Associate Director, Medical Affairs Lead- General Medicine & Speciality Medicine

Job Description

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

Leadership and Management

• Recruits, hires and develops talent within the Medical Affairs team.

• Creates an empowering, compliant, collaborative, and innovation-focused work environment.

• Builds a culture of quality and compliance through training, oversight and collaboration.

• Develops and executes the Country Medical Affairs Plans (CMAPs) for the TA, ensuring alignment with global strategy and adherence to relevant regulations and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Manages the TA portfolio, balancing global and local priorities.

• Performs observational field visits with Field Medical Advisors to assess scientific and soft-skill acumen Medical Affairs Management

• Oversees the development and execution of CMAPs, including post-licensure research, publication plans, and investigator-initiated studies.

• Manages the operating administrative and lifecycle-management budget for the TA.

• Supports inspections and audits and provides assistance in answering inquiries by health authorities and internal auditors.

• Ensures Field Medical Advisors/MSLs have assigned geographic territories and/or indications aligned with the Medical Affairs Plan

• Manages the country-developed Protocol Concept Sheets (PCSs) and supports obtaining regional and global approvals for new local data-generation activities. Collaboration with Internal Stakeholders

• Represents V&I in cross-functional teams, collaborating with Global Clinical Development (GCD), Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), and other internal stakeholders.

• Provides scientific expertise to commercial product teams, ensuring the scientific and medical value of the company’s products.

• Fosters collaboration among local marketing teams, market access teams, Regional Directors of Medical Affairs (RDMAs), regional marketing, and Medical Managers to support the TA in achieving local and regional goals.

• Ensures correct development of core competencies of Medical Affairs in the team. Engagement with External Stakeholders

• Serves as the external interface with key TA stakeholders, professional societies, and the broader scientific community.

• Develops and maintains relationships with health-care professionals (HCPs), providers, and academic centers.

• Collaborates with market access, regulatory, and commercial colleagues to engage payers, policymakers, and other decision-makers.

• Liaises with national and international physicians to establish good relationships and model HCP perception about the company's products.

• When needed, engages in scientific exchange to bridge science to clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Minimum

• MD, PhD or PharmD with a minimum of three to five years of clinical, Medical Affairs, and/or research experience in a relevant disease area.

• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with various business units and senior leaders.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to create and execute complex strategic and operational initiatives.

• Demonstrated organizational skills, including goal setting and priority alignment.

• Deep experience in the company’s therapeutic areas of interest (e.g., Cardiovascular (PAH, Lipids), COPD3, Immunology (IBD, Rheumatology).

• at least 2 years of strong leadership skills with documented people-management experience.

• Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills.

• Ability to work in matrix organizations and manage direct reports.

• Experience in the development or field management of interventional/non-interventional studies.

• Saudi National is a priority. Preferred

• Specialty clinical training (e.g., residency or fellowship).

• Previous Medical Affairs experience.

• Innovative thinker with the ability to identify and develop novel approaches to tackle daily tasks.

• Self-driven and proactive with the ability to deliver as a leader, team member, and individual contributor.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to synthesize data into actionable business plans.

• Experience in project management and leadership potential.

• High level of integrity and adherence to ethical standards.

• Ability to simplify and convey complex concepts and strategies, orally and in writing.

• Strong understanding of the compliance environment in which Medical Affairs functions.

• Ability to inspire and motivate team members.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills

• Clinical Trials, Corporate Ethics, Data Analysis, Global Coordination, Leadership Management, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Strategies, Scientific Publications, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Negotiations, Strategic Planning, Teamwork, Workplace Culture

Preferred Skills:

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• 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:

• 11/1/2026*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.