Executive Director, Vaccines & Infectious Disease Policy

Job Description

The Executive Director, Global Public Policy, Vaccines & Infectious Disease will lead the development and execution of global public policy strategies and advocacy initiatives in support of our company's Vaccines and Infectious Disease franchises.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Global Vaccines & Infectious Disease Policy, the Executive Director will be responsible for shaping and driving our company's global vaccines and infectious disease policy strategy, advancing advocacy priorities, and representing the company in external forums. The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership across Global Public Policy and Strategic Access, Policy and Communications, coordinating enterprise-wide policy initiatives and guiding global, regional, and country-level cross-functional efforts. Leading the Vaccines and Infectious Disease Policy team, this individual will ensure policy strategies advance business objectives, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and support long-term franchise growth.

This position is U.S.-based with the option to be located in Washington, D.C. (preferred), Upper Gwynedd, PA, or Rahway, NJ.  

Scope of work and core responsibilities includes: 

• Lead the development and execution of the Global Vaccine and Infectious Disease Policy strategy, ensuring alignment with franchise priorities and enterprise objectives across Strategic Access, Policy and Communications, Human Health, and Research and Development (R&D).

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for policy engagement across Strategic Access, Policy and Communications and other internal stakeholders to ensure a coordinated, consistent, and high-impact advocacy approach with key policy stakeholders and organizations.

• Lead a cross-franchise, geographically broad team, fostering organizational effectiveness, talent development, and a high-performance culture while driving strategic alignment and enterprise-wide execution.

• Engage with regional and country policy teams to provide strategic guidance and support the advancement of regional and local policy objectives in priority vaccine and infectious disease areas.

• Manage Vaccine and Infectious Disease policy cross-therapeutic and cross-functional efforts internally and in external forums, including with trade associations, multinational organizations, governments, and civil society organizations, and manage stakeholder communication internally and externally, as appropriate

• Serve as the policy point person and trusted strategic advisor to senior Human Health and R&D Vaccine and Infectious Disease leadership on evolving policy, geopolitical, public health, and access-related developments.

• Build and maintain relationships with senior governmental, multilateral, non-governmental, and patient advocacy stakeholders to advance strategic policy objectives and strengthen organizational credibility and impact.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Advanced degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field (e.g., MPP, MPH/MSPH, MPA, PhD, JD).

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in public policy, with significant experience in vaccine and infectious disease policy, health policy, and related trade issues.

• Experience with and expert knowledge of government and non-governmental organizations active on vaccine and infectious disease public policy issues

• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams across broad policy areas and geographies, while effectively managing resources, priorities, and organizational change in a complex global environment.

• Strong knowledge of healthcare public policy processes, including the roles and influence of various stakeholders in vaccine and infectious disease policy.

• Demonstrated ability to set strategic direction, prioritize enterprise policy objectives, and lead complex initiatives from concept through implementation and impact.

• Proven ability to provide strategic thought leadership and counsel to senior executives on complex policy, geopolitical, and public health issues.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex global policy, regulatory, and legislative environments; anticipate emerging issues; and develop innovative, enterprise-wide solutions.

• Excellent English-language written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefing materials, and demonstrated comfort and ability in public speaking and in delivering briefings to senior leaders

• Demonstrated ability to build alignment and drive collaboration across broad functions, regions, and stakeholder groups in a highly matrixed global organization.

Required Skills:

Coalition Management, Coalition Management, Communication Management, Competency Management, Corporate Decision Making, Cross-Functional Project Management, Executive Presence, Global Coordination, Government Relations, Health Equity, Legislative Issues, Media Relations, People Leadership, Policy Analysis, Policy Development, Policy Implementation, Policy Research, Policy Reviews, Presentation Preparations, Public Health Policy Development, Public Policy Analysis, Public Policy Writing, Public Relations (PR) Management, Public Speaking, Regulatory Development {+ 6 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:

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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.

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The salary range for this role is

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

09/19/2026

*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.