Merck & Co, Inc

Associate Director, Data Science

Merck & Co, Inc$156K — $247K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of analytical project experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, consulting, or healthcare sectors.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage senior leaders effectively.
  • Self-motivated and proactive with independent work capabilities.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of business processes and commercial strategies to inform analytics.
  • Expertise in machine learning, statistical methods, and data science programming languages such as Python or R.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze diverse data sources to derive insights influencing business strategy.
  • Translate business requirements into actionable analytical plans and insights.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver comprehensive analytical solutions.
  • Stay updated with industry trends and new analytical methodologies to innovate within the organization.
  • Drive innovative experiments and meaningful improvements in business processes.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with an expectation to be in-office at least 3 days a week.
  • Encouragement of continuous learning and development culture.
  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI solutions in the oncology field.
  • Engagement with a diverse range of cross-functional teams.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Job Title: Associate Director Data Science - US Market Engagement, US Oncology, Digital Human Health

Job Description: This role will reside within theDigital Human Health (DHH) US Market Engagement Team. This team operates as part of the US commercial team, providing strategic thought-partnership to US commercial stakeholders through understanding brand strategy, co-creating DHH demand and associated business requirements aligned to business priorities. The US Market Engagement team quarterbacks demand fulfillment and leads the activation of DHH products and services.

The Associate Director will be responsible for developing and communicating data-driven and actionable insights that drive greater customer and market understanding to inform launch & go-to market strategies and help meet in-line commercial objectives.

The individual in this role will be an independent contributor, supporting commercial insight and analytics needs for US marketing teams. The person will have demonstrated consistently strong leadership skills, an ability to work objectively and deal well with ambiguity and strong partnership skills. They will empower a growth mindset and inspire a culture of continual learning. This role will require interfacing and collaborating with many teams requiring strong communication skills.

The preferred candidate will have an entrepreneurial spirit, consultative and strategic mindset, experience in oncology & technology (ML algorithm, AI, agentic etc.), The candidate will be accountable for creating targeting and segmentation models for the Oncology Business Unit that will be used for the allocation of promotional resources and tactics across channels, brands, and customer segments. More specifically, the AD will work with HH market leaders and provide guidance to help define omnichannel tactics and strategies to implement customer targeting and segmentation schemes using predictive and machine learning models, with a focus on automation , standardization and Agentic AI enablement across our Company's oncology portfolio. The selected candidate will also work closely with our central Data Science and Pune teams to implement innovative AI solutions.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Analyze data across disparate databases/sources (including claims/EMR Data and other sources) to develop insights that inform commercial business strategies.
  • Translate business needs and priorities to build analytical plans that answer business questions by providing actionable insights. Effectively communicating advanced analytics to stakeholders to inform business decisions.
  • Communicate & collaborate effectively with cross functional teams with competencies in market research, forecasting, commercial analytics, data science, customer engagement, data strategy, population health, competitive insights, marketing operations, medical & clinical backgrounds.
  • Stay current with industry trends and advancements in analytical methodologies to bring new ideas forward (including application of GenAI) that will enhance analytic capabilities of the organization.
  • Contribute to innovative experiments, specifically to idea generation, idea incubation and/or experimentation, identifying tangible and measurable criteria to make meaningful improvements to the business processes and strategies.


Education Requirements:
  • BS (or equivalent) in Data Science, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Statistics, Decision Science, Marketing, Engineering, Public Health, or equivalent scientific/ commercial discipline.


Required Experience and Skills:
  • 5+ years of relevant experience delivering complex analytical projects in the pharmaceutical, biotech, consulting, or healthcare industry.
  • Self-motivated, proactive mindset, and ability to work independently.
  • Story-telling and executive presence with senior leaders.
  • Effective interpersonal skills, communication skills, and stakeholder management, including experience collaborating in a matrixed organization and ability to align stakeholders on data-driven decisions.
  • Strong business acumen and consultative skills, with proven ability to comprehend business processes and commercial strategies in detail and translate these into detailed business standards/questions that power analytics.
  • Superior Organizational and project management skills to work effectively across the organization
  • Innovative thinking with affinity toward experimentation and appropriate risk-taking, including curiosity about how agentic AI and automation can enhance commercial analytics and insight generation.
  • Awareness of the opportunities, limitations, and responsible use of AI (including agentic AI) in a regulated environment (e.g., data privacy, validation of AI-generated outputs).
  • Travel may be required
  • Ability to develop efficient programming code and software assets that provide advanced analytical functionality.
  • Proven data science experience leveraging advanced statistical methods, Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence
  • Knowledge of both machine learning and descriptive algorithms/modeling using such languages as Python, R studio, SAS, SQL etc.


Preferred Experience and Skills:
  • Domain knowledge in oncology, specifically as it relates to data analytics.
  • MBA, MS or PhD degree is a plus.


Work location: Upper Gwynedd, PA (role will be hybrid and chosen candidate is expected to be in the office at least 3 days/week).

Required Skills:
Advanced Analytics, Advanced Analytics, Analytical Tools, Analytics Insights, Base SAS, Business Decisions, Business Intelligence (BI), Business Metrics, Business Opportunity Identification, Customer Segmentation, Data Analysis, Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Design of Experiments (DOE), Growth Mindset, Ideation, Insight Generation, Machine Learning (ML), Machine Learning Algorithms, Python (Programming Language), Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:
10/1/2026
*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.

About Merck & Co, Inc

Schering-Plough Corporation is a major U.S.-based manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. It operates in three segments: Prescription Pharmaceuticals, Animal Health, and Consumer Health Care. Schering-Plough develops products targeting on allergy, cancer, hepatitis, cardiovascular, central nervous system, respiratory system, and more.  It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. Schering-Plough manufactured several pharmaceutical drugs, the most well-known of which were the allergy drugs Claritin and Clarinex, an anti-cholesterol drug Vytorin, and a brain tumor drug Temodar. It also developed drugs targeting on central nervous system and the respiratory system. Schering Plough also owned and operated the major foot care brand name Dr. Scholl's and the skin care line Coppertone. These also became a part of the new company. Schering-Plough was a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), a membership which is also maintained by the new Merck.

Merck & Co, Inc Careers

Join the visionary team at Merck & Co, Inc, a global leader in healthcare dedicated to advancing the world of medicine. As part of our professional community, you'll find dynamic job opportunities that foster innovation and leadership across various fields. Merck & Co, Inc is not just a company; it's a place where you can make a difference.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck & Co, Inc, we are committed to improving global health through groundbreaking research and innovative healthcare solutions. Our team is at the forefront of developing new therapies and vaccines that significantly impact public health worldwide. By joining us, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry, using your skills to contribute to projects that save and improve lives around the globe.

Explore Career Paths

Whether you're seeking an internship, a graduate opportunity, or a professional position, Merck & Co, Inc offers a range of career paths in environments that promote rapid professional growth and development. Explore job opportunities in research, digital transformation, manufacturing, and more, all while benefiting from a culture that supports diversity and inclusion.

Innovate and Lead

Merck & Co, Inc is an ideal environment for those who lead with curiosity and the drive to innovate. Our leadership is committed to fostering a culture where inventive thinking and collaboration are encouraged, making it a perfect place for professionals who seek to make an impact through their work.

Develop Your Skills

With Merck & Co, Inc, you are not just getting a job; you're gaining access to unparalleled career development opportunities. Enhance your skills through diverse training programs, workshops, and continuous learning courses designed to help you grow at every stage of your career.

Benefits and Culture

We understand that our employees are our greatest asset, which is why we offer competitive benefits designed to support the health and well-being of you and your family. From comprehensive health care coverage and retirement plans to flexible working conditions and wellness programs, our benefits package is designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members.

Join Our Team

Ready to advance your career at Merck & Co, Inc? Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that's dedicated to making a difference.

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Learn more about Merck & Co, Inc
Size
68,000 employees
Market Cap
$282.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$7 billion
Founded
1668
5 Year Trend
+4.1%
Revenue
$47.9 billion
NASDAQ

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