US Director, Payor & Access Strategy Lead, Medical Affairs, Health Systems

Job Description

Role Summary

• The US Director, Payor & Access Strategy Lead, Medical Affairs (PASL) is responsible for US Field Medical (FM) strategy, training, and prioritization of the Value & Implementation (V&I) plan for USMA Health Systems (HS). The PASL for health systems is an impactful member of US Medical Affairs (USMA) cross-functional teams, US Medical Affairs Teams (USMAT), and Value Teams (VT).

• The US PASL drives US HS strategic excellence and optimizes HS and USMA readiness in support of payor access, pharmacoeconomic and scientific exchange aligned to Global V&I plan priorities. This is a regionally based position (US) in our company’s Research and Development (R&D) division.

Responsibilities and Primary Activities

• Responsible for the direction, coordination, implementation, control, and execution of USMA and HS payor and access strategy while remaining aligned to global medical and commercial strategy, commitments, and goals. Leads the US HS integrated Field Medical (FM) plan process in collaboration with US HS Executive Director (US HS ED), US HS Senior PASL, US HS Team Leads, and other members of the global and regional cross-functional teams.

• Possesses relevant medical affairs experience to guide and direct payor and access strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and unmet needs

• Collects, analyzes, and communicates scientific insights from US HS Medical Affairs Director (MAD) field engagements to inform company strategies across our research division/Value & Implementation, which includes Global Medical & Scientific Affairs (GMSA) and Outcomes Research (OR), and Commercial.

• Serves as US Health Systems interface between GMSA, Commercial, and other relevant headquarters (HQ) functions and the US HSTeam

• Identifies and prioritizes US HS field resources, training needs, and activities across the portfolio to optimize HS MAD Field Team readiness

• Collaborates with key stakeholders to define/implement strategic congress priorities for US HS and coordinates planning of HS MAD activities at key scientific congresses

• Continuously scans the healthcare environment and quality landscape to analyze emerging trends in the therapeutic and competitive landscape, in addition to market access to optimize US Field HS Team capabilities

• Represents USMA HS, in partnership with GMSA, in Expert Input Forums or Advisory Boards, as needed

Required Qualifications, Skills, & Experience

Minimum

• Advanced healthcare/science degree (MD, PhD, or PharmD)

• 5+ years of prior pharmaceutical industry experience, (preferably Field Medical experience or equivalent biotech/pharmaceutical/Medical Affairs strategy experience), OR 5+ years of experience working in quality/managed care, with demonstrated scientific acumen OR equivalent

• Demonstrated ability to create and implement a strategic plan

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, networking, and results-oriented project management skills

• Thorough knowledge of clinical medicine, US healthcare delivery system structure and function, pharmaco-economics, population health management, quality management, value-based payment, and healthcare delivery policy and trends

• Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a complex, matrixed environment (promoting inclusion, maintaining trust, and respecting others)

• Ability to network and partner with important internal and external stakeholders, including cross functional teams, scientific leaders, and key decision makers

• Knowledge of national and society treatment guidelines, clinical research processes, FDA regulations, and Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other ethical guidelines, laws, and regulations relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and its external stakeholder environment

Preferred

• Prior experience leading complex projects with demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects and priorities simultaneously and function in a fast-paced environment

• Formal training in pharmaco-economics/outcomes research

#eligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Clinical Research, External Collaboration, Managed Care, Medical Affairs, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Pharmacoeconomics, Research and Development, Scientific Communications, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/9/2026

*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.