Director, US Public Policy

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement benefits (401(k))

Paid holidays

Job summary

MSD in Washington, DC is seeking a Director of U.S. Public Policy to lead policy development for vaccines and our investigational long-acting influenza antiviral.

The role requires legal analysis and collaboration across medical, legal, and commercial teams in a highly matrixed organization, with hybrid work arrangements. You will translate complex policy developments into actionable recommendations for senior leaders, engage with government officials and stakeholder groups, and shape strategies

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree required.
• At least seven years of relevant experience in public policy, government, public affairs, a trade association, a patient or provider organization, consulting, or the biopharmaceutical sector.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. public policy and the legislative, regulatory, and administrative policymaking processes at the federal and/or state level.
• Experience addressing public health matters and the ability to lead policy work on vaccines and on a long‑acting antiviral influenza product while contributing to broader public policy issues, including pricing, reimbursement, and patient access.
• Sound judgment and strong legal research, analysis, and drafting skills, with the ability to work through unfamiliar issues, develop practical recommendations, and collaborate effectively with legal counsel and subject‑matter experts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and high‑level external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working across culturally teams and matrixed teams with a high degree of collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy development and execution for vaccines and for our company's investigational long-acting influenza antiviral; monitor and assess related federal, regulatory, and administrative developments across public health, prevention, access, coverage, reimbursement, and health-system infrastructure.
• Work with the team to support legal analysis of issues across the public policy portfolio, in coordination with the issue lead and legal counsel, as needed, including pricing, reimbursement, access, intellectual property, and oversight.
• Develop evidence-based company policy positions, comment letters, and other policy submissions, integrating public health evidence, legal analysis, and business considerations in partnership with cross-functional colleagues.
• Translate complex policy developments into clear insights, implications, options, and recommendations for senior policy and business leaders.
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities and develop proactive strategies to advance or protect priority policy outcomes.
• Build and maintain relationships with government officials, public health organizations, patient and provider groups, policy organizations, and other partners, and represent our company in trade association and coalition meetings.
• Lead cross-functional policy workstreams from strategy through execution, including workplans, decision points, stakeholder roles, budgets, and measures of progress or impact.
• Manage policy research, consultants, and other resources that strengthen policy development, thought leadership, and advocacy strategies.

Skills

Healthcare Policies

Public Health

Policy Analysis

Policy Development

Public Policies

Regulatory Development

Strategic Planning

Strategic Thinking

Political Forums

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree

Job description

Job Description Job Description Our company is committed to being the premier, research-intensive biopharmaceutical company and is dedicated to providing leading innovations and solutions for today and the future. Our company’s Global Policy and Public Affairs (GPP) organization works with policymakers, public health leaders, patient and provider organizations, trade associations, coalitions, and other stakeholders to advance public policies that support innovation and improve patient access to medicines and vaccines. The U.S. Federal Policy and Government Relations team within GPP is seeking a public policy leader with a law degree and experience in public health matters to serve as Director, U.S. Public Policy. The Director will lead policy development and execution for vaccines and for our company's investigational long-acting influenza antiviral (a non‑vaccine approach to influenza) and provide legal and policy analysis across the broader public policy portfolio, including access, oversight, intellectual property, research and development, etc. The successful candidate will combine broad public policy knowledge, public health experience, and strong legal analysis and drafting skills to develop practical recommendations and build alignment across a highly matrixed organization, including colleagues in medical, commercial, legal and other subject‑matter experts.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead policy development and execution for vaccines and for our company's investigational long-acting influenza antiviral; monitor and assess related federal, regulatory, and administrative developments across public health, prevention, access, coverage, reimbursement, and health‑system infrastructure. Work with the team to support legal analysis of issues across the public policy portfolio, in coordination with the issue lead and legal counsel, as needed, including pricing, reimbursement, access, intellectual property, and oversight. Develop evidence‑based company policy positions, comment letters, and other policy submissions, integrating public health evidence, legal analysis, and business considerations in partnership with cross‑functional colleagues. Translate complex policy developments into clear insights, implications, options, and recommendations for senior policy and business leaders. Identify emerging risks and opportunities and develop proactive strategies to advance or protect priority policy outcomes. Build and maintain relationships with government officials, public health organizations, patient and provider groups, policy organizations, and other partners, and represent our company in trade association and coalition meetings. Lead cross‑functional policy workstreams from strategy through execution, including workplans, decision points, stakeholder roles, budgets, and measures of progress or impact. Manage policy research, consultants, and other resources that strengthen policy development, thought leadership, and advocacy strategies.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree required.
• At least seven years of relevant experience in public policy, government, public affairs, a trade association, a patient or provider organization, consulting, or the biopharmaceutical sector.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. public policy and the legislative, regulatory, and administrative policymaking processes at the federal and/or state level.
• Experience addressing public health matters and the ability to lead policy work on vaccines and on a long‑acting antiviral influenza product while contributing to broader public policy issues, including pricing, reimbursement, and patient access.
• Sound judgment and strong legal research, analysis, and drafting skills, with the ability to work through unfamiliar issues, develop practical recommendations, and collaborate effectively with legal counsel and subject‑matter experts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and high‑level external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working across culturally teams and matrixed teams with a high degree of collaboration.

Required Skills:

• Healthcare Policies
• Patient Advocacy
• Policy Analysis
• Policy Development
• Political Forums
• Public Health
• Public Policies
• Regulatory Development
• Strategic Planning
• Strategic Thinking

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 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

The primary location for this posting is: USA - District of Columbia - Washington DC (Pennsylvania Ave)

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

$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.

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 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: 11/18/2026 *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.

Our company is 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.