Associate Director, Medical Affairs Lead- General Medicine

Job Description Responsibilities and Primary Activities Leadership and Management • Recruits, hires and develops talent within the Medical Affairs team. • Creates an empowering, compliant, collaborative, and innovation-focused work environment. • Builds a culture of quality and compliance through training, oversight and collaboration. • Develops and executes the Country Medical Affairs Plans (CMAPs) for the TA, ensuring alignment with global strategy and adherence to relevant regulations and standard operating procedures (SOPs). • Manages the TA portfolio, balancing global and local priorities. • Performs observational field visits with Field Medical Advisors to assess scientific and soft-skill acumen Medical Affairs Management • Oversees the development and execution of CMAPs, including post-licensure research, publication plans, and investigator-initiated studies. • Manages the operating administrative and lifecycle-management budget for the TA. • Supports inspections and audits and provides assistance in answering inquiries by health authorities and internal auditors. • Ensures Field Medical Advisors/MSLs have assigned geographic territories and/or indications aligned with the Medical Affairs Plan • Manages the country-developed Protocol Concept Sheets (PCSs) and supports obtaining regional and global approvals for new local data-generation activities. Collaboration with Internal Stakeholders • Represents V&I in cross-functional teams, collaborating with Global Clinical Development (GCD), Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), and other internal stakeholders. • Provides scientific expertise to commercial product teams, ensuring the scientific and medical value of the company s products. • Fosters collaboration among local marketing teams, market access teams, Regional Directors of Medical Affairs (RDMAs), regional marketing, and Medical Managers to support the TA in achieving local and regional goals. • Ensures correct development of core competencies of Medical Affairs in the team. Engagement with External Stakeholders • Serves as the external interface with key TA stakeholders, professional societies, and the broader scientific community. • Develops and maintains relationships with health-care professionals (HCPs), providers, and academic centers. • Collaborates with market access, regulatory, and commercial colleagues to engage payers, policymakers, and other decision-makers. • Liaises with national and international physicians to establish good relationships and model HCP perception about the company's products. • When needed, engages in scientific exchange to bridge science to clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience Minimum • MD, PhD or PharmD with a minimum of three to five years of clinical, Medical Affairs, and/or research experience in a relevant disease area. • Proven ability to work cross-functionally with various business units and senior leaders. • Strong project management skills with the ability to create and execute complex strategic and operational initiatives. • Demonstrated organizational skills, including goal setting and priority alignment. • Deep experience in the company s therapeutic areas of interest (e.g., Cardiovascular (PAH, Lipids), COPD3, Immunology (IBD, Rheumatology). • at least 2 years of strong leadership skills with documented people-management experience. • Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills. • Ability to work in matrix organizations and manage direct reports. • Experience in the development or field management of interventional/non-interventional studies. • Saudi National is a priority. Preferred • Specialty clinical training (e.g., residency or fellowship). • Previous Medical Affairs experience. • Innovative thinker with the ability to identify and develop novel approaches to tackle daily tasks. • Self-driven and proactive with the ability to deliver as a leader, team member, and individual contributor. • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to synthesize data into actionable business plans. • Experience in project management and leadership potential. • High level of integrity and adherence to ethical standards. • Ability to simplify and convey complex concepts and strategies, orally and in writing. • Strong understanding of the compliance environment in which Medical Affairs functions. • Ability to inspire and motivate team members. Additional location(s) Compensation Information: Required Skills: Clinical Trials, Corporate Ethics, Data Analysis, Global Coordination, Leadership Management, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Strategies, Scientific Publications, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Negotiations, Strategic Planning, Teamwork, Workplace Culture Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE 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: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable Minimum • MD, PhD or PharmD with a minimum of three to five years of clinical, Medical Affairs, and/or research experience in a relevant disease area. • Proven ability to work cross-functionally with various business units and senior leaders. • Strong project management skills with the ability to create and execute complex strategic and operational initiatives. • Demonstrated organizational skills, including goal setting and priority alignment. • Deep experience in the company s therapeutic areas of interest (e.g., Cardiovascular (PAH, Lipids), COPD3, Immunology (IBD, Rheumatology). • at least 2 years of strong leadership skills with documented people-management experience. • Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills. • Ability to work in matrix organizations and manage direct reports. • Experience in the development or field management of interventional/non-interventional studies. • Saudi National is a priority. Preferred • Specialty clinical training (e.g., residency or fellowship). • Previous Medical Affairs experience. • Innovative thinker with the ability to identify and develop novel approaches to tackle daily tasks. • Self-driven and proactive with the ability to deliver as a leader, team member, and individual contributor. • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to synthesize data into actionable business plans. • Experience in project management and leadership potential. • High level of integrity and adherence to ethical standards. • Ability to simplify and convey complex concepts and strategies, orally and in writing. • Strong understanding of the compliance environment in which Medical Affairs functions. • Ability to inspire and motivate team members.