Job Description
The goal of this new Director (m/f/d) Market Access Value role is to strengthen and expand patient access in Germany by leading a high-performing multi-team organization that shapes future-proof access solutions and health policy strategies, anticipates national and European access trends, and enables the business through evidence generation and cross-functional implementation, thereby accelerating the sustainable adoption of innovations for patients.
As Director Market Access Value (m/f/d), you will lead Market Access Value topics in Germany and manage a strategic expert organization for access solutions, care management projects, and German health policy topics, including European initiatives with an impact on Germany. You are responsible for strategic direction, building effective governance structures, and ensuring high-quality implementation through direct leadership of a team of experts and people managers.
Leadership Scope: In this role, you will lead six direct reports, including two people managers with their own teams. You will steer a multi-team organization across cross-functional workstreams and ensure that priorities are clearly set, standards are consistently applied, and strong stakeholder impact is achieved.
Your main responsibilities:
Leadership and development of a multi-team organization (accountability at Director level)
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Translate strategy into measurable team plans.
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Coach and develop direct reports (including people managers), clarify decision rights, and strengthen a culture of ownership and inclusion.
Access Solutions & Care Management Portfolio
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Manage the portfolio for access solutions and care management projects in Germany, as well as the Health Award and Health Forum: prioritization, governance, resource planning, and outcomes.
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Develop best practices and consistent quality in solution design, stakeholder mapping, and implementation planning.
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Ensure that program execution is compliant, remains stakeholder-relevant, and demonstrates measurable impact.
Access Environment
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Serve as the responsible function within Market Access for topics related to German health policy and system developments that affect access and reimbursement, working in close alignment with the Policy team.
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Lead a structured assessment of European initiatives with an impact on Germany; together with the German Policy team, derive implications, scenarios, and recommendations for action.
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Provide input for senior-level briefings and deliver guidance and decision papers for Market Access and cross-functional leadership.
Trend Intelligence, Strategic Outlook & Shaping the Access Strategy
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Build sustainable capabilities for monitoring and interpreting access trends (national and European) and translate insights into strategic options.
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Help shape German access strategies by bringing external insights, stakeholder expectations, and system developments into portfolio planning.
Local evidence/data generation strategy for the vaccine portfolio
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Drive local evidence needs and strategy (RWE/outcomes/implementation learnings) for vaccines to support access approaches and stakeholder value discussions (AMNOG data strategies are out of scope).
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Partner with Medical, Access TA teams, and Outcomes Research to define priorities, ensure a “fit for purpose” design, and accelerate the translation of evidence into access narratives.
Cross-functional leadership
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Lead matrix collaboration with Policy/Public Affairs, Business Units, Medical, and other regional and global Access teams; break down barriers and align priorities.
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Represent the function in the MAX Leadership Team; influence decisions with clarity, transparency, and stakeholder-centered reasoning.
Your profile:
Education
- Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, e.g. Life Sciences, Pharmacy/Medicine, Health Economics, Public Health, or equivalent.
Experience & Expertise
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Several years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in Market Access in Germany, with solid knowledge of health policy and stakeholders/customers, including in-depth expertise in the AMNOG process and in creating evidence-based value stories.
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Proven experience in strategic planning and project/program management in complex, international, cross-functional setups; experience in data generation, including internationally, is an advantage.
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Proven experience working with health insurance funds, and knowledge of the G-BA Innovation Fund: building and maintaining robust stakeholder relationships, understanding relevant processes and requirements, and successfully managing or supporting care/innovation fund projects through to implementation (including cross-functional coordination).
Skills & Behaviors
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Strong business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking: grasp overarching business goals and interrelationships; deploy resources to the most important priorities and consistently place company goals above individual department goals.
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Proven people leadership experience and strong matrix leadership capability: demonstrated leadership experience, coaching strength, and consistent performance orientation.
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High decisiveness, prioritization skills, and execution discipline in a regulated environment.
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Very strong analytical skills and problem-solving capability: ability to interpret complex data/evidence and translate it into clear, actionable recommendations.
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High resilience, adaptability, and initiative; comfortable in a dynamic environment with ambiguity, tight timelines, and high visibility.
Language
- Very good English, spoken and written, is required.
Applicants with severe disabilities and equivalent persons will be given preference when equally qualified.
Additional location(s) Compensation Information:
Required Skills:
Acquisitions Divestitures, Agile Leadership, Employee Performance Evaluations, Environmental Scanning, Feasibility Studies, Financial Analysis, Forecasting Models, Growth Mindset, Operations Analysis, People Leadership, Resource Management, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork Orientation
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
No Travel Required
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
11/18/2026
*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.