Director, Launch Lead, Animal Health

Merck Gruppe - MSD Sharp & Dohme; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Gruppe - MSD Sharp & Dohme seeks a Director, Launch Lead to drive end-to-end launch strategy and cross-functional coordination for animal health products. You will mobilize a global Launch Squad, align stakeholders, and manage risk across pre-NPDP through post-launch phases.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Launch Excellence & Portfolio Management, you will ensure a single view of launch readiness, performance, and timelines, partnering with R&D, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead through influence in a global, matrixed organization.
• Ability to connect product strategy with regulatory, supply, and commercial priorities.
• Experience supporting or leading product launches in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end launch strategy and planning across cross-functional teams.
• Establish governance, transparency, and performance measures for launch readiness.
• Coordinate global, regional, and market inputs to ensure integrated, realistic plans.

Skills

Enterprise Leadership

Strategic Acumen

Launch Excellence

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Director, Launch Lead is a key member of the Global Launch Excellence and Portfolio Management team within Global Commercial Operations. The team enables end-to-end launch excellence and portfolio management across Livestock and Companion Animal species.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Launch Excellence & Portfolio Management, this role leads the integrated planning, coordination, and performance management of priority our Company 's Animal Health product launches. The Director will mobilize a cross-functional Launch Squad, align global and regional stakeholders around a single launch plan, anticipate and resolve risks, and provide leadership with a clear view of launch readiness and performance from pre-NPDP approval through one to two years after initial market launch.

Core Launch Squad members typically include:

• Research & Development: R&D Project Lead.
• Regulatory: Global Regulatory Affairs Lead.
• Manufacturing and Supply: BTS/PTS Lead and Value Chain Project Lead.
• Marketing and Commercial Readiness: Global Franchise, Regional, and Market Leads.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Launch Strategy and Planning: Develop and maintain the product-specific strategic launch plan using the Launch Excellence blueprint. Translate the product strategy into integrated cross-functional milestones, deliverables, decision points, and market-readiness requirements from pre-NPDP approval through post-launch performance.
• Governance, Transparency, and Performance Management: Establish a single, transparent view of launch readiness and post-launch performance. Monitor milestones and KPIs, surface interdependencies and risks, drive timely resolution, and escalte material issues through the appropriate governance bodies. Oversee Launch Control Tower tracking and provide concise, decision-focused updates to Global Species Leads, functional leaders, and the Animal Health Leadership Team.
• Cross-Functional Leadership and Stakeholder Management: Lead the Launch Squad and engage subject-matter experts as needed to ensure alignment, accountability, and effective decision-making. Build trusted relationships across functions and regions, establish productive operating rhythms, and serve as a strategic advisor to the leadership on launch priorities, trade-offs, and issue resolution.

More Specific Responsibilities

• Apply the Launch Excellence toolkit and maintain the Pre-Launch Blueprint as the single source of truth for launch status, decisions, risks, and dependencies.
• Plan and facilitate launch governance forums, including Launch Squad meetings, ambition-setting sessions, and leadership reviews.
• Drive accountability across Launch Squad leads and their teams to deliver agreed business outcomes on time and with executional excellence.
• Coordinate global, regional, and market inputs to ensure launch plans are integrated, realistic, and responsive to changing conditions.
• Lead launch risk identification, mitigation planning, issue resolution, and escalation to protect launch timing, value, and strategic objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across Animal Health, including senior leaders and members of the Animal Health Leadership Team.
• Continuously strengthen launch excellence capabilities, tools, governance, and ways of working based on launch experience and organizational needs.
• Provide direction to project managers and other contributors supporting Launch Squads to ensure consistent planning, transparency, and coordination.

Required Skills and Experience

• Enterprise Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a complex, global, and matrixed organization, including effective engagement with senior executives.
• Strategic and Commercial Acumen: Ability to connect product strategy, science, regulatory requirements, supply considerations, and commercial priorities to shape executable launch plans.
• Launch Excellence: Significant experience supporting or leading product