Oncology Therapeutic Area Director

Job Description

Within a customer-centric organization, the Therapeutic Area Director is responsible for marketing strategy and sales operations for their therapeutic area, in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

He/she is responsible for:

• In alignment with regional/global strategy, define the L3 Next strategy / customer segmentation for their therapeutic area, customer plans and ensure their implementation at the Field team level, in compliance with internal procedures and applicable regulations

• Propose Profit Plans, LROP, EA, and objectives for their pole teams (Sales, Marketing, …)

• Make recommendations to optimize "customer focus" and resources (allocation of human resources and promotional budget) to achieve set objectives and optimize their pole's efficiency

• Manage the budget associated with their scope of responsibility and, more broadly, they are responsible for their Pole's P&L

• Manage the teams within their area of responsibility (Pole)

Main Activities:

Marketing and sales operations strategy:

• Develop and submit the L3 Next plan for each product for which they are responsible

• With the Finance Director, prepare the PP, EA, LROP, PLR, Budget and submit them for approval; They are responsible for the P&L

• Define the resources necessary to implement the strategic plan and make decisions on the allocation of financial and human resources needed, integrating new communication media

• Ensure coordination of operations for customers common to multiple products in their therapeutic area / Therapeutic Unit

• Collaborate with peers to coordinate actions with Customers aligned with the company's strategy

• Ensure marketing/sales coordination with medical, regulatory, legal, strategic planning, market access and our manufacturing division teams

• Plan and control promotional spending at the National and Regional level, and report to finance; and, more generally, manage all budgets under their responsibility

• Where applicable, be proactive on commercial policy and regularly measure its impacts to reassess decisions

• Ensure the efficiency of their organization to address business and human challenges in their therapeutic area, as well as Subsidiary/Global strategy (network organization, marketing organization, …); where applicable, propose adaptations in consultation with internal stakeholders, and support change with internal teams and external clients

Creating value for customers:

• Represent customer needs at regional/global meetings or ensure their product manager is the spokesperson for the country's needs

• Meet regularly with customers, identify their needs, new potential customers for their business, escalate their needs and represent the company to national/regional leaders

• Develop professional relationships with stakeholders in the environment (leaders, payers, patients…)

Team Management:

• Cascade the company's strategic and operational vision, ensure teams understand it, and escalate Field team needs to Headquarters level and ensure appropriate follow-up

• Ensure optimization of operations through the definition of key performance indicators, monitoring results at the regional and sector level in order to quickly implement appropriate action plans to optimize results while maintaining a customer-focused approach

• Propose sales objectives and ensure their cascade at the regional and sector level

• Manage and motivate teams (sales, marketing, …) by making appropriate decisions

• Recruit, evaluate and develop employees (Individual objectives, development plan, training plan) and ensure follow-up

• Manage and coach team managers (Marketing Manager, Regional Director, …) in managing their teams and activities

• Lead cycle meetings (marketing / Regional Director/Therapeutic Director meetings) and ensure proper facilitation of Regional Director meetings with their teams

• Ensure knowledge and compliance with regulations and compliance rules (DMOS, Charter, FCPA) within the Pole's scope

Technical/ELS Skills:

• Competency in strategic analysis and planning (forecasting)

• Strategic vision: Anticipate and interpret changes in the pharmaceutical environment in the short and medium term and adapt strategies / resources

• Quick decision-making: rapidly assess the commercial impact of a decision and know how to quickly take corrective measures

• Priority management

• Leadership

Leadership Behaviors

Customer focus: Create a clear and motivating strategic vision based on customer focus, including patients through a good understanding of customer needs

Collaboration: Collaborates effectively with management, colleagues and establishes structures that facilitate efficient collaboration within their BU

Acts with candor & transparency:

Communicates openly and transparently and creates a climate conducive to this type of communication within their BU Has the courage to promote change and knows how to take calculated risks and manage difficult situations

Makes quick decisions and supports their implementation

Results-oriented: Pays close attention to performance indicators that drive the organization, sets clear objectives and holds teams accountable for results by making customer needs the cornerstone of their vision

Additional Information about the Position Environment:

Required Education, Experience and Language Level:

• Fluent English (B2/C1 level)

• Scientific and/or Commercial degree (Master's level/BAC+5/6) and successful management experience in Marketing or Sales (minimum 10 years), and/or demonstrated experience in a Therapeutic Area Director position

• Experience in the healthcare field (market access, healthcare environment, …)

• Successful team management experience

Required Skills:

Accountability, Adaptability, Creativity, Digital Marketing, Market Access, Marketing Automation, Marketing Budget Management, Market Research, Omnichannel Marketing, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Sales Marketing, Product Launches, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

07/28/2026

*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.