Director, Pharma Pricing Operations & Analytics

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in New Jersey is seeking a Director, Pharma Pricing Operations & Analytics to lead the Pharma Practice Area within Global Pricing Operations. You will partner with senior leaders across Global Market Access, pricing, and finance to translate pricing challenges into actionable analytical plans and strategic insights.

You will manage a team of Associate Directors, oversee pricing analyses including IRP, launch sequencing, and lifecycle price governance, and ensure data quality and compliance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, health economics, or a related analytical field is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical pricing, market access, revenue management, financial analytics, or related functions.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry, with a strong preference for management consulting, global/regional market access, or corporate strategy.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as the single point of accountability and primary strategic partner within GPO for Pharma pricing operations, analytics, and capability needs across launch, inline, and lifecycle priorities.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Global Market Access strategy leads, senior Pharma franchise leaders, regional pricing and access teams, finance and forecasting partners, and digital capability teams.
• Lead the generation of high-impact, data-driven insights and strategic recommendations; deliver compelling presentations to senior leadership to inform optimal execution and decision-making.
• Guide the team's pricing analytics, including International Reference Pricing (IRP) modeling, launch sequencing, lifecycle price erosion, and governance.
• Champion data governance and data quality, ensuring a robust and reliable foundation for all analytics and decision support.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Pricing strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, health economics, or related analytical field

Master's degree or MBA in finance/health economics

Job description

Global Market Access (GMAx) has a single purpose: To save and improve lives by delivering optimal access for our medicines and vaccines across the globe at a price reflective of their value.

Within GMAx, the Global Pricing Operations (GPO) team operates as a strategic, consulting-style partner to the broader organization. This role leads the Pharma Practice Area and serves as GPO's primary strategic partner for Pharma pricing operations, analytics, and capability needs across launch, inline, and lifecycle management priorities.

The Director, Pharma Pricing Operations & Analytics is a senior thought leader responsible for driving value realization from our best-in-class data and capabilities. This role serves as the primary account lead for the Pharma Practice Area, partnering directly with senior leaders across Global Market Access, Pharma franchise teams, regional pricing and access teams, and relevant finance and forecasting partners. The role leverages deep Pharma pricing, access, and portfolio expertise with a consulting mindset to translate complex business challenges into actionable analytical plans, delivering decision support and strategic insights that shape our company's pricing and access strategies.

This individual will lead a team of Associate Directors, guiding their analytical and capability development efforts to ensure GPO provides seamless, high-impact support.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership & Thought Leadership

Act as the single point of accountability and primary strategic partner within GPO for Pharma pricing operations, analytics, and capability needs across launch, inline, and lifecycle priorities.

Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Global Market Access strategy leads, senior Pharma franchise leaders, regional pricing and access teams, finance and forecasting partners, and digital capability teams.

Proactively identify strategic business questions and challenges from stakeholders, translating them into well-defined analytical projects and capability enhancement roadmaps.

Lead the generation of high-impact, data-driven insights and strategic recommendations; deliver compelling presentations to senior leadership to inform optimal execution and decision-making.

Serve as GPO's Pharma pricing and access operations expert, maintaining a deep understanding of Pharma portfolio dynamics, launch sequencing considerations, lifecycle pricing, market access pressures, and international pricing implications.

Team Leadership & People Management

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Associate Directors focused on analysis and capability development.

Manage team resources, oversee project pipelines, and ensure all analytical outputs are of the highest quality, rigor, and strategic value.

Foster a "consulting excellence" culture of curiosity, client service, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement.

Operational & Capability Oversight

Provide strategic direction for the design and execution of complex Pharma pricing analyses, including International Reference Pricing (IRP) modeling, launch sequencing, lifecycle price erosion, gross-to-net and access pathway considerations where relevant, pricing governance, scenario planning, and portfolio-level analytical support.

Guide the team's partnership with Digital Human Health and Digital Product Owners to ensure the development and enhancement of pricing platforms and decision-support capabilities are aligned with the strategic needs of the Pharma Practice Area.

Champion data governance and data quality, ensuring a robust and reliable foundation for all analytics and decision support.

Ensure alignment with all relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies, adhering to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, health economics, or a related analytical field is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical pricing, market access, revenue management, financial analytics, or related functions.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry, with a strong preference for management consulting, global/regional market access, or corporate strategy.
• Demonstrated track record of building, working with, and leading teams in a cross-functional, matrix environment.
• Proven "consulting skills" with the ability to understand stakeholder priorities, manage complex relationships, and influence without authority.
• A strategic thinker with a passion for designing and implementing a long-term vision, comfortable with ambiguity and adaptable in a fluid environment.
• Deep business acumen and understanding of access, reimbursement, HTA, and pricing strategies.
• Self-starting, with an ability to self-organize and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or international equivalent from an accredited university; MBA, MPH, MS in finance, health economics, o