Japan Dhh Leader

Merck Merck · Pharma · Tokyo, Japan

This is a commercial-digital leadership role focused on driving commercial outcomes through digital, data, and AI in the Japan business. The role acts as a strategic partner to senior commercial leadership, translating business priorities into outcome-driven plans and embedding advanced intelligence into decision-making. It involves leading demand orchestration, enterprise alignment, and people leadership for a Digital & Technology function. The ideal candidate is a commercially grounded leader with experience in digital, advanced analytics, data, or AI within the pharmaceutical industry.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as a primary strategic partner to senior commercial leadership, translating business development, pipeline, launch, and lifecycle priorities into integrated, outcome-driven plans.
  2. Own the commercial insight, analytics, and AI strategy, embedding advanced intelligence into core decision-making and operational processes.
  3. Quarterback demand from strategic intent through execution, adoption, and value realization, reducing fragmentation and accelerating time-to-impact.
  4. Lead 3–4 direct reports and oversee 35+ FTEs and contractors within a newly integrated Digital & Technology function, setting clear accountabilities and performance standards, strengthening talent capability, and continuously refining the operating model to be future-ready.
  5. Build a true one-team culture across business, digital, and IT — embedding agility, transparency, and shared enterprise outcomes while eliminating legacy silos.

Skills

Required

  • Accountability
  • Benefits Management
  • Business Analysis
  • Business Process Improvements
  • Collaborating
  • Communication
  • Digital Technology
  • Governance Management
  • Program Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Stakeholder Relationship Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Workforce Planning

Nice to have

  • Japanese language capability

What the JD emphasized

  • commercial outcomes
  • measurable business impact
  • AI drive commercial outcomes
  • measurable business impact
  • measurable business outcomes
  • AI-enabled, insight-driven, and digitally sophisticated engagement embedded into everyday commercial execution
  • business and market change