Associate Director, Market Insights, Oncology and HIV
Merck Healthcare KGaA
Summary
The Associate Director, Market Insights, Oncology and HIV is responsible for recommending, designing, and conducting US market research and leading US competitive intelligence to assess performance/perception, identify opportunities and barriers to use, and provide objective and data-driven recommendations for our in-line HIV and Oncology portfolios – Serostim, Tepmetko, and Bavencio. Working cross functionally, this position contributes to commercial and brand strategy with US TA leadership through their expertise with customer insights and objectively communicating implications. In partnership with the Analytics and Forecasting counterparts, they will play an integral role in continuing to scrutinize and optimize brand performance – designing and leading research to continuously assess customer use, perceptions, and future use intentions for both EMD Serono and competitor products, thereby enabling Senior Leadership to make optimal, data-driven decisions based on in-depth knowledge of the market, our customers and our products. This role also leads the development, analysis, and dissemination of competitive intelligence for the markets that our HIV and Oncology products exist in. This role ensures that our businesses utilize timely competitive intelligence to drive cross-functional transparency, alignment, decision-making, and action.
Job description
Your Role
The Associate Director, Market Insights, Oncology and HIV is responsible for recommending, designing, and conducting US market research and leading US competitive intelligence to assess performance/perception, identify opportunities and barriers to use, and provide objective and data-driven recommendations for our in-line HIV and Oncology portfolios – Serostim, Tepmetko, and Bavencio. Working cross functionally, this position contributes to commercial and brand strategy with US TA leadership through their expertise with customer insights and objectively communicating implications. In partnership with the Analytics and Forecasting counterparts, they will play an integral role in continuing to scrutinize and optimize brand performance – designing and leading research to continuously assess customer use, perceptions, and future use intentions for both EMD Serono and competitor products, thereby enabling Senior Leadership to make optimal, data-driven decisions based on in-depth knowledge of the market, our customers and our products. This role also leads the development, analysis, and dissemination of competitive intelligence for the markets that our HIV and Oncology products exist in. This role ensures that our businesses utilize timely competitive intelligence to drive cross-functional transparency, alignment, decision-making, and action.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide data-driven strategic insights to HIV and Oncology brand teams & senior leadership and shape brand/commercial strategy and key decisions
- Lead end-to-end primary and secondary market research (study design/methodology, instruments, vendor management, analysis, readouts) to solve complex business questions
- Synthesize insights across qualitative & quantitative studies, epidemiology, claims/Rx, and other data sources into a business and implications-oriented story; deliver clear reporting on trends, performance, opportunities, gaps, and risks
- Integrate customer/market insights into forecasting and key planning assumptions
- Drive cross-functional and Global alignment to avoid duplication, ensure US needs/compliance are met, and represent key customer (e.g. patient, HCP) perspectives
- Maintain market research best practices and innovation; manage budgets and external vendors/agencies
- Lead competitive intelligence monitoring and ethical collection; manage CI agencies; translate competitive activity (including congress coverage) into assessments that inform strategy, tactics, forecasting, and lifecycle plans
Who You Are
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical insights generation including demonstrated ability to compare and recommend appropriate integrated approaches to address business needs
- Minimum 4 years of primary market research experience
- Minimum 4 years of HIV and/or Oncology product experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Expertise in in-line pharma market research (positioning, messaging, creative, ATU, tracking) and integrated CI/insights (primary + secondary)
- Experience running primary CI (KIQs/KITs, vendor selection/management, congress coverage through reporting)
- Strong analytical, strategic, forecasting/financial, and PowerPoint storytelling skills
- Excellent communication/presentation abilities; able to lead and influence cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
- Ability to communicate openly and share information to foster trust while encouraging constructive debate, making informed decisions, and ensuring shared commitment to outcomes
- Demonstrated willingness to take risks and stand up for what is right while prioritizing the needs and experiences of customers and patients in all decisions
- Commitment to setting and reaching ambitious goals and setting high standards while acting in the best interest of the company and taking initiative to drive results
- Uphold ethical standards and being honest in all interactions
- Ability to streamline processes to focus on what matters and creates impact and acting quickly to adapt to changes
- Demonstrated ability to embrace new ideas, challenge the status quo, and seek innovative solutions while valuing diverse perspectives and treating others with respect and dignity
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical insights generation
- Minimum 4 years of primary market research experience
- Minimum 4 years of HIV and/or Oncology product experience
- Expertise in in-line pharma market research (positioning, messaging, creative, ATU, tracking) and integrated CI/insights
- Experience running primary CI (KIQs/KITs, vendor selection/management, congress coverage through reporting)
- Strong analytical, strategic, forecasting/financial, and PowerPoint storytelling skills
- Excellent communication/presentation abilities
- Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Retirement Contributions
- Sales/Performance Bonuses
Company overview
Merck Healthcare KGaA is the healthcare business sector of the Merck Group, a German multinational science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt. Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest operating pharmaceutical and chemical company. The Healthcare division focuses on developing innovative therapies across multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, neurology & immunology, fertility, and cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrinological disorders. With approximately 62,557 employees globally, Merck Healthcare operates in more than 65 countries and generated 40% of the Group's sales in 2024. The company's oncology portfolio includes blockbuster products like Erbitux (cetuximab) for colorectal and head and neck cancers, Bavencio (avelumab) for urothelial carcinoma, and Tepmetko (tepotinib) for MET-altered cancers. In neurology, Mavenclad (cladribine) has achieved blockbuster status for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis, while the fertility division has helped bring over 6 million babies into the world through products like Gonal-f. Merck Healthcare combines a strong established business with specialty innovation, delivering a diversified portfolio of therapies to millions of patients worldwide.