Associate Director, Global Vaccines, Infectious Disease & New Products

MSD•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, New Products is part of the Global Vaccines and Infectious Disease (GVID) organization and is responsible for both in-market brand leadership and pipeline commercial strategy. The role serves as the Global Commercial Lead for the company’s global Ebola vaccine, leading commercial strategy and execution to maximize the product’s public health impact. Responsibilities include brand planning, forecasting, investment and budget management, supply planning, global health partnerships, and engagement with customers, governments, and public health organizations. The Associate Director also serves as Commercial Lead for multiple early-stage vaccine and infectious disease programs. The role shapes commercial strategy throughout development, including target product profiles, priority indications and populations, market opportunity assessments, positioning, forecasting, and evidence requirements. The position partners with Research and Business Development to evaluate new targets, external partnerships, and potential acquisitions. This cross-functional role requires translating scientific, commercial, operational, and external-partner considerations into clear strategies and decisions. The successful candidate will set strategy and own execution, work effectively in ambiguous environments, and influence stakeholders across functions and geographies. The role reports to the Director of Pipeline Strategy and offers exposure across GVID and the opportunity to shape an established global-health brand and the future portfolio. The position is hybrid, with Upper Gwynedd or Philadelphia as the primary location, and requires 10–15% travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS).
At least five years of relevant experience across areas such as global or regional marketing, new products, market access, pricing/reimbursement, health economics, commercial strategy, alliance management, sales, or marketing support.
Demonstrated commercial and business acumen, integrating customer, market, financial, scientific, and operational considerations into clear business recommendations.
Experience developing and executing product or brand strategies and translating strategy into priorities, resources, and execution plans.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives through influence when decision rights are distributed across functions or stakeholders.
Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, project management, and operational execution capabilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including synthesizing complex information and communicating clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous situations, make sound recommendations with incomplete information, and adapt strategy as conditions evolve.
Ability to travel 10–15% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Scientific background in undergraduate or graduate studies, such as life sciences, engineering, epidemiology, MD, RPh, or PharmD.
Master of Business Administration.
Master’s in Public Health, health policy, healthcare economics, or a related discipline.
Global brand or product ownership experience, including forecasting, budget or investment management, brand planning, and cross-functional execution.
Experience with government, global health, or public-private partnerships, or comparable external stakeholders.
Experience supporting contract negotiations, alliance management, or contractual governance involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Experience working across Manufacturing and Supply, including translating forecasts and external commitments into supply considerations.
New Product or clinical-development experience, including target product profiles, indication strategies, commercial assessments, and evidence-generation priorities.
Experience developing product strategies and presenting recommendations in senior leadership governance forums.
Business development, due diligence, licensing, or acquisition-assessment experience.
Competitive scenario planning, simulation exercises, or global business strategy development.
Global, regional, or country marketing experience, particularly in Emerging Markets.
Demonstrated experience operating at the intersection of commercial objectives and public health impact.

Responsibilities

Serve as Global Commercial Lead for the global Ebola vaccine, leading global brand strategy, annual planning, forecasting, investment prioritization, and commercial execution.
Lead cross-functional execution with Manufacturing, Medical Affairs, Policy, Market Access, Finance, Forecasting, Communications, and regional and country teams.
Support engagement with USG, UNICEF, CEPI, and other global health partners, including contract negotiations, partner governance, and delivery of commercial commitments with relevant internal functions.
Partner with Manufacturing and Supply to align demand forecasts, external commitments, and short- and long-term supply requirements.
Serve as Commercial Lead for selected pipeline assets, developing early commercial strategies, including target product profiles, priority indications and populations, positioning, market opportunity assessments, and forecasts.
Support broader GVID portfolio and new-target strategy by contributing commercial, customer, competitive, and market perspectives to pipeline investment and development decisions.
Provide commercial assessments for business development, partnerships, and due diligence, evaluating market opportunity, differentiation, strategic fit, and commercial potential.
Partner with Research, Clinical Development, Manufacturing, Forecasting, Access, Policy, and regional and country teams to develop recommendations and represent the Commercial perspective in governance forums.