Marketing Lead

Summary

The HPV Franchise Marketing Lead is responsible for shaping and executing the long-term marketing strategy for the HPV portfolio. This role will lead marketer(s), drive impactful customer and KOL engagement, and collaborate cross-functionally to optimize product performance across the full lifecycle. The HPV Franchise Marketing Lead co-owns P&L, steers market access and pricing considerations, and ensures all activities adhere to regulatory and compliance standards.

The role also serves as the key liaison with regional and global HPV teams to ensure local strategies are aligned with overarching franchise priorities and that local insights are effectively represented in regional/global plans.
Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic & Brand Leadership

• Develop and own the long-term marketing strategy for the HPV franchise, aligned with business objectives and global/regional guidance.

• Lead brand planning, positioning, and differentiation versus competition across the product lifecycle.

• Translate market, customer, and competitive insights into clear strategic choices and executable plans.

2. Customer, KOL & Market Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, KOLs, and professional societies to shape perception and adoption of the HPV portfolio.

• Ensure high-quality, insight-driven customer engagement strategies and content across channels.

• Partner with the medical and market access teams to deliver integrated, customer-centric initiatives.

3. Market Access & Pricing (Co-Steering)

• Co-steer market access strategy, including pricing, reimbursement, and listing tactics to support optimal HPV portfolio access.

• Collaborate with market access, HEOR, and policy teams to address payer needs and demonstrate value.

• Monitor access environment changes and adapt strategies accordingly.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration, Regional & Global Liaison

• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory, Finance, and other functions to ensure aligned and impactful execution.

• Act as the primary local marketing contact and liaison with regional and global HPV franchise teams.

• Ensure timely sharing of local performance, insights, and needs with regional/global stakeholders, and effectively localize global/regional strategies, campaigns, and tools.

• Facilitate two-way communication to influence regional/global strategy with local market insights while ensuring strong alignment with overarching franchise objectives.

• Demonstrate enterprise mindset, balancing franchise needs with broader business priorities.

5. Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Direct and oversee marketer(s)

• Provide clear guidance, set priorities, and ensure efficient, high-quality execution.

• Build, coach, and develop talent; create a high-performance, engaged team culture.

• Apply effective performance management, including objective setting, ongoing feedback, and development planning.

6. Business & Financial Management

• Own HPV P&L, ensuring efficient resource allocation and strong ROI on marketing investments.

• Monitor performance against KPIs and financial targets, and proactively manage risks and opportunities.

• Support forecasting, budgeting, and scenario planning.

7. Compliance, Governance & Innovation

• Ensure all marketing and customer engagement activities comply with applicable regulations, codes, and internal policies.

• Promote a culture of ethical, compliant behavior and courageous, candid leadership.

• Drive innovation in strategy, content, and channels; test and scale new approaches based on evidence.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field.

• Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Brand Manager (or equivalent role) in pharmaceutical or healthcare marketing.

• Minimum 2 years of direct marketing team leadership (managing PM/APM/ME or equivalent roles).

Preferred Experience

• Experience in vaccines, consumer therapeutic areas.

• Proven track record in brand management and lifecycle management in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Demonstrated experience working closely with KOLs and key institutional customers (e.g., hospitals, public health stakeholders).

• Experience working with regional and/or global teams, including adaptation and implementation of global strategies and materials.

• Exposure to market access, pricing, and tender/reimbursement processes.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Advertising Campaign Development, Agile Methodology, Brand Management, Client-Centric, Communication, Creative Campaign Development, Customer Engagement, Decision Making, Digital Analytics, Foster Innovation, Global Strategy, Healthcare Marketing, Market Access, Marketing, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Market Pricing, Market Research, Organizational Performance Management, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceutical Management {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.