Specialty, Pharma, & Infectious Diseases Competitive Intelligence Team Lead
Merck
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Job summary
Merck is seeking a Strategic Intelligence Team Lead to oversee a high-performing CI group and deliver actionable insights across R&D, Human Health, and Business Development. This role partners with senior stakeholders to inform portfolio investments, product development, and enterprise priorities.
The position emphasizes leadership, governance, and ethical conduct, with a hybrid in-office/remote work model based in PA.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree required (MBA, MS, MD, PhD, or equivalent).
- 15+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical experience with strong people management.
- Strong scientific understanding across therapeutic areas.
- Broad understanding of global pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
- Superior stakeholder management and leadership abilities.
Responsibilities
- Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across R&D and Human Health.
- Develop and communicate strategic plans, priorities, and workstreams that support key decisions.
- Lead and develop a team of Competitive Intelligence Leads and foster a high-performing culture.
- Maintain high standards for quality, compliance, and ethical conduct across CI activities.
- Sponsor and guide Global Competitive Intelligence initiatives and enterprise-wide assessments.
Skills
Education
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Advanced degree (MBA, MS, MD, PhD, or equivalent) required.
- 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.
- 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.
Business Development, Competitive Intelligence (CI), Drug Development, Influence, Innovation, Leadership, Mentoring Staff, Strategic Thinking
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
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.
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.
Regular
Domestic
No
10%
Hybrid
1st - Day
No
n/a
- 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.
R415096
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