Oncology Brand & Customer Manager - SA & SSA

MSD; Midrand; Sur place; ZAR 900 000 - 1 500 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Merck & Co., Inc. in South Africa seeks an Oncology Brand & Customer Manager to shape brand strategy, drive cross-functional alignment, and ensure launch excellence across Oncology portfolios.

You will deliver customer-centric programs, tailor global materials for local relevance, and manage budgets to support brand performance. You will collaborate with Sales, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory, CDx, and Communications teams to execute cohesive strategies and optimize market impact, travel as

Qualifications

• Relevant commercial or health sciences degree.
• Minimum 5 years of pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Multinational pharmaceutical company experience.
• Strong understanding of the South African pharmaceutical market and regulatory environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, initiative, and problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities, and deliver against deadlines.

Responsabilités

• Lead formulation and execution of Oncology brand strategies.
• Drive brand growth, market preparation, and launches.
• Align brand plans with global/regional strategies; tailor materials for local relevance.
• Deliver the full marketing strategy and tactical plans to meet performance expectations.
• Forecast and monitor performance; adjust strategies based on market insights.
• Manage promotional and brand budgets to maximize ROI and sustain brand health.
• Analyze the local and regional oncology market for opportunities and risks.
• Understand and articulate the full Customer Buying Process for segmentation and targeting.
• Lead and align cross‑functional teams—Sales, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory, CDx, Communications—to cohesive execution.
• Coordinate with the Sales Force to ensure rollout and execution of marketing strategies.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to foster partnerships that boost brand performance.
• Develop innovative, customer‑centric programs for preferred channels and needs.
• Explore digital‑first ways of interacting with customers.
• Develop and execute scientific leader engagement plans across markets.
• Prepare tactical components including marketing tactics, channel mix, promotions, and resource plans.
• Track initiatives, manage budgets, and support reporting and business information systems.
• Travel locally, regionally and internationally as needed to support business needs.

Connaissances

Adaptability

Brand Management

Competitor Analysis

Content Creation

Customer Insights

Customer-Oriented

Data Analysis

Digital Marketing

Event Planning

Market Research

Oncology Marketing

Product Management

Strategic Thinking

Formation

Relevant commercial or health sciences degree

Description du poste

Job Description We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. As an Oncology Brand & Customer Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping brand strategy, leading cross-functional alignment, ensuring launch excellence, and delivering innovative customer‑centric initiatives that support our mission of advancing prevention and treatment of disease through leading‑edge science.

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation, execution, and continuous optimization of brand strategies for the Oncology portfolio (selected indications and other brands as needed) .
• Drive brand growth, market preparation, and launch excellence for new product introductions.
• Ensure alignment of brand plans with global and regional marketing strategies, customizing global materials for local relevance.
• Deliver the full marketing strategy and tactical plans, ensuring they meet performance expectations across the portfolio.
• Forecast and monitor performance, adjusting strategies based on market insights and in‑market performance metrics.
• Manage promotional and brand-related budgets, ensuring resource allocation maximizes ROI and supports financial health of the brands.
• Analyze the local and regional oncology market, identifying commercial opportunities and risks.
• Understand and articulate the full Customer Buying Process, enabling effective segmentation, targeting, and engagement.
• Lead and align cross‑functional teams—including Sales, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory, CDx, Communications, and others—to ensure cohesive execution of brand and franchise strategies.
• Coordinate with the Sales Force to ensure successful rollout and execution of marketing and promotional strategies.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders professionally, fostering strong partnerships that enhance brand performance.
• Develop and deliver innovative, customer‑centric programs aligned to preferred customer channels and needs.
• Seek new, creative, and digital‑first ways of interacting with customers.
• Develop and execute scientific leader (SL) engagement plans across relevant markets.
• Prepare and deliver key tactical components including marketing tactics, channel mix, promotional activities, and resource plans.
• Track local and regional initiatives, manage budgets, and oversee reporting and business information systems required to support marketing and sales activities.
• Travel locally, regionally and internationally as needed to support business needs.

Qualifications Required

• Relevant commercial or health sciences degree.
• Minimum 5 years of pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Multinational pharmaceutical company experience.
• Strong understanding of the South African pharmaceutical market and regulatory environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, initiative, and problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities, and deliver against deadlines.

Preferred

• Oncology sales or marketing background.
• Regional SSA market experience.
• Digital marketing qualification or advanced digital capability.
• Market access experience.
• Understanding of French (advantageous).
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and customer‑centric skills.

Required Skills:

• Adaptability
• Brand Management
• Competitor Analysis
• Content Creation
• Customer Insights
• Customer‑Oriented
• Data Analysis
• Digital Marketing
• Event Planning
• Market Research
• Oncology Marketing
• Product Management
• Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

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Employee Status: Regular Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s): Job Posting End Date: 11/10/2026 *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.