Director, Oncology Global Communications – Hematology

Merck; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) Retirement benefits

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, seeks a seasoned communications leader to develop integrated programs for the hematology portfolio, including five pipeline assets and near-term product launches. You will shape strategic external communications across media, data milestones, regulatory decisions and launches.

You will partner with R&D, Investor Relations, Commercial, Policy and Market Access to plan and execute crises communications,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum eight years in a communications/public relations role in pharma or related fields.
• Hematology/oncology product communications experience preferred but not required.
• Strong written/oral communication across multiple channels under time pressure.
• Experience guiding disease awareness, product communications, and regulatory milestones.
• Ability to translate complex science into clear, persuasive storytelling for diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to counsel senior leaders and collaborate cross-functionally.
• Experience in issues management, scenario planning, and crisis response.
• Strong project management and budget/agency oversight skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated communications programs for the hematology portfolio, including five pipeline assets.
• Provide strategic external communications across press releases, media materials, and digital content with emphasis on data milestones and regulatory decisions.
• Lead strategic planning with cross-functional partners including R&D, IR, Commercial, Policy and Market Access.
• Develop communications strategies to build the company’s hematology reputation aligned with corporate narrative and priorities.
• Anticipate issues and lead crisis and issues management in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Create and execute programs for regions and subsidiaries worldwide; advise regional teams on franchise communications.
• Liaise with third-party groups and external experts to advance disease education and patient-centered communications.
• Collaborate with PR agencies and manage related budgets; supervise direct reports in the hematology portfolio.

Skills

Brand Awareness

Content Creation

Crisis Communication Management

Digital Communications

Executive Presence

Internal Communications

Media Campaigns

Media Relations

Medical Communications

Public Affairs Strategies

Public Speaking

Social Media Strategies

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

Responsibilities include but will not be limited to the following key activities:

• Develop and implement integrated communications programs and strategies for our company’s hematology portfolio and near-term product launches, including five pipeline assets.
• Provide strategic external communications support across the hematology portfolio, including press releases, media materials, executive thought leadership, medical meeting communications, and social and digital content; heavy emphasis on data communications (scientific and data milestones, regulatory decisions and approval and launch communications).
• Lead strategic planning and execution of communications in partnership with cross-functional colleagues, including our Research & Development Division, Investor Relations, Commercial, Policy and Market Access.
• Responsible for developing and executing communication strategies to establish our company’s reputation in hematology, aligned with the company’s corporate narrative, Global Oncology business strategy and key business priorities.
• Anticipate issues and prepare crisis and issues management communications for the hematology portfolio in partnership with cross-functional colleagues.
• Develop and execute communications strategies, programs and materials for use by our company’s regions and subsidiaries worldwide; help advise regions and subsidiaries for franchise and product communications issues.
• Serve as a liaison to third party groups (including advocacy organizations) and external experts (including researchers) to advance disease education and patient-centered communications programs.
• Work directly with public relations agencies and help manage related budgets.
• Manage direct report supporting our company’s hematology portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• A minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in a communications or public relations role within the pharmaceutical or a related industry (hospital, public health, etc.)
• Hematology/oncology product communications experience strongly preferred but not required.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills across a variety of mediums/channels (e.g., print, digital, presentation), with the demonstrated ability to develop clear, persuasive materials under time pressure.
• Experience leading disease awareness, product communications, scientific communications, and/or approval and launch landmarks in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific information into clear, concise, and compelling communications and storytelling efforts across a variety of mediums (print, digital, social and visual) and audiences in both branded and unbranded communications.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with demonstrated ability to counsel and build trusted relationships with senior leaders and diverse cross-functional partners.
• Experience in proactive issues identification, scenario planning and issues or crisis management.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to juggle multiple tasks and competing priorities.
• Team player, collaborative spirit, ability to succeed in a fast-paced, high-visibility role.
• Budget and agency management experience.

Required Skills

Brand Awareness, Content Creation, Crisis Communication Management, Digital Communications, Executive Presence, Internal Communications, Media Campaigns, Media Relations, Medical Communications, Public Affairs Strategies, Public Speaking, Social Media Strategies, Stakeholder Engagement

Preferred Skills

Communications Strategy, External Communication

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.

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

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Job Posting End Date

• 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.

Requisition ID:

R421215

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.