Merck & Co, Inc

Sr. Specialist, Therapeutic Excellence Learning Experience Designer (Remote - US)

Merck & Co, Inc • $106K — $167K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
6 days ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of experience in learning & development or instructional design, preferably in pharmaceutical or healthcare industries.
  • Strong acumen in therapeutic science and business processes.
  • Proficient in translating business strategy into actionable learning solutions.
  • Experience in Medical/Legal/Compliance review processes for learning materials.
  • Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, particularly at leadership levels.
  • Master's degree preferred, particularly relevant to healthcare or education.

Responsibilities

  • Lead global learning strategy for assigned brands, fostering strong stakeholder relationships.
  • Consult with stakeholders to define performance needs and desired business outcomes.
  • Design and implement scalable, learner-centric educational experiences across various formats.
  • Monitor and enhance learning solutions based on data and feedback.
  • Oversee and manage vendor relationships for effective learning initiative execution.
  • Ensure compliance with medical and legal regulations in all learning aspects.
  • Measure learning effectiveness and continuously seek improvement opportunities.

Benefits

  • Flexible remote work arrangements
  • Opportunity to work on high-impact learning solutions in healthcare
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams and industry experts
  • Continuous professional development and career growth opportunities
  • Participation in innovative learning strategy discussions
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Learning Experience Designer, Therapeutic Excellence serves as an end-to-end learning design leader responsible for translating business, brand, and therapeutic strategies into high-impact, compliant, and scalable product and disease learning experiences across U.S. and Global markets.

This role combines learning strategy consultation, advanced learning experience design, and operational ownership to ensure the commercial organization is knowledgeable, confident, and ready to perform at launch and through key market moments. The Designer applies deep therapeutic and scientific acumen, data-driven insights, and design thinking to create learner-centric, outcomes-driven learning journeys by persona and role. Working in close partnership with Learning Consultants, Learning Developers, vendors, SMEs, and cross-functional stakeholders, the Learning Experience Designer is accountable for high-level learning strategy, detailed design, vendor oversight, and Medical/Legal/Compliance (CRT/PRT) participation or ownership, ensuring learning solutions are scientifically sound, compliant, scalable, and aligned to business priorities.

Brand/Franchise Learning Strategy & Business Consultation
  • Serve as the primary Global learning consultant for assigned Brands/Franchise, establishing and sustaining strong relationships with brand, sales, and functional leaders.
  • Consult with stakeholders to identify performance needs, capability gaps, and desired business outcomes aligned to brand and launch strategies.
  • Translate business and performance into an integrated learning strategy that may include training and non-training solutions.
  • Monitor trends, data, and feedback to continuously refine learning strategies and recommend improvements.
  • Report on learning initiative progress, risks, and key decisions in regular business forums, including high-stakes cross-functional leadership meetings.
  • Drive adoption and sustained use of learning assets by supporting and delivering targeted enablement sessions for market-level stakeholders and field leaders.


Learning Experience Design & Oversight
  • Design scalable, learner-centric, science-based learning journeys by persona and role, aligned to global learning and brand strategy.
  • Create high-level designs, detailed design documents, learning blueprints, and content frameworks across multiple modalities (digital, virtual, ILT, blended).
  • Apply adult learning theory, instructional design best practices, and design thinking to drive mindset, skill, and behavior change.
  • Partner closely with Learning Developers, SMEs, and vendors to ensure fidelity to design intent and business outcomes.
  • Facilitate design and content creation working sessions to assess learner needs and define instructional objectives.
  • Facilitate co-creation sessions with market-level stakeholders to ensure learning strategies are relevant, delivered in time for market needs, and minimize duplicate or redundant spend.
  • Influence and build modular content architecture that scales global "non-negotiables" while defining boundaries for local variants, with a clear approach to label updates, indication expansions, and market-specific regulatory accommodations.
  • Partner closely with localization teams to ensure source files are created in ways that enable efficient downstream adaptation and use across markets (e.g., structured templates, editable formats, and clear content governance).


Development Partnership & Vendor Management
  • Accountable for the performance of all learning initiatives they lead for their assigned brand(s), including delivery quality, impact, and on-time execution.
  • Oversee internal and external vendors responsible for learning design and development, ensuring quality, scalability, speed, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Provide clear direction, feedback, and governance to vendors to ensure alignment with learning standards, brand strategy, and learner experience.
  • Manage learning programs end-to-end, including timelines, dependencies, prioritization, and stakeholder communication.
  • Monitor, track, and report financial performance for learning initiatives, including budget forecasting, spend oversight, and reconciliation with Business Budget Owners.


Medical, Legal, and Regulatory Ownership
  • Job owner for learning assets, fully accountable from job creation through approval and archive.
  • Participate in or lead Medical/Legal/Compliance (CRT/PRT) review processes, including preparation, live discussions, and revisions.
  • Collaborate with agencies and partners to prepare materials for review and ensure strategic, compliant execution.
  • Anticipate commercial reviewer concerns by proactively preventing claim creep and tone risks, ensuring fair balance framing while maintaining appropriate scientific depth for the defined learner persona.
  • Ensure learning solutions meet US and Global regulatory requirements and standards.


Delivery, Measurement, and Continuous Improvement
  • Support training delivery and/or enable subject matter experts and trainers as needed for Global markets.
  • Analyze learning effectiveness data, learner feedback, and business impact metrics.
  • Communicate insights and recommendations to stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and sustainability of learning solutions.
  • Identify opportunities to enhance learning effectiveness, efficiency, and learner experience over time


Core Capabilities & Competencies
  • Therapeutic, scientific, and business acumen
  • Learning strategy, needs analysis, and experience design
  • Adult learning theory and instructional design
  • User Centered Design
  • Executive Presence
  • Stakeholder consultation, influence, and partnership
  • Program and project management
  • Vendor and agency management
  • Data-driven decision making and learning measurement
  • Change management and organizational agility
  • Strong oral, written, and presentation communication skills
  • Creative thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving
  • Coaching and collaboration across functions
  • Digital learning and learning management systems


Required Education:
  • Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree, or currently in pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience in Human Resources, or related discipline.


Required Experience:
  • Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in learning & development or instructional design (reduced with Master's degree).
  • Demonstrated experience designing and leading learning solutions for pharmaceutical or healthcare product and disease education.
  • Experience translating business strategy into scalable, learner-centric learning solutions.
  • Experience participating in or leading formal Medical/Legal/Compliance (CRT/PRT) review processes.
  • Proven ability to partner cross-functionally and influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
  • Strong communication skills, verbal and written, for both technical and non-technical learning
  • Creative thinking, strong problem-solving, continuous improvement capability
  • Ability to guide / mentor Learning Developers and troubleshoot issues
  • Management of design and development vendors
  • Assess capability, evaluate, and measure value and business impact
  • Stakeholder analysis and management, change management
  • Business acumen and ability to rapidly learn business and cultural contexts


Preferred Experience:
  • Master's degree.
  • Experience supporting pharmaceutical brand launches or key market events.
  • Oncology, vaccines, specialty, or general medicine experience.
  • Demonstrated success in cross-functional leadership and collaboration
  • Experience managing projects and vendors in a related field
  • Strong scientific acumen


MSJR

Required Skills:
Disease Education, Healthcare Industry, Instructional Design, Learning and Development (L&D), Pharmaceutical Industry

Preferred Skills:

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:
No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Remote

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Job Posting End Date:
07/6/2026
*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.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Engage with us through our careers blog and by participating in networking events and employment fairs. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and the latest news tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Merck & Co, Inc. Join us in our mission to improve health and wellness around the world.
Learn more about Merck & Co, Inc
Size
68,000 employees
Market Cap
$282.6 billion
Industry
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Net Income
$7 billion
Founded
1668
5 Year Trend
+4.1%
Revenue
$47.9 billion
NASDAQ
MRK
* Ladders Estimates

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