Head of Core Franchise

Merck Group$160K — $290K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's/PhD in Business, Life Sciences, or related field
  • 10+ years in product/portfolio management or commercial leadership (7+ with advanced degree)
  • At least 3 years in a people management role
  • Strong track record in growing a complex product/service portfolio
  • Experience in the life sciences or biotechnology industry

Responsibilities

  • Own the full P&L for the Core Franchise portfolio
  • Ensure alignment of Annual Marketing Plan with business strategy
  • Lead and mentor a team of Strategic Product Managers and Product Managers
  • Drive business case development and market success
  • Manage the ideation process for portfolio innovation

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off (PTO)
  • Retirement contributions
  • Sales or performance-based bonuses
  • Additional perquisites
Full Job Description
Your Role:

As the Global Head of Core Franchise, you will serve as the end-to-end P&L business owner for the Core Franchise portfolio, spanning multiple business segments within BioReliance Contract Testing Services. In this senior leadership role, you will drive business growth and innovation by owning franchise portfolio management and leading a team of Strategic Product Managers (SPMs) and Product Managers (PMs). The ideal candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with strategic vision, scientific depth, and the leadership capability to inspire cross-functional teams, shape the long-term direction of the franchise, and deliver sustainable portfolio performance across the full product lifecycle.

Main Responsibilities:

E2E Portfolio Ownership & Performance:
  • Own the full P&L for the Core Franchise, including current and future business performance across all segments.
  • Accountable for the entire lifecycle of the franchise portfolio, from development and market launch through maturity and evolution.
  • Own and drive the Annual Marketing Plan (AMP) process for your franchise, ensuring alignment with broader business strategy.
  • Ensure the franchise portfolio continuously meets market demands and aligns with strategic objectives, including E2E responsibility for the portfolio's performance and evolution.
  • Engage in customer-facing activities, new product updates, and long-term capacity discussions, among others.


Leadership & Team Management:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Strategic Product Managers and Product Managers, fostering professional growth and high performance.
  • Drive broader business case development and assign support responsibilities within the team based on the specific nature and scope of each case.
  • Identify and address risks affecting product innovation and market success for your portfolios.
  • Lead the team on areas of innovation collaboration from a marketing standpoint.


Strategy & Business Planning:
  • Report on a regular basis to the CTS Leadership Team on franchise performance, including TDP/PDP progress in alignment with R&D and Operations.
  • Participate in and oversee key annual processes including Strategy Development (SD) and Operational Planning (OP).
  • Drive/Oversee the business case development, including CPRB and IVC presentations as per scope.
  • Cascade and translate market intelligence and broader strategic guidance into actionable recommendations for the franchise and R&D.


Innovation:
  • Own the ideation process management and innovation roadmap for the franchise along innovation deliverables, including portfolio mapping, prioritization, portfolio readiness, and portfolio review by franchise.
  • Serve as Franchise PDP & TDP business owner.
  • Assign PMs and SPMs to collaborate on transformative cross-value stream innovation or improvement initiatives.


Commercial Enablement & Go-to-Market:
  • Drive go-to-market (GTM) alignment in close partnership with Business Development, Field Marketing, and Marcom teams.
  • Collaborate with Regional Commercial Heads on sales objectives, new product targets, tactical plans, pricing, discounts, and marketing materials.
  • Support conference, symposia, and key industry event strategies.
  • Align with Operations leadership teams on capacity planning, innovation, and client communications.


Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with the Head of R&D on innovation pathway, investment priorities, expense and capacity alignment, and delivery of CTO objectives.
  • Collaborate with Heads of Global Franchise (other franchises) on marketing plans, HC resources, Marcom budget, CTS priorities, and multi-VS projects.
  • Engage with Scientific & Regulatory teams to stay informed on the regulatory environment and provide liaison for industry guidance and collaborative meetings (e.g., FDA, AVDTIG, ICH, USP).
  • Work with Transformation Office/Processes & Technology Enablement on capacity, new product activities, new technologies for data capture/analysis, and non-assay regulatory requirements and implications.
  • Collaborate with Controlling on budget, HC, expenses, business cases, and PDP financial analysis.


Location: Rockville, MD, USA (preferred); Glasgow, UK or Darmstadt, Germany

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or a related field
  • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in product management, portfolio management, or a commercial/marketing leadership role within the life sciences or biotechnology industry, including at least 3 years in a people management capacity.

-OR-
  • PhD/Master's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or a related field
  • Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in product management, portfolio management, or a commercial/marketing leadership role within the life sciences or biotechnology industry, including at least 3 years in a people management capacity.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Proven track record of owning and growing a complex, multi-segment product or service portfolio with full P&L accountability.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and inspire cross-functional and geographically distributed teams.
  • Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate market intelligence into actionable franchise strategies and innovation roadmaps.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership and engaging external partners.
  • Familiarity with biosafety testing, contract testing services (CTS), or a closely related life sciences services environment is strongly preferred.


Pay Range for this position: $160,400 - $290,200

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.

Direct link to benefits site if the hyperlink no longer works: https://careers.emdgroup.com/us/en/benefits].

About Merck Group

Merck Group Careers

There has never been a more opportune time to join Merck Group, a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science, and performance materials. Merck Group offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a variety of skills and professional aspirations, making it an ideal environment for both seasoned experts and those at the start of their career journey.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck Group, every team member contributes to breakthrough innovations in healthcare, life sciences, and electronics. The company's commitment to diversity and innovation fuels its leadership in various sectors, driving growth and transformation globally. Merck Group’s career paths are diverse, offering positions that challenge individuals to use their skills in new ways every day, supported by robust training programs and development opportunities.

Explore Job Opportunities and Growth

Merck Group is not just about jobs; it's about building a career. With a vast array of positions, from research and development to marketing and sales, the company is keen on hiring and nurturing talent to lead industry transformation. Merck Group’s dedication to professional growth is evident in its comprehensive benefits package and performance management processes that aim to maximize individual potential.

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Starting with an internship at Merck Group can be a pivotal step in securing a prosperous career. Interns gain invaluable industry experience, working alongside seasoned professionals and engaging in projects that offer real-world applications of their studies. Internships often lead to full-time employment opportunities, providing a seamless transition from education to professional employment.

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Merck Group is proud of its inclusive culture that embraces diversity and fosters an environment where all employees can thrive. The company’s leadership is committed to creating a workplace where diverse ideas lead to innovative outcomes. Merck Group also offers diversity training to ensure all team members are equipped to contribute to the company’s inclusive goals.

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Employees at Merck Group are encouraged to engage in networking and professional development activities that enhance their career trajectories. The company hosts various networking events, workshops, and seminars that are designed to hone skills and foster connections within the industry. Leadership development programs are also a cornerstone, preparing employees for future roles of increased responsibility.

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Interested candidates can explore open positions that match their skills and interests through the Merck Group careers page. The company values curious, creative, and solution-driven team players who are eager to make an impact.

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