Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations

Merck•North Wales, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a high‑potential launch leader to join our US Human Health Specialty Business Unit as an Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations. This role sits at the center of how we prepare, align, and execute product launches—working across marketing, access, sales, operations, medical, and enterprise partners to ensure our launches are thoughtful, connected, and built for long‑term success. This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and hands-on execution, and who is motivated by seeing the full picture of how launches come together across a complex organization. You’ll gain a front‑row seat to enterprise launch decision‑making, exposure to senior leaders, and experiences that can translate into future roles across marketing, access, sales leadership, operations, and beyond.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field)
5+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical or life sciences industry
Experience working in commercial, launch, or adjacent functions (e.g., marketing, market access, sales operations, commercial operations, strategy)
Ability to on-site at the North Wales (Upper Gwynedd), Pennsylvania office at least 3 days per week
Strong collaboration, communication, and stakeholder‑influencing skills
Demonstrated ability to manage complex work across multiple teams and priorities
Accountability
Adaptability
Agile Project Management
Data-Driven Decision Making
Developing Proposals
Employee Performance Evaluations
Environmental Scanning
Feasibility Studies
Innovation
Leadership
Market Research
Pharmaceutical Market
Portfolio Management
Project Management
Resource Allocation
Risk Management
Strategic Planning
Strategic Thinking

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting or leading product launches
Experience in a Specialty or complex therapeutic area
Background in launch planning, commercialization strategy, or cross‑functional program leadership
Comfort using data and insights to inform decisions and recommendations

Responsibilities

Shape and drive integrated US launch plans across one or more US Pharma and Rare Disease assets, ensuring clarity, alignment, and readiness across functions
Partner with launch teams to translate strategy into executable plans, milestones, and decision points
Provide thought partnership and launch advisory support—helping teams anticipate risks, navigate tradeoffs, and stay focused on what matters most
Serve as a connective tissue across marketing, access, sales, operations, medical, manufacturing, and enterprise partners
Help establish clear launch governance, roles, and operating rhythms to support timely decisions and accountability
Elevate issues, risks, and interdependencies early—offering structured options and recommendations
Oversee launch readiness activities, tracking progress against key milestones and highlighting areas needing attention
Apply strong program management skills to keep complex efforts moving forward in a matrixed environment
Support consistent use of launch tools, frameworks, and best practices while allowing flexibility where needed
Capture learnings from launches and apply them to future efforts
Contribute to the evolution of launch processes, playbooks, and ways of working across US Human Health
Act as a trusted advisor to launch teams—balancing guidance with empowerment

Benefits

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.
More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume