Associate Director, US OBD Program Management

Merck & Co.; Basking Ridge (NJ); On-site; USD 162,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is seeking an Associate Director, US OBD Program Management to provide strategic, operational, and financial support across the US OBD, enabling integrated planning and governance of medicines programs.

This role coordinates with cross-functional teams and alliance partners, balancing hands-on execution with leadership enablement. Partnering with Brand and Medical Affairs leadership, the role translates strategic priorities into executable plans, drives governance, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any relevant discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 7+ years related experience.
• 4+ years of project management experience or other related experience.
• 7+ years of pharmaceutical or related industry experience preferred.
• Experience with budget management.
• Executive level presentations and communications required.
• Microsoft Office/Teams required.
• Advanced Excel skills required.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of detailed program and project plans, identifying risks and mitigation strategies, supporting launches.
• Monitor progress against timelines and deliverables, escalating issues and proposing solutions.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistent execution of tactics.
• Translate strategic objectives into integrated program plans with milestones, metrics and risks.
• Provide operational thought partnership on prioritization, sequencing and execution of high-impact initiatives.
• Support development and maintenance of Product Plans for cross-functional alignment.
• Manage program-level budgets, forecasting, reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Deliver leadership reporting to inform on progress, risks, and resource utilization.
• Coordinate with Finance on budget planning and resource allocation.
• Establish governance forums, meeting cadence and decision tracking.
• Develop executive-ready dashboards and materials showing status and performance.
• Lead change management initiatives for new processes and tools.

Skills

Project management

Executive presentations

Advanced Excel

Microsoft Office/Teams

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in any relevant discipline

Master's Degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office/Teams

Excel

Job description

At Daiichi Sankyo, we are united by a single purpose, to improve lives around the world through innovative medicines. With a legacy of innovation since 1899, a presence in more than 30 countries, and more than 19,000 employees, we are advancing breakthrough therapies in oncology, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, and immune disorders. Guided by our 2030 vision to “be an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society”, we are shaping a healthier, more hopeful future for patients, their families, and society.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, US OBD Program Management provides strategic, operational, and financial support across the US OBD to enable effective planning, execution, and governance of activities. This role partners closely with Brand and/or Medical Affairs leadership to translate strategic priorities into integrated execution plans while ensuring compliant, efficient, and transparent delivery of programs supporting Daiichi Sankyo medicines. Serving as a central coordination point across US OBD teams, cross functional stakeholders, and, when applicable, alliance partners, the Associate Director balances hands on program execution with leadership level enablement. The role provides operational thought partnership on governance, resource planning, and ways of working, and supports leadership decision making through structured communication, financial oversight, and clear performance reporting.

Responsibilities

Program & Project Management

• Lead development and maintenance of detailed program and project plans, proactively identifying risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies, while also supporting launch plans by ensuring readiness, coordinating cross-functional activities, and aligning resources to facilitate successful product launches.
• Monitor progress against timelines and deliverables, escalating issues and recommending solutions to maintain alignment and momentum.
• Facilitate cross functional collaboration to support consistent execution of tactics.

Strategic & Operational Enablement

• Partner with US OBD leaders to translate strategic objectives into integrated program and project plans with defined milestones, metrics, and risks.
• Provide operational thought partnership on prioritization, sequencing, and execution of high impact initiatives and senior leadership requests.
• Support development and maintenance of Product Plans to ensure cross functional alignment.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage program-level budgets, including forecasting, reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Provide regular financial tracking and analysis to support transparency, budget adherence, and informed decision making.
• Prepare and deliver leadership reporting to ensure executive stakeholders to inform on program progress, key risks, and resource utilization.
• Partner with Finance teams to ensure alignment on budget planning, resource allocation, and accurate financial forecasting.
• Monitor progress against timelines and deliverables, escalating issues and recommending solutions to maintain alignment and momentum.
• Facilitate cross functional collaboration to support consistent execution of tactics.

Governance & Cross Functional Coordination

• Drive effective governance by proactively planning and orchestrating leadership and cross functional forums, ensuring robust agenda development, decision tracking, and action management.
• Establish and maintain meeting cadence, decision frameworks, and communication pathways to enable efficient governance.
• Serve as a key point of coordination between US OBD, Global teams, cross functional partners, and alliance counterparts, as applicable.

Operational Excellence & Enablement

• Support implementation of new processes, tools, and ways of working.
• Develop executive ready dashboards, reports, and materials that provide clear visibility into program status, risks, and financial performance.
• Drive consistency, standardization, and continuous improvement
• Lead change management initiatives by guiding teams through transitions, communicating impact, and fostering stakeholder engagement to ensure successful adoption of new processes and tools.

Qualifications

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in any relevant discipline required Master's Degree preferred

Experience Qualifications

• 7 or More Years overall related experience required
• 4 or More Years of project management experience or other related experience required
• 7 or More Years of pharmaceutical or related industry experience with a working knowledge of the medical, scientific, and commercial oncology marketplace preferred
• Experience with budget management required
• Executive level presentations and communications required
• Microsoft Office/Teams required
• Advanced Excel skills required

Travel Requirements

• Up to 10% of the time. No specific physical requirements other than capability to travel

Salary Range

USD$162,400.00 - USD$243,600.00

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.