Associate Director HPV Vaccines

Merck•North Wales, PA

6d•$156,900 - $247,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of HPV Vaccines is the primary contact for assigned areas supporting the product’s marketing and commercial team. The role plans, prioritizes, manages, and executes work for the product, providing strategic input to global and US teams through primary market research and secondary data analysis. It proactively defines business questions and opportunities, identifies strategic insights, and recommends actionable business solutions. The position helps advance Primary Market Research through AI-enabled research, analytics, and knowledge management to accelerate insight generation, improve decision-making, and identify innovative ways to understand customers, markets, and business opportunities. The successful candidate collaborates with the market research team and partners across pricing and access, sales, promotion, marketing, and Research & Development. They are expected to demonstrate leadership, independence, cultural awareness, resilience, and a transformational mindset, while applying emerging technologies and analytics responsibly and compliantly. The role oversees assigned portions of the Global and US market research plan, leads research studies and external partners, integrates secondary data with primary research, and ensures that findings inform commercial decision-making. The position is hybrid, involves 10% travel, and offers a salary range of $156,900 to $247,000, with eligibility for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS).
At least 3 years of market research experience and 10–14 years of total relevant experience in related functions, including sales, marketing, or marketing/sales support.
In-depth knowledge of the US healthcare environment.
Highly developed analytical skills, strong problem-solving ability, and demonstrated strategic and objective thinking.
Mastery of the full range of market research methodologies and the ability to coach or guide others in applying research methods and models.

Nice To Haves

MBA or MS degree.
Experience working in a multi-product franchise.
Experience in vaccines, either in market research or related functions.
Thorough understanding of marketing principles and their application across product life-cycle stages and customer segments.
Prior experience with innovative HCC and HCP research methods.

Responsibilities

Develop and oversee execution of an assigned portion of the Global and US market research plan for the product franchise, using a strategic mindset and minimal supervision.
Lead primary market research projects by framing business questions, identifying information needs, considering other data sources, developing research and analysis plans, and managing the research process.
Own the understanding of business challenges and information needs, consider alternatives, propose suitable methods, apply best practices, and develop innovative approaches when appropriate.
Design effective studies using a range of market research methodologies and techniques.
Evaluate and apply innovative research approaches and emerging technologies, including AI-assisted synthesis, advanced analytics, digital personas, simulated respondents, and connected insights ecosystems.
Analyze available secondary data, syndicated reports, and databases, integrating findings into primary research to create compelling, concise, actionable results.
Lead research study execution, including project planning, budget management, vendor briefing, timeline oversight, compliance requirements, and delivery of insights and recommendations.
Explain the business rationale, hypotheses, methodology, and expected impact of research approaches to managers and franchise or client teams.
Evaluate, select, and manage external research partners based on their expertise, capabilities, quality, innovation, and ability to meet business needs.
Assess vendor AI-enabled research and analytics capabilities for appropriate application, compliance, transparency, methodological rigor, and measurable business value.
Engage marketing and commercial teams so insights are incorporated into decision-making and planning; synthesize findings across sources and provide consultative guidance.