Job Description
The Vaccine Key Customer Leader (VKCL) is the primary our company vaccines point of contact for strategically assigned key private and public sector customers within a designated market. The VKCL leads vaccine growth strategy for the assigned ecosystem(s), key accounts, engages C‑/D‑suite, senior clinical and operational leaders, and drives measurable business performance and customer experience. The role coordinates cross‑functional our company teams (field and HQ) to ensure implementation and pull‑through at clinic/health system/provider level while proactively identifying growth opportunities and compliant solutions to competitive threats.
This is a field-based account management role that is responsible for covering the following states: Nebraska, Iowa, Montana, and Wyoming. Travel (%) varies based on candidate’s location within the geography.
Core Responsibilities:
- Account leadership and strategy
- Own the vaccine business performance, relationship and customer experience for assigned accounts; develop and execute tailored account plans for each account with measurable objectives.
- Identify strategic customers within the geography that present differentiated business opportunities; prioritize accounts and allocate resources accordingly.
- Translate deep customer knowledge and market understanding into actionable commercial opportunities and execution.
- Cross‑functional Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with all our company customer-facing colleagues to ensure seamless coordination. For each assigned account, develop and own a Vaccines account strategy that prioritizes appropriate use of our company vaccines and align the account team to execute that strategy in line with customer needs.
- Engage Medical Directors, Medical Affairs, Brand Marketing, Commercial Operations, Legal/Compliance, and other internal partners to deploy appropriate solutions for customers.
- Market and product expertise
- Maintain and apply in‑depth knowledge of the vaccination landscape: immunization schedules, quality measures, reimbursement models, registry systems, school and public health requirements, and factors affecting uptake of vaccines.
- Monitor competitor approaches, contracting strategies, and market dynamics; proactively recommend actions to grow or defend business.
- Leadership and compliance
- Provide strong peer leadership, mentoring and coordination across individuals in different reporting lines.
- Ensure all activities comply with company policies
Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (BA, BS, or BSN)
- Minimum of five (5) years' experience in Sales leadership, Key Account Management / Client Service Management, Marketing, and/or Strategy preferably in the Healthcare industry
- Minimum of two (2) years' experience working in Sales leadership or Strategic Account Management with key thought leaders or high influence customers in Public Health, Large Group Practices, Hospitals/Systems, or Managed Care Organizations
- Ability to build and develop customer relationships, including the ability to influence senior levels of management and key thought leaders
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to interact with individuals from a variety of cultures, and disciplines
- Strong peer leadership and ability to collaborate with and coordinate activity among individuals in different reporting structures within the organization
- Self-motivated with the ability to perform with a high level of independence
- Innovative thinking and exceptional business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook
- Valid Driver's License
- Ability to travel within the assigned territory
Preferred Experience:
- Master's degree (MA, MS, or MBA) in Business, Marketing, Science, Healthcare or Public Health
- Minimum of two (2) years' experience working in/with Vaccines; strong understanding of Vaccination (products, processes, marketplace)
- Recent Local Market and Customer Knowledge
- Experience in a strategic or management role in Public Health or Health System/Medical Group
- Strong understanding of compliance-related concepts including the laws and regulations that govern Pharmaceutical/Vaccine Marketing and Sales activities
**Required Skills: **
Account Management, Account Management, Brand Management, Brand Marketing, Business Opportunities, Client Management, Commercial Account Management, Contract Management, Customer Needs Analysis, Data Analytics, Financial Acumen, Healthcare Trends, Identifying Sales Opportunities, Interpersonal Relationships, Key Account Planning, Lateral Leadership, Managed Care Marketing, Marketing, Market Research, Medical Affairs, Profit Planning, Public Health, Reimbursement, Sales Leadership, Sales Target Achievement {+ 2 more}
**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
U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The salary range for this role is
$173,200.00 - $272,600.00
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:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
Yes
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
05/21/2026
***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. **