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

Merck & Co., Inc; United States; Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks an Associate Director to lead SIP strategy and execution for the US Market, reporting to STREAM. The role oversees design, execution, payout, and vendor partnerships, coordinating with Sales, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to ensure timely, compliant incentives.

The position supports hybrid work, requires MBA or equivalent and 5+ years in pharmaceutical incentive compensation, and offers annual bonus and long-term incentives along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership in pharmaceutical incentive compensation.
• Outstanding program/project management across a broad, complex portfolio.
• Proven ability to communicate and negotiate with senior leaders.
• Experience leading teams and managing strategic vendor partnerships.
• Deep understanding of sales incentive mechanics.
• Excellent strategic thinking and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Developing effective, compliant SIP designs aligned with priorities, financial controls, and compliance.
• Leading SIP execution: objective setting, implementation, administration, payout, actions, accruals.
• Ensuring designs are implemented on time with accurate payouts.
• Overseeing governance with legal and compliance partners.
• Anticipating future SIP needs for launches and strategic shifts.
• Partnering with data and crediting teams; managing Senior Specialists and vendors.

Skills

Adaptability

Brand Management

Business Acumen

Incentive Compensation

Leadership

Sales Strategy

Strategic Thinking

Teamwork

Partnership Management

People Leadership

Product Management

Sales Initiatives

Strategic Objectives

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or equivalent

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 HERE

Current 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:

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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.

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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.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

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:

11/5/2026

*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.