Associate Director US Oncology Marketing, Patient Engagement Strategy - Individualized Neoantigen therapy

MSD; North Wales (Montgomery County); Hybrid; USD 157,000 - 247,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD, based in the United States, seeks an Associate Director to lead Patient Engagement Strategy Marketing in US Oncology. The role focuses on adherence optimization, patient and caregiver voice, and proactive journey design from consideration to conversion.

Hybrid work with a strong emphasis on cross‑functional collaboration and data‑driven insights. You will shape PSP transitions, refine digital touchpoints, and align commercial messaging with patient needs.

Qualifications

• 5+ Consumer/Patient marketing, patient engagement within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or Agency experience.

Responsibilities

• Adherence Strategy: design, launch, and optimize adherence strategies across segments.
• In‑Office Strategy: drive patient consideration to conversion with shared decision‑making.
• Web Strategy: develop a patient‑first digital ecosystem with behavioral insights.
• Future Indications: map patient journey for pipeline indications and launch readiness.

Skills

Engagement Strategies

Market Research

Oncology Marketing

Patient Adherence

Patient Engagement

Strategic Thinking

Strategy Development

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Job description

Job Description Associate Director Patient Engagement Strategy Marketing

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 Strategy, the Associate Director, US Oncology Marketing, Patient Engagement Strategy will develop and drive patient and caregiver engagement, transparency and shared decision making across the patient journey from consideration to conversion. This role will optimize patient support program (PSP) transitions, amplify the authentic voice of the patient, drive adherence strategy while also preparing early patient journey and insights for future pipeline indications. The ideal candidate brings a passion for patient-centric marketing, is an insight-driven strategist who can navigate ambiguity, influence across different stakeholder groups, and connect patient needs to business priorities in a highly matrixed environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Adherence Strategy: Design, launch, and optimize cross-functional adherence and persistency strategy, and ensure alignment across customer segments and partners as an overall champion for adherence. Develop customer‑centric strategies to help transform the patient experience and drive adherence by optimizing the customer experience framework offerings, address treatment drop‑off, and proactively manage treatment expectations.
• In‑Office Strategy: Deliver strategies to help drive patients from consideration to conversion in office including shared decision‑making frameworks, point of care educational ecosystem, and HCP to Patient engagement support.
• Alignment and Coordination with Patient Support Strategy: Ensure seamless transition to enrollment into PSP. Support team with insights and educational design to incorporate into PSP building confidence from treatment start to treatment completion.
• Web Strategy: Orchestrate the branded web ecosystem strategy, patient touchpoints, and patient‑first digital engagement strategies. Lead the vision to develop an intuitive, empathetic, and health‑literate digital consumer ecosystem incorporating behavioral insights to ensure patients, their families, and caregivers receive timely, compassionate, and actionable guidance at every phase of their treatment journey.
• Patient Ambassador Strategy: Define and shape how patients experience and engage with our brand ensuring authentic patient voices educate others.
• Patient Advocacy & Medical Patient Engagement Liaison: Incorporate insights (where permissible) to inform commercial messaging, campaign relevance, and resource design. Monitor emerging trends, unmet needs, and advocacy landscape dynamics within melanoma.
• Global Communications Liaison & Social Listening: Partner with Global Communications lead to align brand strategy and initiatives to media opportunities and milestones. Lead consumer brand social listening streams to monitor patient sentiment, emotional burdens, and unmet community needs.
• Future Indications: Partner with global team to map patient journey, identify unmet needs, and shape launch readiness frameworks for forthcoming pipeline indications.

Required Experience

• 5+ Consumer/Patient marketing, patient engagement within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or Agency experience.
• Proven track record in developing and executing consumer campaigns, digital and social strategies, DTC channels, omnichannel patient experiences.
• A growth mindset, strong collaboration, and business agility.
• Strong leadership, problem solving, teamwork, analytical, written/verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority, navigating complex or matrix organizations and working successfully with cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, execute, anticipate challenges.
• Strong measurement and ROI framework experience; data‑driven optimization.
• Demonstrated cross‑functional leadership and senior‑stakeholder influence in a matrixed organization.
• High Legal/Compliance IQ; experience operating within regulatory constraints.
• Patient‑Centric Mindset: Deep empathy and commitment to enhancing patient and caregiver experiences throughout difficult diagnostic and treatment journeys.

Preferred Skills

Experience in the commercialization of complex therapies, including high‑touch specialty products (e.g., bispecific antibodies, cell and gene therapies, radioligand therapies) is strongly preferred.

Education

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS).
• MBA required.
• Advanced degree (MBA) preferred.

Position location

• Upper Gwynedd, PA (preferred) OR Remote.

Required Skills

• Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, Engagement Strategies, Market Research, Oncology Marketing, Patient Adherence, Patient Engagement, Strategic Thinking, Strategy Development.

Employee Status

• Regular
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: 10%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): NA

Compensation and Benefits

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below. The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $156,900.00 - $247,000.00. 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.

EEO Statement

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. 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.

Job Posting End Date

10/31/2026 (Job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date.)

We are a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.