Program Analytics & Optimization: Establish performance measures and reporting requirements, leveraging patient and operational insights to identify barriers, optimize program effectiveness, and improve patient outcomes over time.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Launch Readiness: Partner with Market Access, Patient Access Support Operations, Finance, Legal, Privacy, Compliance, Data & Technology teams to ensure compliant implementation, operational readiness, and successful execution of patient support and affordability programs.

Education

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

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical, 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, protected health information (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.

Required Skills

Adaptability, Adaptability, Campaign Management, Channel Management, Channel Partners, Clinical Outcomes, Customer Acquisition Strategy, Customer Insights, Customer Marketing, Data Analysis, Direct Marketing, Engagement Marketing, Exploratory Analysis, External Partners, Informed Consent, Market Development, Marketing Channels, Marketing Program Management, Market Research, Media Strategies, Metrics Development, Oncology, Patient Assistance, Patient Engagement, Patient Support {+ 9 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

Flexible Work Arrangements

Remote

Job Posting End Date

10/16/2026

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is

$156,900.00 - $247,000.00

Benefits

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.

*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

R415140