Associate Director Portfolio AI Activation

MSD • Rahway, NJ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, AI Activation & Commercial Analytics is part of the AI Activation team within Digital Human Health (DHH), supporting the Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases business units. This role applies pharmaceutical commercial analytics, data science, and emerging AI to address brand, marketing, and field needs and improve business decisions. The Associate Director partners with brand, marketing, Market Engagement (ME), sales planning, data, and technology teams to turn data into actionable insights, shape relevant AI use cases, and encourage adoption of solutions with measurable value.

The role leads advanced analytics and data science work, including launch-readiness analyses, targeting and segmentation, predictive modeling, and impact measurement. It also brings commercial context and data expertise to broader DHH AI initiatives, supports targeted AI pilots, and helps ensure that analytics and AI work is responsible, compliant, and useful to commercial teams.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare commercial analytics, marketing analytics, or data science, with a record of supporting brand and marketing teams.
• Strong expertise in machine learning and statistics applied to commercial questions such as HCP targeting, segmentation, predictive modeling, and promotional impact measurement.
• Deep knowledge of pharmaceutical commercial data, including claims, prescription and sales, CRM, and HCP- and patient-level data, as well as the commercial model, including brand, launch, market access, and field force.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL, and/or R, and experience with data and analytics platforms such as Databricks or Dataiku.
• Hands-on experience applying AI, such as generative AI or LLM-based tools, to analytics workflows, and a strong interest in developing AI expertise.
• Ability to translate complex analyses into clear, decision-ready recommendations that influence senior leaders.
• Ability to align brand, ME, and cross-functional stakeholders, drive adoption of analytics and AI solutions, and manage scope with sound judgment.
• People and/or matrix leadership experience, including leading cross-functional teams, global collaborators, and external partners.
• Strong project management skills; resilience and adaptability; ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Statistics, Decision Science, Engineering, Public Health, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Skills listed include Analytics Insights, Business Decisions, Business Intelligence (BI), Clinical Analytics, Complex Analysis, Data Analysis Tools, Database Design, Databricks Unified Data Analytics Platform, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Standards, Data Visualization, Decision Analysis, Decision Theory, Insight Generation, Machine Learning, Model Driven Design, Portfolio Management, Predictive Analytics, Python, Software Development, SQL Databases, and Stakeholder Relationship Management.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced analytics and data science projects addressing priority brand and marketing questions, including HCP targeting, customer segmentation, tiering, and promotional response.
• Drive launch readiness for products and indications through market and patient opportunity sizing, HCP universe definition and targeting, and early launch performance tracking.
• Develop and apply machine learning and statistical models, including predictive and propensity models, clustering, response modeling, forecasting, and causal inference, using pharmaceutical commercial data.
• Translate analytic outputs into clear, decision-ready insights and recommendations for brand leadership, marketing, and field teams.
• Partner with brand, marketing, ME, and sales planning teams to frame business questions, define success metrics, and measure the impact of commercial initiatives.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on pharmaceutical commercial data sources, including claims, prescription and sales, CRM/call activity, and HCP- and patient-level data, and advise on their strengths, limitations, and appropriate use.
• Identify AI opportunities grounded in business needs and support targeted AI pilots, such as targeting support, forecast validation, and barrier analysis.
• Bring business context and data expertise to DHH-wide AI initiatives, bridging brand and technical teams to support usability and adoption.
• Ensure analytics and AI work meets data privacy, compliance, and governance standards.
• Build data and AI literacy across commercial teams.
• Align brand, ME, and cross-functional stakeholders on priorities, drive solution adoption, and manage scope with sound judgment.
• Lead cross-functional teams, global collaborators, and external partners as needed.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, healthcare, and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, compassionate days, and sick days.
• Eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior