Overview

Merck's Digital Human Health (DHH) team is transforming how we engage with and support patients throughout their healthcare journey. We are building a more connected, personalized, and seamless patient experience to help patients benefit from upcoming launch products. Working cross-functionally, we leverage digital, data, and analytics to improve health outcomes and deliver on our patient-first mission.

The Director, Patient Strategy & Innovation Lead reports to the Executive Director, Digital Patient Experience and will lead strategy, engagement, and program management for patient-focused initiatives. This role works in close partnership with the Patient Center of Excellence (CoE) in the US Commercial Excellence & Innovation (CEI) team and US marketing brand teams.

Primary Responsibilities

• •Strategic Leadership & Execution: Lead the strategic development and execution of patient engagement programs, ensuring alignment with broader DHH and Human Health objectives.
• •Partnership & Ecosystem Development: Identify, cultivate, and manage innovative external partnerships that enhance patient support offerings and accelerate digital patient capabilities.
• •Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as the primary liaison between the DHH Patient Capabilities team, the US CEI Patient CoE, and US marketing brand teams to ensure seamless integration and deployment of patient initiatives.
• •Program Management: Oversee end-to-end program management of key patient experience projects, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and against defined success metrics.
• •Future Patient Strategy: Champion patient-centric innovation by gathering internal and external best practices to continuously evolve how the company supports patients throughout their treatment journey. Drive visioning for the evolution of patient strategy and the digital, data, and analytics capabilities needed to enable it.

Required Experience and Skills

• •Bachelor's degree
• •10+ years of relevant experience in patient support, patient engagement, digital health strategy, program management, or commercial operations within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare industry
• •5+ years of experience managing complex, cross-functional programs or teams in a highly matrixed environment
• •Proven track record of developing and executing strategic patient engagement or marketing initiatives
• •Strong understanding of the US healthcare ecosystem, including patient support programs, access, and reimbursement dynamics
• •Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority across brand and enterprise teams

Preferred Experience and Skills

• •Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MPH)
• •Prior experience working within or closely partnering with a commercial patient support Center of Excellence (CoE)
• •Demonstrated experience evaluating, negotiating, and managing digital health partnerships or vendor relationships
• •Familiarity with agile methodologies and digital product development lifecycles

Compensation and Work Arrangements

• •Salary range: $173,200 - $272,600 annually
• •Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive
• •Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement (401k), paid holidays, vacation, and sick days
• •Hybrid work arrangement
• •Travel requirement: 10%
• •No relocation assistance
• •No visa sponsorship