Director, Field Medical Excellence

Merck • REMOTE, REMOTE

21h • $190,800 - $300,300 • Remote

About The Position

The Director, Global Field Medical Excellence is a leadership role within the Center for Scientific Exchange Excellence (CSEE), accountable for defining, benchmarking, advancing, and sustaining industry-leading Scientific Exchange Professional performance globally. This role serves as the strategic architect of Field Medical excellence, establishing the vision, standards, and operating model that define what “best-in-class” looks like. The Director ensures that Field Medical capabilities - including scientific exchange, stakeholder engagement, insight generation, and SL/KDM impact - consistently meet or exceed top-tier industry benchmarks. Recognized as an internal and external thought leader, this individual brings deep expertise in scientific exchange, capability development, performance excellence, and field medical innovation. They partner across Global Medical Affairs, Field Medical Leadership, Scientific Training, and Center of Excellence teams to ensure the organization is setting - not following - the industry standard for Scientific Exchange Professional effectiveness.

Requirements

• Advanced scientific degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent)
• Extensive experience (minimum of 5 years) within Medical Affairs, including deep Field Medical/ Scientific Exchange Professional experience
• Demonstrated success as a high-performing Scientific Exchange Professional and field medical leader
• Experience leading global medical excellence, capability-building, or transformation initiatives
• Proven ability to influence across complex matrix organizations
• Strong strategic thinking, executive presence, and change leadership
• Clinical Research
• Insight Generation
• Medical Affairs
• Organizational Capability
• People Leadership
• Professional Networking
• Results-Oriented
• Scientific Communications
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Strategic Insights
• Strategic Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Thought Leadership

Nice To Haves

• Recognized industry thought leader in Field Medical excellence
• Experience with global competency frameworks and performance models
• Global experience working across regions and cultures
• Experience in benchmarking, analytics, and capability assessment
• Experience leveraging AI, digital, and analytics solutions in Medical Affairs
• Active participation in industry organizations (e.g., MAPS, MSL Society)
• Publication or speaking experience in scientific exchange or Field Medical excellence

Responsibilities

• Define and Set the Global Standard for Excellence: Establish and continuously evolve the global vision, strategy, and framework for Field Medical excellence. Define best-in-class standards for scientific exchange, stakeholder engagement, insight generation and evidence communication, and SL/KDM experience and impact. Develop and maintain global competency models reflecting current and future Scientific Exchange Professional capabilities. Set clear expectations for what differentiates average vs. exceptional Scientific Exchange Professional performance.
• Benchmark and Maintain Industry Leadership: Consult global benchmarking against peer pharmaceutical organizations, industry associations, and emerging best practices. Identify gaps between current performance and best-in-industry standards. Translate benchmarking insights into targeted capability-building strategies. Serve as the organization’s internal authority on world-class Field Medical performance.
• Elevate Scientific Exchange Excellence: Define and operationalize standards for high-quality scientific engagement. Establish frameworks that improve the consistency, credibility, and impact of Scientific Exchange interactions. Ensure Field Medical teams demonstrate mastery of disease state and clinical data, excellence in scientific narrative and evidence communication, and strategic, insight-driven stakeholder engagement. Drive continuous improvement in the quality and effectiveness of scientific dialogue globally.
• Assess and Drive Scientific Exchange Professional Performance Excellence: Develop and implement global frameworks to assess Scientific Exchange Professional effectiveness and impact. Define leading and lagging indicators of Field Medical success. Implement assessment methodologies including direct observation, capability evaluations, simulation-based assessments, and performance analytics. Ensure consistent performance expectations and accountability across regions and therapeutic areas.
• Build Future-Ready Scientific Exchange Professional Capabilities: Design and implement end-to-end capability development strategies, including onboarding and foundational development, advanced scientific and strategic engagement skills, and leadership readiness and Scientific Exchange Professional career progression. Partner with Core Skills & Capabilities and Scientific Training to embed excellence into curricula. Build scalable learning ecosystems aligned to adult learning principles and evolving healthcare needs. Anticipate and define future-state competencies required for evolving Medical Affairs organizations.
• Drive Innovation in Field Medical Practice: Identify and implement innovative approaches to scientific engagement, omnichannel execution, and AI-enabled field insights and support. Evaluate and deploy technologies that enhance Scientific Exchange Professional effectiveness and customer experience. Lead transformation initiatives to strengthen organizational capability and operational excellence.
• Generate Strategic Insights and Influence Decisions: Analyze global data on capability, performance, and engagement outcomes. Provide executive-level insights and recommendations to senior leadership. Monitor industry trends and proactively identify emerging opportunities and risks. Establish transparent reporting frameworks for Field Medical excellence and impact.
• Influence Global Medical Affairs Strategy: Serve as a strategic advisor to Global Medical Affairs leadership. Partner across Field Medical, Regional Leadership, and CoE functions to drive alignment. Represent the organization externally through industry forums, associations, and thought leadership. Shape the future direction of Field Medical practice globally.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days
• annual bonus
• long-term incentive

What This Job Offers

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