Executive Director Policy, Strategic Market Initiatives and Therapeutic Areas

Job Description

Executive Director Policy, Strategic Market Initiatives & Therapeutic Areas

Position Overview:

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Executive Director to work closely with the Associate Vice President (AVP), Europe & Canada Hub Leader, to lead and advise its Public Policy efforts in two ways:

• Lead selected Europe & Canada policy strategic initiatives that cut across markets, therapeutic areas or functions, with a focus on Most Favored Nation (MFN) markets and other markets reporting directly to the Regional President for Europe & Canada
• To design, select and implement strategies for any required therapeutic area across Europe & Canada, in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders

This new position will be based in the company’s policy office in the EU district of Brussels, Belgium as frequent external face-to-face engagements with policy-makers and stakeholders in Brussels will be regularly required. 

They will join two other Executive Directors in the AVP’s Leadership Team who lead overall quality, prioritization and coordination across the Europe & Canada policy agenda, as well as talent development for the Europe & Canada Hub.  This Leadership Team meets on a weekly basis and deputize for the AVP when required.  The role includes direct management of two policy directors, with oversight of other Hub team members as required.

Drawing on deep experience in pharmaceutical policy and government relations across major markets, the Executive Director will partner closely with the AVP, his leadership team and key market policy leads to advance strategic initiatives, align national priorities with European advocacy, and ensure consistent country‑level pull‑through in a complex geopolitical environment. Future business success depends on fast, broad patient access to new assets, enabled by a favorable policy ecosystem in which decision‑makers understand unmet medical need, recognize the full value of innovation, and act with appropriate urgency.

This Executive Director will also specifically lead the development and execution of public policy strategies for our existing and future portfolio in specific therapeutic areas (as some are currently line managed by the AVP directly).  Ensuring the best possible policy environment for launch markets for these products will be an important priority for the role, including maximizing the opportunities presented by EU Plans and initiatives. 

Operating across a wide range of commercial and strategic issues, the role requires strong hands-on cross functional leadership and the ability to engage effectively with external stakeholders, including policy-makers, patient associations, medical societies, EFPIA and national industry associations.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Execution

• Supports public policy strategic initiatives across the region, particularly in response to a changing and challenging operating environment landscape.  Together with the AVP, shapes and aligns strategy, policy positions and action plans for priority products and high-impact policy issues including with Policy Leads in key markets.
• Ensures alignment and coordination with Global Public Policy colleagues for selected therapeutic areas and shares important market insights to shape the global strategy.
• Leads policy prioritization and planning efforts, including impact tracking, policy analysis and preparation of executive briefing materials.
• Partners with the AVP, his Leadership Team and Policy Heads in specific markets to craft clear public policy positions and strategic ‘asks’ for use by senior leaders and spokespeople.
• Advocates the Company’s policy positions with EU institutions and organizations, either directly or through coordination with internal teams, while aligning national-level efforts with broader EU advocacy, including engagement with EFPIA and Brussels-based stakeholders.
• Fosters exchange of relevant information among stakeholders, builds alliances and consensus around processes and resources to drive towards common objectives.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with internal teams, including brand, market planning, regulatory, clinical research and corporate affairs, to deliver integrated, high-impact policy initiatives.

Organizational Leadership

• Supports the development of policy capabilities and talent across the region.
• Collaborates with Policy Heads in specific markets to guide and activate the Company’s European policy network, serving as a catalyst for change aligned with business priorities.
• Focuses on core competencies needed in policy teams, sharing best practices, training and addressing gaps.
• Facilitates effective interactions within the Europe & Canada Hub and other internal divisions including global therapeutic area policy to ensure alignment and integration.
• Builds relationships internally and externally that promote learning, obtain results and strengthen alliances with other internal functions.
• Engages with and advises internal and external business partners with differing expectations and objectives.

Environmental Analysis and Networking:

• Continuously monitors policy and legislative developments in key markets and EU institutions, anticipating emerging issues, sharing insights with business leadership cross-functionally and identifying opportunities to shape the external environment in alignment with company product portfolio and product pipeline.
• Anticipates and evaluates future market needs and trends related to policy priorities in collaboration with relevant internal colleagues (e.g. Market Access, Regulatory affairs, key markets and Global Public Policy).
• Establishes and maintains a broad network of relationships with key stakeholders in national markets both within and outside the Company.

Job Dimensions:

• This office-based role involves regional travel and may include occasional visits to global HQ.  Work location is the the Company’s Brussels Policy office in Belgium (Rue du Commerce 31).

Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Higher-level degree candidates preferred  
• Extensive experience in public policy or government affairs within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.  Must have proven experience in therapeutic areas.  This experience should include the EU and/or key launch markets; proven ability to influence policy and legislative processes nationally and/or regionally.
• Strong hands-on cross-functional leader with deep knowledge of the Company’s therapeutic areas, pipeline and portfolio (internal candidates) or similar experience in another pharmaceutical company (external candidates); experienced in aligning patient-centric strategies with business priorities.
• The role requires an Executive Director who can balance depth with altitude—setting direction, shaping strategy, and navigating political complexity—rather than operating primarily at detailed or transactional level.
• Strong people management skills and experience, ability to inspire and lead transformation initiatives, as well as achieve results, influence with and without authority, and contribute toward a common agenda with defined action.
• Demonstrated experience working across culturally diverse and matrixed teams with a high degree of collaboration. Success in this role depends on a collaborative leadership style, grounded in trust, integrity, professionalism, sound judgment and diplomacy. The ability to flex and provide cover for peers in an established leadership team with a partnership‑driven approach where members flex to meet needs and cover for one another will be essential.
• Skilled in policy and communications, including strategic planning, prioritization, stakeholder engagement and change management.
• Ability to master complex policy, regulatory and legislative issues, think creatively and develop innovative strategies and solutions.
• Strategic partner to senior leadership, combining operational execution with a strong business and outcomes-driven mindset.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility, advocate internally and externally, and manage complex stakeholder relationships.
• Proven ability to lead in dynamic environments, with strong project management skills, agility, and a solution-oriented, global perspective.
• Self-starter with innovative spirit, highly effective at proactively identifying policy risks and opportunities and identifying new ways to addressing policy challenges.
• Fluent in English (written and verbal); additional language proficiency relevant to Europe & Canada markets is an asset.

Required Skills:

Coalition Management, Government Relations, Health Equity, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Legislative Issues, Media Relations, People Leadership, Policy Development, Public Health Policy Development, Public Policy Analysis, Public Relations (PR) Management, Public Speaking, Regulatory Development, Results-Oriented, Strategic Planning

Preferred Skills:

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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. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

06/2/2026

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