Associate Director, Patient Programs & Business Practices

Job Description

Job Title

Associate Director, Patient Programs & Business Practices

Location

Shanghai, China

Reporting Line

Executive Director, Business Excellence

Role Purpose

The Associate Director, Patient Programs & Business Practices is a dual-accountability leadership role combining end-to-end ownership of Patient Programs (FPP & TPP) with market-level Business Practices leadership.

This role ensures that patient affordability and therapy support programs are strategically designed, operationally excellent, and fully compliant, while also embedding ethical business conduct, risk management, and governanceacross relevant commercial and patient-facing activities. The position acts as a trusted advisor to leadership, enabling sustainable patient access, compliant business growth, and strong compliance outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Patient Programs Ownership (FPP & TPP)

• Serve as the Program Owner for all Financial Patient Programs (FPP) and Therapy Patient Programs (TPP)in China.

• Own the full lifecycle of patient programs, including design, eligibility, business case development, approval, renewal, modification, and exit strategy.

• Ensure programs address patient affordability, access gaps, and adherence needs without promotional intent.

• Ensure all patient programs comply with internal standards, local regulations, and global policies (Legal, Compliance, Privacy, PV).

2. Patient Access, Affordability & Therapy Support Strategy

• Lead patient affordability strategies for new product and indication launches.

• Design and oversee therapy support services that enhance patient experience and adherence, consistent with approved product labeling.

• Govern appropriate data collection and use strictly for program implementation and performance validation, not commercial purposes.

3. Compliance, Governance & Audit Excellence (Patient Programs)

• Ensure zero critical audit findings across all patient programs.

• Lead Local Review Board (LRB) submissions, responses, and renewals for FPP and TPP.

• Act as the primary point of accountability for internal and external audits related to patient programs.

• Embed pharmacovigilance, privacy, and digital governance requirements into program design and execution.

4. Business Practices Leadership and Orchestrators (Market-Level)

• Act as the Business Practices lead for assigned scope, ensuring alignment with global standards, regional frameworks, and local healthcare laws.

• Localize and implement Code of Conduct and Business Practices policies relevant to patient programs and commercial operations with the cross-functional teams

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and cross-functional teams on ethical business conduct and risk-based decision-making.

5. Risk Management, Monitoring & Controls

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate business and compliance risks across patient programs and related third-party engagements.

• Support Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) activities and leadership compliance certification.

• Oversee business risk controls for vendors and partners, including assurance checks, KPI sampling, and remediation actions.

• Act as primary contact for compliance assessments and audits within scope.

6. Digital Enablement & Patient Experience

• Lead patient program digitalization initiatives using approved digital platforms.

• Ensure digital solutions are compliant, scalable, and enhance the end-to-end patient journey.

• Partner with IT, Digital, and external vendors to ensure compliant technology adoption.

7. Stakeholder, Team & Partner Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing patient programs and governance team.

• Manage third-party vendors through compliant procurement and performance management.

• Foster strong collaboration with Medical, Legal, Compliance, Finance, PV, IT, Market Access, and external partners.

Qualifications

Experience

• 8–12+ years of experience in pharma, healthcare, compliance, business risk, or patient solutions roles.

• Proven experience owning patient programs, compliance frameworks, or business risk management in a regulated environment.

• Strong exposure to audit, governance, and compliance-driven operations.

• Experience working with digital platforms and third-party vendors in China.

Key Competencies

• Strong program ownership and governance mindset

• Strong and Competent Digital and Data engagement Program and Operations experience

• Deep understanding of patient access, affordability, and ethical engagement

• High compliance awareness with pragmatic execution capability

• Excellent cross-functional leadership and stakeholder influence

• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability

• Fluent in Mandarin and English

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: Business Excellence, Medical, Legal & Compliance, Finance, IT, Market Access, PV, HR, BU Leadership, Country Leadership Team

• External: Patient program partners, vendors, digital service providers, foundations, industry associations, and relevant government or regulatory bodies

 

Required Skills:

Accountability, Budget Development, Business Case Development, Codes of Conduct, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Decision Making, Global Policy, Leadership, Project Management, Risk Management, Team Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/30/2026

*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.