Director Market Access

Merck; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Rahway, NJ, is seeking a Director of Global Market Access to shape and execute the global access strategy for a novel antiviral asset in late-stage development. You will align global, regional and country teams, develop payer value resources, and influence evidence plans to enable timely patient access.

The role requires 8+ years in market access with a global mindset, and a track record leading cross-functional teams in vaccines or infectious diseases. Hybrid work arrangements offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years in pharmaceutical market access, pricing/reimbursement, marketing or health economics.
• Global strategic mindset with strong understanding of access and reimbursement.
• Knowledge and experience in infectious diseases and/or vaccines.
• Strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills; proven success leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and integration of global payer value proposition, global access strategy and negotiation strategies
• Generate and interpret data‑driven insights, including competitive landscape, policy developments, payer and HTA/NITAG insights, and payer environment trends.
• Drive alignment across the portfolio, linking access strategy with clinical, commercial, and evidence development planning.
• Manage access performance reviews, forecasts, and risk/opportunity assessments and ensure alignment between access needs and evidence investment decisions
• Lead development of payer value decks, access tools, and internal training for global and regional teams.
• Coordinate cross‑functional partnerships (Marketing, OR/CORE, Medical Affairs, Policy, Finance) to guide development of economic models, budget impact analyses, real‑world evidence plans, and value narratives.
• Support capability-building across regions by providing strategic guidance, coaching, and issue escalation support on complex access challenges.
• Travel: 25% domestic and international travel.

Skills

Executive Presence

Healthcare Reimbursement

Health Economics

Insight Generation

Market Access

Market Access Strategies

Market Opportunity Analysis

Payer Research

Strategic Planning

Value Propositions

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Job Description

Our Global Market Access (GMAx) organization is dedicated to delivering breakthrough innovations that extend and improve the lives of individuals worldwide. Our focus is on innovation and launch execution excellence, translating scientific advancements into impactful medicines that help people globally. This role presents an exciting opportunity to advance patient access and has a significant impact on our growing vaccines & infectious diseases portfolio.

The Director, Global Market Access, will lead the global access strategy for our company's new acquisition of a potentially first-in-class, long-acting, strain-agnostic antiviral designed to prevent influenza in individuals at higher risk of complications. This acquisition expands and complements our respiratory portfolio and pipeline and is currently in Phase 3 of clinical development. Influenza continues to pose a significant global health threat, causing widespread illness, morbidity and death each year especially in older adults and immunocompromised individuals, such as those with cancer and chronic diseases. The asset offers substantial opportunities to reduce burden of influenza-related complications in high-risk individuals and requires comprehensive go-to-market and segmentation strategy, value proposition, and stakeholder engagement plan to optimize patient access globally.

Director, Global Market Access

is responsible for development of the global market access strategy including the identification and shaping of access risks, opportunities, and long‑term planning. This includes developing payer value resources, and influencing evidence plans to enable timely, broad, and sustainable access for this newly acquired asset. Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Vaccines Access and Pricing Lead, the Director is responsible for driving alignment across global, regional, and country GMAx teams and coordinating with Marketing, OR/CORE, Medical Affairs, Policy, Finance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development and integration of global payer value proposition, global access strategy and negotiation strategies
• Generate and interpret data‑driven insights, including competitive landscape, policy developments, payer and HTA/NITAG insights, and payer environment trends.
• Drive alignment across the portfolio, linking access strategy with clinical, commercial, and evidence development planning.
• Manage access performance reviews, forecasts, and risk/opportunity assessments and ensure alignment between access needs and evidence investment decisions
• Lead development of payer value decks, access tools, and internal training for global and regional teams.
• Coordinate cross‑functional partnerships (Marketing, OR/CORE, Medical Affairs, Policy, Finance) to guide development of economic models, budget impact analyses, real‑world evidence plans, and value narratives.
• Support capability‑building across regions by providing strategic guidance, coaching, and issue escalation support on complex access challenges.

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s degree
• Preferred: MBA or advanced degree

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 8+ years in pharmaceutical market access, pricing/reimbursement, marketing or health economics.
• Global strategic mindset with strong understanding of access and reimbursement
• Knowledge and experience in infectious diseases and or vaccines.
• Knowledgeable about health economic tools and techniques
• Strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills; proven success leading cross‑functional teams.
• Comfort navigating uncertainty, evolving evidence, and heterogeneous payer environments
• Demonstrated ability to understand, develop and communicate scientific based strategies and messages
• Comfort and confidence in working with teams and routinely demonstrates inclusive behaviors; actively seeks out different perspectives and experiences

Travel

25% domestic and international travel

Required Skills

Executive Presence, Healthcare Reimbursement, Health Economics, Insight Generation, Market Access, Market Access Strategies, Market Opportunity Analysis, Payer Research, Strategic Planning, Value Propositions

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 Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights_10_20.pdf)

EEOC GINA Supplement

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/)

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

Employee Status

Regular

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

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

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

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 .