Director, Technical Services - US Livestock
Merck
Summary
The Director, Technical Services, US Livestock is a strategic people leader responsible for developing and leading a high-performing team that delivers scientific expertise, customer value, and business impact across the livestock portfolio. This role serves as a key technical and leadership partner to Commercial, Marketing, R&D, and Regulatory teams while building strong relationships with veterinarians, producers, industry leaders, and key opinion leaders.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Technical Services team.
- Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement.
- Champion change leadership and continuous improvement across the organization.
- Provide strategic scientific and technical leadership for the US Livestock portfolio.
- Collaborate with Commercial, Marketing, R&D, and Regulatory teams to support business objectives.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to customers, veterinarians, producers, consultants, and industry stakeholders.
- Build and maintain relationships with key opinion leaders, universities, and industry organizations.
- Deliver scientific presentations and represent the company at industry meetings and conferences.
- Support product launches, technical training, and customer education initiatives.
- Influence business strategy through scientific expertise, field insights, and market knowledge.
Minimum Qualifications
- DVM/VMD degree in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Biological Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in animal health, veterinary medicine, livestock production, pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, nutrition, or a related industry.
- 5 years of progressive leadership experience managing technical, scientific, veterinary, clinical, or cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated success developing talent and leading teams through growth and change.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience influencing decisions and building alignment across diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to effectively engage with customers, industry leaders, and executive leadership.
- Willingness to travel as needed to support customers, team development, and industry engagement.
Preferred Qualifications
- Poultry and/or swine experience preferred.
- Open to candidates with broader livestock, companion animal, mixed animal, veterinary practice, diagnostics, nutrition, or animal health industry backgrounds.
- Experience working with key opinion leaders, industry associations, and academic institutions.
- Customer-facing and commercial support experience within animal health.
Requirements
- DVM/VMD degree in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Biological Sciences, or a related scientific discipline
- 10+ years of experience in animal health, veterinary medicine, livestock production, pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, nutrition, or a related industry
- 5 years of progressive leadership experience managing technical, scientific, veterinary, clinical, or cross-functional teams
- Demonstrated success developing talent and leading teams through growth and change
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience influencing decisions and building alignment across diverse internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to effectively engage with customers, industry leaders, and executive leadership
- Willingness to travel as needed to support customers, team development, and industry engagement
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Decision Making
- People Leadership
- Strategic Leadership
- Veterinary Medicine
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Retirement Benefits
- 401(k)
- Paid Holidays
- Vacation
- Compassionate Leave
- Sick Days
- Annual Bonus
- Long-Term Incentive
Company overview
Merck & Co., Inc., known as Merck in the United States and Canada and MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) internationally, is a premier American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Founded in 1891 as the U.S. subsidiary of the German Merck Group, the company became independent following World War I and has since grown into one of the world's largest biomedical companies, ranking fourth globally by revenue. Merck operates across three core business segments: pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health products. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking research and development, having brought numerous life-saving medicines to market including Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a leading immunotherapy for cancer treatment that generated $29.5 billion in 2024 revenue, and Gardasil, a revolutionary HPV vaccine. With approximately 75,000 employees worldwide, Merck maintains a robust pipeline of innovative therapies focused on oncology, vaccines, hospital acute care, cardiology, neuroscience, virology, immunology, and diabetes. The company invests heavily in R&D, spending $17.9 billion in 2024 alone, demonstrating its commitment to advancing scientific discovery. Merck's legacy spans over 130 years of bringing hope to humanity through important medicines and vaccines, operating with a purpose to use leading-edge science to save and improve lives globally while fostering an inclusive workforce and responsible business practices.