Job DescriptionRole Summary:The US Oncology Medical Affairs Field Medical Alignment Director (FMAD) plays a critical leadership role in advancing the strategic priorities of US Medical Affairs (MA) across a dynamic and growing Oncology portfolio. This role is a key member of the Oncology/GI US Medical Affairs Leadership Teams and leverages scientific acumen and expertise within a disease state/tumor type to drive alignment, innovation, and execution across the oncology ecosystem. The Director will work in conjunction with the Executive Directors (ED) and Team Leads (TL) to support USMA execution to strategy.
Key responsibilities include optimizing Field Execution Plans within designated TAs, devising opportunities for execution partnerships across USMA, and establishing implementation strategies to support portfolio life cycle management, within the framework of our policies. Additional responsibilities will include development of reports and presentations that effectively represent the impact of the USMA teams.
Responsibilities and Primary ActivitiesStrategic Planning and Execution Leadership:- Influence field medical execution to strategy planning through collaboration with EDs, TLs, Payor Health Systems (PHS) PASLs, SaMIs and US Directors of Medical Affairs (DMA) to ensure strategic prioritization, implementation, and execution of USMA Goals/Objectives and Country Medical Affairs Plans.
- Represent US TA Medical Affairs at departmental or cross-functional meetings impacting the full TA teams to ensure appropriate resource allocation, alignment and planning and execution excellence.
- Develop and lead implementation strategies throughout product life cycles and maximize synergies across programs and Scientific Leaders to deliver on Enterprise and Country strategic imperatives/goals.
- Support team value creation by identifying areas of high impact and translating into messaging via executive presentations that resonate with senior leadership.
- Continuously scan the healthcare environment and analyze emerging trends to determine individual skills and competencies to drive future organizational capabilities.
- Partner with leadership on culture-shaping initiatives, team development, and performance enablement to ensure a high-performing, innovative, and agile medical organization.
- Provide and leverage scientific and MA expert knowledge, innovative thinking and resources to assist in high priority projects and critical departmental/team remits.
Operational Excellence:- Serve as the primary Oncology USMA point of contact for operational and logistical stakeholders for aspects impacting the full TA team.
- Drive simplification, innovation, efficiency and effectiveness across medical systems, tools, and processes to increase agility and measurable outcomes.
- Exhibit expert understanding of company and organizational policies and procedures and be a resource for team.
- Provide strategic leadership to the Digital Innovation, Operations, and Compliance Council, including sites and systems of records for information input and data analysis.
- Develop and assess team data and analytics via dashboards, scorecards, and other analytics systems to track performance against team goals and impact metrics.
- Identify strategic opportunities to embed an AI-first mindset within Oncology.
- Strategically inform Country TA Leadership Team of gaps and/or opportunities to enhance processes and systems for Country TA Field Medical Affairs
Required Qualifications, Skills & Experience:Minimum:- Advanced healthcare/science doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., Pharm.D., Ph.D.)
- At least 5 years field/medical affairs experience, including a demonstration of leadership in the role with a minimum of 2 years in a HQ role or equivalent
- Minimum of 3 years working in oncology the relevant therapeutic area
- Excellent interpersonal, analytical, strategic, tactical planning, project leadership and communication skills
- Ability to handle a demanding and changing workload and respond efficiently to timelines and changing market events
- Ability to work across a portfolio along the product life cycle
- Ability to effectively communicate information to internal and external stakeholders at all levels (e.g., senior leadership, management, and individual contributors)
- Business acumen with a superior understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare arena
- Proven ability to work with cross-functional highly matrixed teams and collaborate across multiple stakeholder groups (e.g., therapeutic areas)
- Proven track record of contribution to medical and scientific development strategies within the pharmaceutical industry
- Full proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Excel, PPT, Word, etc.) and understanding of the capabilities of AI and its potential application to field medical effectiveness.
Preferred:- Scientific acumen and experience in Thoracic/Lung cancers
- Working knowledge of solid tumors, Immuno-Oncology, ADCs, targeted therapies
- MBA a plus
- Strategy lead and/or additional experience in a strategy and operations type role, including experience working in managed care/health systems
- Previous people or functional leadership, requiring executive-level presentations, creating communications for impact/action, and highly-matrixed, cross functional orgs.
Required Skills: Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC), Business Acumen, Immuno-Oncology, Medical Affairs, Oncology, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Project Leadership, Scientific Literacy, Technical Acumen
Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:No
Travel Requirements:25%
Flexible Work Arrangements:Remote
Shift:Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:No
Hazardous Material(s):n/a
Job Posting End Date:10/3/2026
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