Associate Director, Patient Support Program Strategy, US Oncology, Marketing

Job Description

The U.S. Oncology business within our company is a growing and dynamic organization committed to advancing innovative therapies for patients with cancer. We have an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic commercial team as we prepare for the potential U.S. launch of an mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy for early-stage melanoma, being developed through an alliance partnership. This novel product has the potential to redefine personalized cancer treatment and requires a highly coordinated operating model to support seamless therapy delivery across a complex treatment ecosystem.

Reporting to the Director, Patient Support Strategy Lead, the Associate Director, Patient Support Program Strategy will be responsible for establishing the vision, strategy, and governance framework for the Patient Support Program (PSP) supporting an individualized therapy. This role will oversee the development and continuous evolution of hub services, enrollment and consent processes, affordability solutions, and case management capabilities designed to help patients successfully navigate a complex treatment journey. The Associate Director will translate patient support priorities into scalable program requirements, service models, business rules, and performance standards while ensuring seamless integration across reimbursement, affordability, patient navigation, and support services. Through close partnership with internal stakeholders and external vendors, this individual will drive the development of innovative, compliant, and patient-centered solutions that support patient access and overall patient experience. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Patient Support Program Strategy: Define and evolve the Patient Support Program (PSP) strategy, service model, and capabilities, including benefits investigation, case management, prior authorization support, affordability services, and patient support workflows. 

• Enrollment, Consent & Data Strategy: Design patient enrollment and multi-consent process that support participation in patient services programs, data collection, patient engagement, and treatment initiation. 

• Hub strategy & Governance: Define brand-specific hub business rules, workflows, service requirements, and escalation pathways to ensure patient support capabilities are aligned to the unique needs of the therapy and patient journey. 

• Affordability Strategy & Program Management: Develop and oversee the affordability strategy, copay program structure, and financial assistance solutions to reduce affordability-related barriers to treatment. 

• Program Implementation: Partner with Patient Access Support Center of Excellence and vendors to translate program strategy into operational execution, ensuring services, workflows, and support capabilities reflect intended patient experience and business objectives. 

• Vendor Strategy & Performance Management: Support vendor selection and oversee hub and affordability partner performance, establishing service expectations, performance metrics, governance processes, and continuous improvement plans. 

• Program Analytics & Optimization: Establish performance measures and reporting requirements, leveraging patient and operational insights to identify barriers, optimize program effectiveness, and improve patient outcomes over time. 

• Cross-Functional Leadership & Launch Readiness: Partner with Market Access, Patient Access Support Operations, Finance, Legal, Privacy, Compliance, Data & Technology teams to ensure compliant implementation, operational readiness, and successful execution of patient support and affordability programs. 

Education: 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent (BA/BS) 

• MBA or equivalent preferred 

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare organizations, with experience spanning patient services, patient access, reimbursement support, affordability programs, or hub strategy 

• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and optimizing patient support programs, hub services, affordability solutions, or patient access capabilities 

• Strong understanding of the patient support and access landscape, including hub service models, payer dynamics, buy-and-bill reimbursement, medical benefit coverage, benefits investigation and verification, prior authorization, appeals, and patient enrollment requirements. 

• Strong understanding of affordability program design, including copay program structures, financial assistance solutions, patient eligibility criteria, annual benefit limits, cost-share considerations, and program governance. 

• Experience developing enrollment, consent, and patient data strategies, including programs involving patient support participation, privacy requirements, protected health information (PHI), and complex data management considerations. 

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, with a demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, resolve complex operational challenges, and translate strategy into execution. 

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build alignment across a complex matrix organization. 

• Preferred Skills 

• Experience supporting the commercialization or launch of advanced therapies, including cell therapy, gene therapy, radioligand therapy, individualized therapies, or other complex treatment modalities. 

• Experience working directly with pharmaceutical hub vendors, patient support providers, specialty pharmacies, reimbursement support organizations, or affordability vendors. 

• Deep understanding of oncology patient journeys, reimbursement pathways, specialty distribution models, and advanced therapy treatment ecosystems. 

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Campaign Management, Channel Management, Channel Partners, Clinical Outcomes, Customer Acquisition Strategy, Customer Insights, Customer Marketing, Data Analysis, Direct Marketing, Engagement Marketing, Exploratory Analysis, External Partners, Informed Consent, Market Development, Marketing Channels, Marketing Program Management, Market Research, Media Strategies, Metrics Development, Oncology, Patient Assistance, Patient Engagement, Patient Support {+ 9 more}

Preferred Skills:

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The salary range for this role is

$156,900.00 - $247,000.00

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

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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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

09/18/2026

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