Merck & Co, Inc

Executive Director, National Sales Leader, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Merck & Co, Inc • $255K — $402K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10-12 years in pharmaceutical/biotech sales and leadership.
  • Proven track record in strategic business planning and omnichannel engagement.
  • Strong knowledge of US healthcare dynamics and reimbursement.
  • Experience leading national or regional sales teams for at least 5 years.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement the national business plan based on market and customer insights.
  • Track and refine operational objectives and KPIs to meet business targets.
  • Drive product launch readiness and optimize customer engagement strategies.
  • Recruit and develop a high-performing sales team in a competitive environment.
  • Set performance standards, conduct reviews, and promote professional development.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on strategy and resources.
  • Utilize omnichannel approaches for improved customer experience and territory management.

Benefits

  • Flexible work arrangements with remote options available.
  • Ethical and patient-centric work culture.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Collaborative environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Engagement in a meaningful, impactful industry focused on rare diseases.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and inspirational sales leader to lead the field sales organization in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). This leader will be accountable for delivering growth for a high-priority rare disease business, managing operating expenses, driving market development, and ensuring compliant execution across a high-performing specialty sales organization. This role is critical to help appropriately expand utilization of our company's increasing role as a leader in the PAH ecosystem.

Reporting to the Vice President, PAH & Rare Disease Business Unit and serving as a member of the PAH Leadership Team and the US Human Health (USHH) Sales Council, the National Sales Director will set strategy and operational plans, lead the field sales organization, and partner closely with Marketing, Market Access, Sales Operations, Training, Medical, and other stakeholders to deliver sustainable commercial growth and superior customer engagement.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Develop and execute the national business plan informed by brand strategy, market insights, customer data, access dynamics, and competitor activity.
  • Translate corporate and brand strategies into operational objectives, KPIs, and field execution plans; track progress and refine plans to meet business targets.
  • Drive launch readiness and lifecycle management, partnering with cross-functional teams to optimize product positioning, field execution, and customer engagement in a concentrated rare disease market.
  • Lead, recruit, develop, and optimize a high-performing sales organization in a highly specialized and competitive market environment, including sales managers and field sales representatives, as applicable.
  • Establish clear performance standards, set annual objectives, conduct regular reviews, coach managers, and provide succession planning and professional development. Build an inclusive culture that values collaboration, accountability, patient-centricity, and ethical conduct.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on brand commercial strategy and contribute as a core member of the therapeutic area and commercial team to create integrated strategies.
  • Work closely with Marketing, Market Access, Sales Training, Sales Operations, and Medical to align programs, messaging, and resources that drive field adoption and customer impact.
  • Promote use of omnichannel approaches and technology tools for consistent customer experiences and effective account and territory management.
  • Build and maintain productive relationships with key specialists, centers of excellence, and other healthcare system stakeholders to support uptake and optimal patient care.
  • Define sales force customers in focus and deployment to maximize coverage, productivity, and ROI in a concentrated customer base.
  • Manage operating expense budgets, ensure compliant activity, and drive disciplined, fact-based decision-making across the team.
  • Use data and metrics to monitor performance, identify opportunities for optimization, and implement change while maintaining employee engagement during transitions.
  • Foster a transparent, ethical, and patient-centric culture; ensure all sales activities conform with company policies, industry standards, and applicable regulations.


Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or related field required
  • Advanced degree preferred


Required Experience and Skills
  • Minimum 10-12 years combined experience in pharmaceutical/biotech sales, sales leadership, and commercial strategy
  • Demonstrated ability to develop strategic business plans, implement omnichannel and field engagement strategies, and partner cross-functionally to achieve launch and growth objectives
  • Strong knowledge of US healthcare dynamics, including provider organizations, IDNs, specialty pharmacies, centers of excellence, and access/reimbursement considerations
  • Track record of building and developing high-performing teams
  • Strengths in strategic agility, business acumen, decision quality, driving results, managerial courage, and building effective teams
  • At least 5 years leading national or regional sales teams


Preferred Experience and Skills
  • Deep experience in rare disease commercialization, ideally within PAH market
  • Experience in specialty markets with a concentrated customer base
  • Proven success in competitive markets and product launches


Travel Requirements
  • Up to 50%


Required Skills:
Analytical Problem Solving, Analytical Problem Solving, Business Agility, Business Decisions, Business Growth Strategies, Business Metrics, Business Planning, Customer Centricity, Customer Needs Assessments, Engagement Strategies, Financial Acumen, Goal Setting, Inbound Phone Sales, Lead Generation, Market Opportunity Analysis, Metrics Development, New Product Marketing, Partnership Development, People Leadership, People Management, Performance Metrics, Professional Networking, Progress Monitoring, Retail Management, Sales Goal Achievement {+ 9 more}

Preferred Skills:

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:
Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Remote

Shift:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Job Posting End Date:
10/7/2026
*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.

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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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