Specialty, Pharma, & Infectious Diseases Competitive Intelligence Team Lead

Merck & Co., Inc.; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 256,000 - 403,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. is seeking a strategic Leader for the Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases Competitive Intelligence Team Lead based in Rahway, NJ.

You will guide a team to deliver actionable insights, lead strategic calculations, and influence portfolio decisions across R&D, Human Health, and Enterprise. You will partner with senior stakeholders, manage performance, ensure ethical CI practices, and drive enterprise-wide initiatives.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, MD, PhD, or equivalent) required.
• Strong scientific understanding across therapeutic areas.
• Broad understanding of global pharma/biotech industries and drug development processes.
• Superior stakeholder management and ability to work as an expert team player.
• Demonstrated leadership, influencing, creativity, problem-solving, and managing complexity.
• Ability to build and manage collaborative relationships with senior management.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Build trusted relationships with senior leaders to align CI work with business objectives.
• Strategic Leadership: Develop and communicate strategic plans, priorities, and workstreams for pipeline, commercial, and business development decisions.
• Strategic Leadership: Ensure timely, objective communication of insights and recommendations to stakeholders.
• People Leadership: Lead and develop a team of CI Leads, providing coaching and growth opportunities.
• People Leadership: Set expectations, drive accountability, foster a high-performing, collaborative culture.
• People Leadership: Help team navigate change and evolving priorities.
• Operational Excellence: Prioritize resources against high-value opportunities and ensure quality, compliance, and ethics.
• Enterprise Leadership: Sponsor Global CI initiatives and guide enterprise-wide assessments to enhance decision-making.

Skills

Competitive Intelligence

Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Influence

Mentoring

Business Development

Drug Development

Education

MBA/MS/MD/PhD or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

The Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases Competitive Intelligence Team Lead is responsible for overseeing a team of Competitive Intelligence (CI) professionals who deliver actionable insights, strategic assessments, and competitive intelligence to inform key business decisions across our Research and Development Division (R&D), Human Health, Business Development, and the broader Enterprise.

This leader serves as a trusted strategic partner to senior stakeholders, providing external perspectives, competitive insights, and strategic recommendations that support portfolio investments, product development, commercialization strategies, business development evaluations, and Enterprise priorities. The role is accountable for attracting, developing, and leading a high-performing team while ensuring all competitive intelligence activities are conducted in accordance with corporate policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across R&D and Human Health to understand intelligence needs and align team priorities with business objectives.
• Develop and communicate strategic plans, priorities, and workstreams that support key pipeline, commercial, and business development decisions.
• Ensure timely, objective communication of insights and recommendations to stakeholders.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of Competitive Intelligence Leads, providing coaching, feedback, and growth opportunities.
• Set clear expectations, drive accountability, and foster a high-performing, collaborative culture.
• Help team members navigate change and adapt to evolving business priorities.

Operational Excellence

• Prioritize resources against the highest-value business opportunities and strategic questions.
• Maintain high standards for quality, compliance, and ethical conduct across all competitive intelligence activities.

Enterprise Leadership

• Sponsor and guide Global Competitive Intelligence initiatives, including process improvements, capability development, and evaluation of new tools and technologies.
• Lead cross-therapeutic area and enterprise-wide strategic assessments that enhance organizational decision-making and competitive readiness.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, MD, PhD, or equivalent) required.

Required Experience and Skills:

• 15+ years of experience in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry, with strong people management experience.
• Strong scientific understanding of a range of therapeutic areas.
• Broad understanding of global pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with in-depth knowledge of drug discovery and development processes.
• Superior stakeholder management skills and ability to work as an expert team player.
• Demonstrated leadership, influencing skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and ability to manage complexity.
• Ability to build and manage collaborative relationships, particularly with senior management.

Location/Commute:

• We offer a hybrid work model (combination of in-office 3 days & offsite/remote 2 days). This position cannot be 100% remote.
• Based in Rahway, Upper Gwynedd, PA, or West Point, PA.

Required Skills:

Business Development, Competitive Intelligence (CI), Drug Development, Influence, Innovation, Leadership, Mentoring Staff, Strategic Thinking

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:

Domestic

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:

09/18/2026

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 salary range for this role is
$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

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.