Directeur(trice) associé(e), Affaires médicales /Associate Director, Medical Affairs

MSD • Kirkland, QC

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Medical Services, is a key leadership role within Medical Affairs, responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of Medical Services, including Designated Points of Contact (DPOC), medical review, and related governance activities to drive the successful achievement of the department’s vision, mission, and objectives. This role is accountable for the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and patient-centric medical processes while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement. The incumbent plays a critical role in shaping Medical Affairs strategy through coaching, active participation in the Medical & Scientific Affairs Leadership Team (MALT), cross-regional leadership forums, and collaboration with Global Medical Operations. The Associate Director will lead a high-performing team, foster cross-functional alignment, and ensure readiness in a complex and evolving regulatory environment. The role oversees a team of four (4) and manages key external vendors supporting DPOC operations.

Requirements

• University degree in Pharmacy with a valid license to practice pharmacy in Quebec.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry within medical affairs, medical information or related functions required and ideally a minimum of 2 years of people management experience.
• Practical knowledge in a clinical setting, i.e., working in pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, in close contact with patients and/or healthcare professionals.
• Excellent knowledge or PAAB Code of Advertising Acceptance, Innovative Medicines Canada Code of Ethical Practices, Health Canada Requirements, Corporate requirements (including those related to Pharmacovigilance, Quality Operations, Global Medical Scientific Affairs, etc.)
• Experience in vendor management, audit readiness, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent written / oral communication skills in both French and English.
• Strong personal integrity and high ethical standards.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and work effectively in a constantly changing environment
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving and analytical skills, with ability to innovate with practical solutions for complex issues
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, strategic thinking, people development, analysis, continuous improvement and innovative mindset.
• Ability to work independently while escalating risks and issues as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Ideally a minimum of 2 years of people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Medical Services team of four team members, fostering engagement, accountability, and continuous development and growth (i.e., mid- and year-end reviews, ongoing feedback, talent management, succession planning, recruitment and retention)
• Drive strategic alignment with local and Global Medical Affairs priorities, vision and mission as a science-driven and patient-committed organization
• Stays current with key initiatives across Commercial and Global Medical Operations, and supports leadership colleagues in delivering against organizational priorities while driving efficient and compliant execution of Medical Services activities
• Exhibits executive presence, deep subject matter expertise and strong business acumen
• Champion a culture of compliance, innovation, agility, transformation and patient-centricity
• Use data and insights to guide decisions and improve operational performance
• Provide end-to-end oversight and accountability for DPOC operations, including vendor management to deliver accurate intake, triage, documentation, and routing of medical inquiries as per standards and compliance
• Define and oversee governance frameworks (SOPs, work instructions, Quality Assurance processes).
• Lead process assurance and continuous improvement initiatives, including periodic reviews to sustain effectiveness and compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards.
• Manage Corrective Actions Preventive Actions and ensure compliance with regulatory and internal requirements; Report to the Medical council as required
• Partner with Pharmacovigilance, Quality, Compliance, Legal, and Information Technology teams to enable seamless operations.
• Define and implement DPOC ways of working for business alliances and partnerships.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive audit and inspection readiness (including Health Canada) and participate in compliance audits and inspections as required.
• Ensure medical review of promotional and non-promotional materials is scientifically rigorous, balanced and align with business strategy.
• Maintain full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, industry codes and company policies.
• Optimize resource allocation and workload management across reviewers.
• Be responsible for appropriate training and certification (e.g., PAAB).
• Collaborate with Legal and Commercial teams to establish efficient and consistent review processes; Drive alignment with business strategy and regulatory requirements.
• Establish common ways of working (Standard Operating Procedures, Work Instructions, Templates, Onboarding) with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure that all materials are aligned with applicable company policies and procedures and meet the Canadian regulations and industry code.
• Support resolution of product-related issues in the marketplace, and collaborate to establish ways of working for the medical review requirements in Business Alliance agreements.
• Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement
• Explore opportunities to enhance Medical Services through digital tools and process innovation
• Maintain compliance with Health Canada regulations, PAAB Code of Advertising Acceptance, Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) Code and Corporate policies (Pharmacovigilance, Quality, Data Privacy)
• Drive timely reporting of Adverse Events (AEs) and Product Quality Complaints (PQCs) in alignment with our Company’s commitment to its Code of Conduct, Our Values and Standards, policies, procedures, industry standards and all laws and regulations
• Ensure that any confidential information or personal data related to the customers is managed in accordance with Data Privacy regulations as per our Company's standards
• Maintain a strong audit and inspection readiness posture
• Act as a trusted strategic partner to internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment and effective decision-making
• Provide medical oversight and expertise in key governance forums, including Sponsorship Review Committee, Patient Support Program (PSP) Review Board and Health Canada Special Access Program (SAP) criteria definition
• Maintain Medical Significance Lists and support product lifecycle decisions
• Collaborate on supply-related decisions (allocation, backorders, recalls)

Benefits

• This job posting is for an existing vacancy position. We may use artificial intelligence and automated tools to support our recruitment process. AI tools are used to support, but not replace, human judgment. All hiring decisions are made by our hiring managers. We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates. In accordance with our accommodation policies and applicable provincial and federal accessibility legislation, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. Employee Status: Regular Relocation: No relocation VISA Sponsorship: No Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): NA Job Posting End Date: 07/3/2026 A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date. Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

What This Job Offers

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