Senior Director, Payer & Health Systems Medical Affairs

Merck; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 210,000 - 331,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Senior Director, Team Lead for US Medical Affairs, Payor & Health Systems. You will lead a field-based team of PHS Medical Affairs Directors, shaping strategy, coaching staff, and ensuring execution of medical activities aligned with USMA priorities.

You will oversee account planning across payer and IDN segments, coordinate with HQ and commercial teams, and drive scientific engagement while maintaining compliance with regulations and company policies.

Qualifications

• Advanced health-care/science doctoral degree (e.g., MD, PharmD, PhD).
• Three (3) years in customer-facing, field medical-affairs role or relevant experience.
• Deep knowledge of health-systems environment (payers, IDNs), as well as principles and processes of medical account management.
• Thorough knowledge of U.S. health-care delivery-system structure and function and population health.
• Embrace an AI-first mindset by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools and demonstrating a willingness to learn and implement new approaches, without requiring deep technical expertise.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong teamwork capabilities (including the ability to lead across a full product portfolio and multiple customer segments).
• Strong track record of effective development and management of multiple cross-functional leadership relationships.
• Strong personal integrity, collaborative mindset, business acumen, and customer focus.
• Thorough understanding of the U.S. regulatory entity, local regulatory agencies, and other ethical guidelines relevant to the pharmaceutical industry to ensure compliance with all external and internal guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and work effectively in a constantly changing environment and to motivate a team to do the same.
• Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access) and ability to interface effectively with a variety of technical platforms for the collection, review and dissemination of medical information and team execution.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages a team of field-based health systems Medical Affairs professionals.
• Oversees performance management, development plans, and field coaching for PHS MADs.
• Directs portfolio launches and in-line medical affairs plans with MAP alignment.
• Provides insights to HQ from internal and external stakeholders across health-systems.
• Coordinates with Commercial and GMVC leadership to oversee medical account plans.
• Collaborates with Commercial to ensure national and regional medical account coverage.
• Maintains macro view of healthcare landscape to allocate MA resources.
• Facilitates communication with senior HQ leadership for national/regional accounts.
• Represents PHS in internal cross-functional work streams.
• Ensures compliance with regulations and company policies in the field.

Skills

Clinical Research

Healthcare Education

Health Care Systems

Medical Knowledge

Payer Reimbursement

People Management

Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs

Scientific Communications

Scientific Exchange

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Advanced health-care/science doctoral degree

Job description

Merck is seeking a Senior Director, Team Lead for US Medical Affairs, Payor & Health Systems. You will lead a field-based team of PHS Medical Affairs Directors, shaping strategy, coaching staff, and ensuring execution of medical activities aligned with USMA priorities.

You will oversee account planning across payer and IDN segments, coordinate with HQ and commercial teams, and drive scientific engagement while maintaining compliance with regulations and company policies.