Executive Director, Marketing, Scientific Strategy and Engagement

Job Description

Our US Ophthalmology team is committed to transforming the lives of patients living with diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with a portfolio of two products in the pipeline. We aspire to achieve this through relentless commitment to patients, innovation, ensuring access to life-changing therapies, and collaborating with healthcare systems, governments, and payers to make treatments available to those who need them most. Our focus is on the patients, scientific rigor and flawless execution—bringing breakthrough therapies to patients who need them.

The Executive Director of Marketing, Scientific Strategy and Engagement will lead overall scientific strategy, congress strategy and thought leader engagement for the US Ophthalmology business. This leader will be accountable for building scientific strategy, driving business engagement with key thought leaders and aligning external advocacy as appropriate. This leader will build and manage two teams: a remote team of Thought Leader Marketing Liaisons and a headquarters team driving the scientific narrative, congress planning and execution, and medical education. The role reports to the U.S. Ophthalmology Business Unit Leader.

Primary Responsibilities:

Scientific Strategy & Medical Education

• Define and own the U.S. Ophthalmology scientific narrative for the commercial team across DME and nAMD, ensuring alignment with enterprise and medical narratives.

• Oversee development and deployment of medical education programs, including content creation, speaker bureau development and readiness, and execution of HQ-led and field-led programs.

• Lead overall congress strategy and execution for the U.S. Ophthalmology portfolio, including sponsorship decisions, exhibit booth planning, and promotional activities.

Thought Leader Engagement & Advocacy

• Set strategic direction for identification, profiling, and engagement of national and regional scientific leaders and emerging experts.

• Oversee execution of engagement plans by the Thought Leader Marketing Liaison team, leveraging congresses and HQ activities to engage with thought leaders consistent with compliance policies and standards.

• Ensure insights gathered from scientific leaders inform brand planning, marketing strategies, payer initiatives, and other cross-functional activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Sales, and Global Marketing to ensure coordinated engagement with thought leaders.

• Drive alignment on customer needs and triage requests appropriately across functions.

• Ensure strict adherence to compliance regulations, internal policies, and industry standards in all engagement activities.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and mentor a team of marketing professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Required Experience and Skills:

• Deep understanding of specialty markets; ophthalmology experience required.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical marketing, including launch experience and leadership of multi-asset portfolios.

• Proven ability to lead teams, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and drive strategic decision-making.

• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

• Compliance: Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Required Skills:

Advertising Campaign Development, Advertising Campaign Development, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Brand Management, Brand Marketing, Content Creation, Customer-Focused, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Executive Presence, Innovation, Macular Degeneration, Market Analysis, Marketing, Market Research, Medical Affairs, Omnichannel Marketing, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmaceuticals Marketing, Pricing Strategies, Product Marketing, Professional Networking {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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The salary range for this role is

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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 in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

Yes

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

08/4/2026

*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.

Requisition ID:R408516