Market Access & External Affairs Director

Job Description THE OPPORTUNITY Position Objective 主要目的

We are seeking an experienced, strategically minded Director of Market Access & External Affairs to lead integrated short‑ and long‑term access and external affairs strategies that ensure timely patient access to our innovative medicines and vaccines. This role owns reimbursement strategy and execution, aligns access planning with unmet needs for patients, HCPs and public‑health, and leads external affairs to shape policy environments that support innovation and equitable care.

The successful leader will combine deep payer engagement experience, commercial acumen, and public‑policy influence to deliver sustainable coverage, affordability and uptake.

• Develop and lead short‑, mid‑ and long‑term access strategies for assigned portfolios, aligning reimbursement, pricing, tender management, contracting and launch sequencing to maximize patient reach and commercial sustainability.

• Translate clinical and real‑world unmet needs into prioritized access objectives and measurable tactical plans.

• Define reimbursement pathways and payer segmentation to support market entry decisions.

• Own end‑to‑end reimbursement delivery: HTA/dossier strategy, pricing positioning, payer negotiations, submission management and post‑listing coverage maintenance.

• Ensure operational excellence in HTA/dossier preparation, pricing strategy and payer engagement through team development and clear processes.

• Build a high‑performing team, develop talents and capabilities for future business growth.

• Lead, mentor and scale the Market Access & External Affairs team; embed market access capability across functions and establish performance governance, KPIs and reporting.

• Lead cross‑functional launch teams to ensure integrated access execution.

• Synthesize payer intelligence, market insights and HEOR evidence to inform negotiation tactics, portfolio decisions and stakeholder engagement.

• Develop and execute stakeholder engagement and advocacy plans that mobilize clinicians, patient advocates and system leaders while ensuring full compliance with local regulations and company policies.

• Ensure HTA/dossier work, payer negotiations and contracting follow legal, regulatory and ethical standards; incorporate governance to track time‑to‑coverage, uptake, contract outcomes and value realization.

• BA/BS with a master’s degree in public health/epidemiology, health policy, or health economics.

• Minimum 5 years of Reimbursement Market Access experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in team leadership role

• Demonstrated ability to identify optimal reimbursement pathways consistent with the brand strategy in a rapidly evolving market access landscape.

• Strong leadership skills and ability to collaborate across the organization.

• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiating, and conflict resolution skills.

• Critical thinking with track record of turn‑around experience

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and project management skills.

• Track record in policy shaping, public affairs or external affairs roles, including engagement with government, multilateral organizations, or patient advocacy groups.

• Proven experience implementing outcomes‑based contracts, annuity models or other innovative financing solutions.

• Familiarity with compliance requirements for stakeholder engagement and transparency reporting.

• Experience across multiple markets is a plus.

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the…