Director, Launch Lead, Animal Health

MSD

1d • $190,800 - $300,300

About The Position

The Director, Launch Lead is a key member of the Global Launch Excellence and Portfolio Management team within Global Commercial Operations, which enables end-to-end launch excellence and portfolio management across Livestock and Companion Animal species. Reporting to the Executive Director, Launch Excellence & Portfolio Management, this role leads integrated planning, coordination, and performance management for priority Animal Health product launches. The Director mobilizes a cross-functional Launch Squad, aligns global and regional stakeholders around a unified launch plan, anticipates and resolves risks, and provides leadership with a clear view of launch readiness and performance from pre-NPDP approval through one to two years after initial market launch.

The role leads Launch Squad members and engages subject-matter experts across Research & Development, Regulatory, Packaging & Artwork, Manufacturing and Supply, and Marketing and Commercial Readiness. It applies the Launch Excellence blueprint and toolkit, maintains the Pre-Launch Blueprint as the single source of truth, and oversees Launch Control Tower tracking. The Director facilitates governance forums and leadership reviews, drives accountability and issue resolution, coordinates global, regional, and market inputs, and advises leadership on launch priorities and trade-offs. The position also helps strengthen launch capabilities, tools, governance, and ways of working, and provides direction to project managers and other Launch Squad contributors.

The role is based primarily in Rahway, New Jersey, with additional listed locations including Boxmeer. Travel is required as needed to support global launch activities and stakeholder engagement; the stated travel requirement is 25%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, science, engineering, veterinary medicine, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant business experience, including experience in Animal Health, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, or another highly regulated industry.
• Demonstrated success leading strategic operational plans and complex, cross-functional programs or portfolios.
• Experience leading globally dispersed teams through influence and without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle and the commercial, technical, regulatory, and supply considerations that shape successful launches.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a complex, global, matrixed organization and engage effectively with senior executives.
• Ability to connect product strategy, science, regulatory requirements, supply considerations, and commercial priorities to shape executable launch plans.
• Significant experience supporting or leading product launches, with knowledge of launch planning, readiness, governance, and post-launch performance management.
• Proven ability to manage complex cross-functional programs, milestones, dependencies, risks, and decisions to deliver outcomes on time.
• Excellent relationship-building, facilitation, negotiation, and communication skills, including the ability to create alignment and accountability across diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical judgment and comfort operating with ambiguity, changing priorities, and incomplete information.
• Advanced written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, decision-focused messages.
• Ability to travel as required to support global launch activities and stakeholder engagement.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree, such as an MBA, master’s, or doctorate, or a relevant professional certification.
• Skills listed in the posting include Agile Methodology, Brand Messaging, Business Acumen, Decision Making, Digital Marketing, Direct Marketing, Financial Acumen, Global Coordination, Market Research, Pricing Strategies, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Alignment, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Value Propositions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product-specific strategic launch plans using the Launch Excellence blueprint, translating product strategy into integrated milestones, deliverables, decisions, and market-readiness requirements from pre-NPDP approval through post-launch performance.
• Establish a transparent view of launch readiness and post-launch performance; monitor milestones and KPIs, surface dependencies and risks, drive timely resolution, and escalate material issues through appropriate governance bodies.
• Oversee Launch Control Tower tracking and provide concise, decision-focused updates to Global Species Leads, functional leaders, and the Animal Health Leadership Team.
• Lead the Launch Squad and engage subject-matter experts to support alignment, accountability, and effective decision-making.
• Build trusted relationships across functions and regions, establish productive operating rhythms, and advise leadership on launch priorities, trade-offs, and issue resolution.
• Apply the Launch Excellence toolkit and maintain the Pre-Launch Blueprint as the source of truth for launch status, decisions, risks, and dependencies.
• Plan and facilitate Launch Squad meetings, ambition-setting sessions, and leadership reviews.
• Drive accountability across Launch Squad leads and their teams to deliver agreed business outcomes on time and with executional excellence.
• Coordinate global, regional, and market inputs so launch plans are integrated, realistic, and responsive to changing conditions.
• Lead launch risk identification, mitigation planning, issue resolution, and escalation to protect launch timing, value, and strategic objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships across Animal Health, including with senior leaders and members of the Animal Health Leadership Team.
• Continuously improve launch excellence capabilities, tools, governance, and ways of working based on launch experience and organizational needs.
• Provide direction to project managers and other contributors supporting Launch Squads to ensure consistent planning, transparency, and coordination.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits and other insurance benefits for employees and families.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, compassionate days, and sick days.
• Annual bonus eligibility.
• Long-term incentive eligibility, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

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