Head of Franchise Excellence

Merck Group$155K — $233K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or PhD/Master's in Business, Life Sciences, or related field.
  • 10+ years of experience in portfolio management, marketing, or commercial strategy in life sciences or biotechnology
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams
  • Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
  • Proficiency in synthesizing complex market data into actionable strategies.

Responsibilities

  • Define cross-franchise growth strategies for CTS.
  • Build business cases supporting strategic initiatives using market intelligence.
  • Develop dashboards tracking revenue and profitability.
  • Consolidate contributions for annual planning processes across franchises.
  • Create executable go-to-market tactics for sales teams.
  • Oversee marketing programs and initiatives enhancing market presence.
  • Drive process improvements to enhance operational efficiency.

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off (PTO)
  • Retirement contributions
  • Perquisites related to the role
Full Job Description
Your Role:

As the Head of Franchise Excellence, you will build and lead the cross-franchise delivery engine that powers strategic and market excellence across BioReliance Contract Testing Services (CTS). Uniquely positioned to connect market intelligence, modality-specific segment strategies, pricing excellence, and marketing operations, your team will drive end-to-end initiatives that cut across all CTS franchises - from strategy development through to go-to-market execution. With dedicated expertise spanning key growth modalities, your team will ensure BioReliance remains at the forefront of an evolving and competitive landscape. Working closely with franchise leaders, commercial, operations, and R&D teams, you will turn market insights and business priorities into franchise and modality growth strategies - complete with executable go-to-market tactics that drive growth and competitive positioning across CTS

Location: [Rockville (preferred), suitable candidates from Glasgow or Darmstadt will be considered]

Reports To: Global Head of Franchises, Marketing and R&D

Key Responsibilities:

Cross-Franchise Strategy & Market Development:
  • Define and drive cross-franchise growth strategies spanning all CTS franchises, with modality-specific focus.
  • Build and own business cases for strategic growth initiatives, supported by market sizing, competitor intelligence, scenario modeling, and pricing frameworks that are competitive, value-aligned, and supportive of CTS portfolio P&L objectives.
  • Develop and maintain dashboards and analytical models tracking revenue, profitability, utilization, and customer diversification, consolidating insights for CTS leadership, regional, and cross-franchise reviews.
  • Drive and consolidate cross-franchise contributions to key annual planning processes including Strategic Development (SD), Operational Planning (OP), and the Annual Marketing Plan, ensuring alignment across all CTS franchises.


Go-to-Market Enablement & Commercial Execution:
  • Develop franchise and modality growth strategies complete with executable go-to-market tactics that serve as the commercial playbook for sales teams across CTS.
  • Oversee cross-franchise marketing programs, campaigns, roadshows, webinars, and account-based marketing initiatives, partnering with Marcom, SMEs, and Commercial Operations to drive market presence and sales enablement.
  • Track and optimize marketing initiative effectiveness, capturing case studies, scaling best practices, and managing client communications across the portfolio.


Operational Excellence & Program Management:
  • Drive process improvements that enhance efficiency and scalability across CTS franchises, standardizing reporting, governance, and tracking to ensure visibility and accountability on key initiatives.
  • Program-manage complex cross-franchise projects such as Salesforce campaigns and other strategic initiatives, partnering with Operations and Finance to resolve roadblocks and deliver lean, high-impact workflows.


Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Lead, develop, and inspire a team of senior individual contributors including Market Segment Leaders, a Strategic Pricing Lead, and a Marketing Operations Lead, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
  • Act as a key integrator and senior thought partner to franchise heads and the CTS leadership team, aligning cross-functional stakeholders across sales, R&D, operations, and finance from strategy through execution.


Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or a related field
  • Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in portfolio management, marketing, strategy consulting, program management or commercial strategy within the life sciences, biotechnology, or contract testing industry, including demonstrated people leadership experience.

-OR-
  • PhD/Master's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or a related field
  • Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in portfolio management, marketing, strategy consulting, program management or commercial strategy within the life sciences, biotechnology, or contract testing industry, including demonstrated people leadership experience.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Proven track record of leading cross-functional or cross-franchise programs at a senior level, with the ability to influence without direct authority across a matrixed organization.
  • Strong strategic thinking and analytical capabilities, with the ability to synthesize complex market and business data into clear, actionable strategies.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with a demonstrated ability to build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams.
  • Experience working in a global, matrixed organization across multiple geographies.
  • Experience in strategy development, strategic pricing, marketing operations, or commercial excellence functions within a life sciences or CRO/CDMO environment is preferred


Pay Range for this position: $155,800 - $233,600

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.

Internship Programs

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.

Inclusive Culture and Leadership

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.

Networking and Professional Development

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.

Stay Connected with Merck Group Careers

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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