Job Description
The Associate Director, Patient Health Innovation (PHI) - Digital Direct Access will co-lead strategy and execution of direct access and direct-to-patient (DtP) capabilities. This person will become a subject matter expert for end-to-end capabilities and the orchestration across diagnostic testing, telehealth, digital benefits verification, electronic prior authorization, digital coverage and price transparency, digital cash-pay pathways, digital coupons/affordability programs, fulfillment integrations (retail and home delivery), and digital refill/adherence support. That expertise will be used to proactively match what is possible with the brand needs across a variety of launch and/or in-line brands. Working in a matrixed environment, they will partner closely with commercial Legal and Privacy, patient support, supply chain, compliance, IT, external vendors and payer stakeholders to design, implement, and operationalize an integrated, patient-centric digital access ecosystem that reduces prescription friction and simplifies therapy initiation.
The role of the Digital Direct Access Associate Director within the team will:
- Co-Lead the strategy and execution of the innovative digital direct access capabilities aligned to key product launches and lifecycle objectives; prioritize related capabilities and phased rollouts that drive highest impact on written-to-filled conversion and time-to-therapy.
- Serve as the product and domain lead for innovative end to end digital direct access capabilities (diagnostic testing, digital BV, ePA, telehealth, digital coverage transparency, digital price transparency, digital coupons/affordability, digital cash-pay, retail/home fulfillment, digital refill/adherence).
- Own requirements definition and cross-functional inputs for integrations with and orchestration across ecosystem components, such as: EHRs, Prior Authorization, Hubs/PSPs, patient access, and pharmacy partners.
- Define, review, and approve the Measurement Plan and related KPIs (post-prescription: written-to-filled conversion, time-to-therapy, pathway utilization, PA success rate, time-to-approval, etc.) and deliver regular reporting to stakeholders.
- Ensure data security and privacy and adherence to relevant policies for handling PHI/PII; partner with legal/privacy/compliance teams on controls and guardrails (e.g., coupon eligibility, cash-pay compliance).
- Maintain vendor relationships; evaluate partner capabilities and orchestrate sibling solutions to create an integrated patient experience.
- Capture and present lessons learned, produce post-implementation analyses and iterate on capabilities to improve outcomes.
This position is primarily an internal role but will interface frequently with external strategic alliances, collaborations, and other identified third parties. This role will report into the Director of PHI-TA Aligned Innovation and Enterprise Innovation for CEI.
Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (BA/BS).
- 5+ years of working experience in the pharmaceutical / health care industry including general knowledge of health care technology and digital capabilities and solutions.
- 3+ years of experience working with external partners.
- Ability to build and lead cross functional teams across the US market to create innovative solutions aligned with US market priorities.
- Demonstrated competency to develop or co-develop solutions or resources that align with strategic organizational priorities and identified capabilities.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity and to lead diverse teams without direct authority.
- Demonstrated project management and internal process management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data and insights into user friendly reports and presentations.
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Ability to work in innovative ‘white space’, and a desire to drive innovation in a complex regulatory space.
- Demonstrated skills working in new ways to drive innovative solutions.
- 5-10% Travel.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
- Experience with direct-to-patient (DtP) and/or digital direct access solutions.
- Experience with Agile Process/Scrum Framework.
- Experience managing accounts, customers or health care ecosystem stakeholders.
- Experience working in a consultative way with internal stakeholders.
- Familiarity with budget management and annual budget planning process.
**Required Skills: **
Acquisitions Divestitures, Agile Product Ownership, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Environmental Scanning, Healthcare Account Management, Healthcare Technology, Innovation, Internal Project Management, Promotional Review, Risk Management, Scrum Methodology, Strategic Alliances, Strategic Licensing, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking
**Preferred Skills: **
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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
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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:
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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.
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The salary range for this role is
$142,400.00 - $224,100.00
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:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
06/18/2026
***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. **