Director, Field-Based Medical Effectiveness (Field)

The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany•Boston, MA

11h•$190,000 - $286,200•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Field-Based Medical Effectiveness translates Therapeutic Area (TA) Medical Affairs strategy into measurable Field Medical priorities and effective execution. In partnership with Field Medical Directors, Medical Directors, US and Global Medical Leadership, and key cross-functional stakeholders, the Director optimizes stakeholder engagement, field deployment, capability building, content, training, analytics, and performance management. This role bridges Field Medical strategy and execution by ensuring effective resource deployment, appropriate engagement of priority external stakeholders, and continuous improvement in the impact, quality, and compliance of Field Medical activities. Main interfaces Internal US and Global Medical Affairs; Field Medical; Medical Directors; Medical Communications and Information; Medical Education; Medical Operations; Clinical Development; Medical Planning; Compliance; Legal; Regulatory Affairs; Commercial; Marketing; Managed Markets; Information Technology; Global Business Units; and other relevant functions. External Key Thought Leaders (KTLs), Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), healthcare professionals, scientific and medical experts, strategic partners, vendors, consultants, and congress organizers. Your Role: Field Medical strategy and deployment Develop TA Field Medical strategies, goals, objectives, and operating plans with Field Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Global Field Medical. Translate Medical Affairs strategy into clear execution priorities, resource requirements, activities, and measurable outcomes. Guide KTL/HCP targeting, segmentation, geographic coverage, Centers of Excellence identification, and referral-network mapping. Lead coverage and territory planning, including resource allocation to areas of greatest medical need. Identify execution gaps and opportunities to optimize resources, territories, workload, and coverage. Develop contingency coverage plans for vacancies, launches, organizational changes, and periods of increased medical need. Assess launch readiness, including stakeholder coverage, capability readiness, content availability, training completion, and execution against milestones. Align US execution with local and global Field Medical standards and benchmark productivity and effectiveness against internal and external best practices. Performance measurement and analytics Establish meaningful Field Medical KPIs covering reach, frequency, target attainment, interaction quality, stakeholder coverage, training readiness, and field execution. Define measurement methods, data sources, reporting cadence, and governance for performance management. Monitor execution through CRM data, dashboards, stakeholder plans, field feedback, and training records. Improve CRM effectiveness and data quality by identifying gaps, strengthening adoption, and coordinating remediation. Analyze performance trends and distinguish strategy, capability, capacity, data-quality, and execution issues. Provide regular, actionable reports and recommendations to Field Medical and Medical Affairs leadership. Governance, compliance, and risk management Establish and maintain MSL standards, guidance documents, the MSL Guide, audit approaches, and operating processes. Route materials and activities through appropriate review and approval processes and maintain complete records. Ensure compliant use of Field Medical materials and documentation of approvals, field use, feedback, and training. Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Regulatory Affairs to identify risks and implement practical controls, policies, and processes. Communicate relevant policies and provide case-based guidance to support consistent application of requirements. External engagement and medical effectiveness Monitor scientific, medical, Field Medical, compliance, and operating-model trends to drive continuous improvement. Incorporate relevant publications, clinical developments, disease-state trends, and external insights into strategy, training, and content. Identify capability gaps and training needs. Support appropriate medical and scientific collaborations with external experts, including clinical research, medical education, sponsored research, and scientific communications. Support congress planning, medical booth content, conference identification, and congress reporting as needed. Leadership, collaboration, and budget Build alignment across Medical Affairs, R&D, and other functions on Field Medical standards, plans, performance, and resource needs. Influence stakeholders and secure support for Field Medical effectiveness, training, content, analytics, compliance, and resource optimization initiatives. Provide mentorship and development support to MSLs, Field Medical leadership, and medical training as appropriate. Prioritize investments based on medical need, strategic value, expected impact, quality, compliance, and efficiency. Strategic impact Connects TA Medical Affairs strategy to measurable Field Medical execution. Improves stakeholder targeting, geographic coverage, resource deployment, and launch readiness. Establishes consistent Field Medical standards, capabilities, KPIs, CRM practices, dashboards, and operating processes. Enables leadership to identify execution gaps and act on performance insights. Strengthens MSL effectiveness through focused training, high-quality content, clear expectations, and continuous improvement. Supports compliant, consistent, and evidence-based Field Medical operations across therapeutic areas.

Requirements

Advanced scientific or medical degree, such as MD, DO, PharmD, or PhD (or equivalent).
8+ years of experience in Medical Affairs, Field Medical, medical communications, medical education, medical strategic planning, or a related field.
Extensive experience working in Field Medical, particularly within an MSL organization.
At least 3+ of experience in MSL, Medical Affairs, Medical Information, Field Medical strategy and effectiveness or a similar function.
Experience in MSL training, scientific content development, Field Medical operations, performance analytics, or related effectiveness activities.
Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into measurable plans, processes, performance measures, and execution improvements.
Experience with KTL/HCP targeting, segmentation, geographic coverage, territory planning, launch readiness, resource optimization, or related activities.
Experience with CRM systems, data quality, performance dashboards, analytics, and reporting.
Understanding of clinical development, the post-marketing pharmaceutical environment, and applicable regulatory and compliance requirements.
Experience developing policies, guidance, standards, audit approaches, controls, and monitoring processes for MSL or Field Medical activities.
Experience collaborating with internal and external partners, vendors, consultants, KOLs, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Excellent strategic, analytical, leadership, communication, facilitation, teaching, and presentation skills.
Strong knowledge of Field Medical operating models, MSL capabilities, stakeholder engagement planning, and industry best practices.
Proficiency in PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, CRM systems, and performance-reporting tools.
Normal and routine office duties.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 50% depending on business needs, therapeutic area, launch requirements, and conference activity.

Nice To Haves

Field Medical leadership/effectiveness experience would be preferred.
Ability to work effectively in a complex, changing, matrixed environment and synthesize scientific, operational, and performance information into actionable recommendations.
Acts with integrity, sound judgment, accountability, and a strong focus on patients and customers.
Sets ambitious goals, takes initiative, and drives measurable results.
Communicates openly, builds trust, encourages constructive debate, and makes informed decisions.
Challenges the status quo, embraces new ideas, and seeks practical, innovative solutions.
Streamlines processes, adapts quickly to changing priorities, and maintains focus on high-impact work.
Values diverse perspectives and treats others with respect and dignity.

Responsibilities

Develop TA Field Medical strategies, goals, objectives, and operating plans with Field Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Global Field Medical.
Translate Medical Affairs strategy into clear execution priorities, resource requirements, activities, and measurable outcomes.
Guide KTL/HCP targeting, segmentation, geographic coverage, Centers of Excellence identification, and referral-network mapping.
Lead coverage and territory planning, including resource allocation to areas of greatest medical need.
Identify execution gaps and opportunities to optimize resources, territories, workload, and coverage.
Develop contingency coverage plans for vacancies, launches, organizational changes, and periods of increased medical need.
Assess launch readiness, including stakeholder coverage, capability readiness, content availability, training completion, and execution against milestones.
Align US execution with local and global Field Medical standards and benchmark productivity and effectiveness against internal and external best practices.
Establish meaningful Field Medical KPIs covering reach, frequency, target attainment, interaction quality, stakeholder coverage, training readiness, and field execution.
Define measurement methods, data sources, reporting cadence, and governance for performance management.
Monitor execution through CRM data, dashboards, stakeholder plans, field feedback, and training records.
Improve CRM effectiveness and data quality by identifying gaps, strengthening adoption, and coordinating remediation.
Analyze performance trends and distinguish strategy, capability, capacity, data-quality, and execution issues.
Provide regular, actionable reports and recommendations to Field Medical and Medical Affairs leadership.
Establish and maintain MSL standards, guidance documents, the MSL Guide, audit approaches, and operating processes.
Route materials and activities through appropriate review and approval processes and maintain complete records.
Ensure compliant use of Field Medical materials and documentation of approvals, field use, feedback, and training.
Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Regulatory Affairs to identify risks and implement practical controls, policies, and processes.
Communicate relevant policies and provide case-based guidance to support consistent application of requirements.
Monitor scientific, medical, Field Medical, compliance, and operating-model trends to drive continuous improvement.
Incorporate relevant publications, clinical developments, disease-state trends, and external insights into strategy, training, and content.
Identify capability gaps and training needs.
Support appropriate medical and scientific collaborations with external experts, including clinical research, medical education, sponsored research, and scientific communications.
Support congress planning, medical booth content, conference identification, and congress reporting as needed.
Build alignment across Medical Affairs, R&D, and other functions on Field Medical standards, plans, performance, and resource needs.
Influence stakeholders and secure support for Field Medical effectiveness, training, content, analytics, compliance, and resource optimization initiatives.
Provide mentorship and development support to MSLs, Field Medical leadership, and medical training as appropriate.
Prioritize investments based on medical need, strategic value, expected impact, quality, compliance, and efficiency.