Associate Director - Sales Incentive Plan (SIP) Strategy & Execution Lead

PR Girl Manifesto; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in North Wales, PA seeks an Associate Director to lead Sales Incentive Plan (SIP) strategy and execution for the US market. You will guide design, objective setting, administration, payouts, and governance with legal and compliance while partnering with the Incentive Comp Data, Innovation, and Sales Crediting teams.

The role requires strong program management, communication with senior leaders, and experience managing vendor partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.
• Strong leadership experience in pharmaceutical incentive compensation.
• Proven ability to manage complex portfolios and vendor partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead SIP strategy and execution for US market field incentive compensation.
• Oversee plan design, execution, objective setting, administration and payouts.
• Manage governance with legal/compliance and cross-functional partners.
• Coordinate with vendor partner and internal teams to ensure timely, compliant delivery.
• Prepare for launches and strategic shifts affecting incentive programs.

Skills

Adaptability

Brand Management

Business Acumen

Communication

Customer Relationship Building

Financial Analysis

Incentive Compensation

Leadership

Sales Strategy Development

Strategic Thinking

Teamwork

Strategic Planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or equivalent

Job description

# Associate Director - Sales Incentive Plan (SIP) Strategy & Execution LeadMerckNorth Wales, PAFull-TimeOct 23, 2026Marketing## Job Description**Job Description****Associate Director - Sales Incentive Plan (SIP) Strategy & Execution Lead** Reporting to the Director of Strategy & Field Enablement (STREAM), the Sales Incentive Plan (SIP) Strategy & Execution Lead will lead a team responsible for the US Market field incentive compensation process, from plan design, execution and objective setting, through administration and payout. While the role is designed with a hybrid framework, well-qualified candidates seeking a remote work arrangement are also highly encouraged to apply and will be fully considered. This individual will work as a member of a cross-functional team in support of the specific goals of our Human Health sales organization. The primary focus of this role is to provide strategic, operational and consultative support, while ensuring that the Sales Incentive Plan (SIP) program is executed within agreed upon timelines and budgets. As part of their role, this individual will be responsible for managing the deliverables of our strategic vendor partner. Success in this role will require outstanding project/program management skills and an effective partnership across multiple functions, including the Sales Incentive Plan, Strategy, Finance, Compliance, Legal, peer US Operations functions (e.g., Digital Human Health) and Sales Leadership. Strong communication and vendor management skills are critical. **Responsibilities include but are not limited to:** * Developing effective, compliant sales incentive plan designs that are aligned with sales/brand strategic priorities, company compensation principles, financial controls, and compliance standards* Leading sales incentive plan execution, including objective setting, plan implementation, administration, payout, corrective actions, and financial accruals* Ensuring that sales incentive plan designs are implemented and executed on time, with prompt and accurate payouts* Overseeing the sales incentive plan governance process, including close partnerships with legal and compliance partners, ensuring that all aspects of the plan are aligned with policies and guidelines* Anticipating future sales incentive needs, in support of critical events (e.g., launches, shifts in strategic prioritization, field expansions/restructures) and planning accordingly for them* Partnering with the Incentive Comp Data, Innovation, and Sales Crediting team, and managing a team of Senior Specialists and the vendor relationship to ensure that all aspects of the plan are executed as expected**Required Experience and Skills:** * Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred* Minimum 5 years of demonstrated leadership in pharmaceutical incentive compensation* Outstanding program/project management skills, especially across a broad, complex portfolio of brands, segments, field teams and stakeholders* Proven ability to effectively communicate and negotiate with senior sales/brand leaders and key stakeholders* Experience leading a team(s) and managing strategic vendor partnerships* Demonstrated ability to collaborate, plan and execute* Deep understanding of sales incentive mechanics* Excellent strategic thinking, business acumen and problem-solving skills**Required Skills:** Adaptability, Brand Management, Business Acumen, Business Decisions, Communication, Customer Relationship Building, Financial Analysis, Incentive Compensation, Leadership, Results Oriented, Sales, Sales Strategy Development, Strategi Planning, Strategic Support, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork**Required Skills:**Business Decisions, Financial Acumen, Financial Analysis, Incentive Compensation, Partnership Management, People Leadership, Product Management, Sales Initiatives, Strategic Objectives, Strategic Thinking**Preferred Skills:**Current Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE**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.As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:EEOC Know Your RightsEEOC GINA SupplementWe 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.Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts The primary location for this posting is:USA - Pennsylvania - North Wales (Upper Gwynedd) Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below. The salary range for the primary location of this role is:$142,400.00 - $224,100.00 This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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. **Additional location(s):** Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location. RegularNo relocationNo10%HybridNot IndicatedNon/a11/5/2026### About MerckAt Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities.