External Affairs Director, Finland

Job Description

At our company, we are driven by a clear purpose: to use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. As we continue to invest in the next generation of medicines and vaccines, our pipeline remains a powerful source of opportunity, with promising growth across key therapeutic areas.

Moreover, we believe that patient access starts with bold strategy, trusted relationships, and the ability to turn complexity into opportunity. We are looking for a senior, commercially minded External Affairs Director to help shape the external environment and drive access to oncology, vaccines, and pharmaceutical medicines for patients and citizens in Finland.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of policy, market access, stakeholder engagement, and business strategy. As a member of the leadership team reporting to the Managing Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of our company’s access and policy agenda in Finland, while helping ensure our medicines reach the people who need them.

What you will do

In this role, you will:

• Lead the development and execution of integrated market access and policy strategies across relevant therapeutic areas

• Shape commercially attractive reimbursement, tender, contracting, and pricing strategies

• Support local data generation initiatives and value demonstration strategies

• Strengthen and support marketing strategies by ensuring strong national and regional market access perspectives

• Build and maintain high-value relationships with key internal and external stakeholders

• Develop deep expertise in the Finnish healthcare system, payer landscape, policy priorities, and government initiatives

• Represent our company with influence and credibility across institutions, organizations, and policy forums

• Contribute actively to the leadership team and help drive strategic decision-making

• Foster a culture of curiosity, learning, inclusion, and psychological safety within the team

• Coach, develop, and inspire diverse talent while building a high-performing organization

What we are looking for

We are seeking an accomplished leader with:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, life sciences, health economics, or a related field

• At least 5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, including leadership of mid-size teams or a senior role in a relevant governmental body

• A proven record of success in shaping and executing access and policy strategies

• Strong experience building influential relationships with key stakeholders

• Solid understanding of market access challenges and the external policy environment related to access to medicines

• Business fluency in both Finnish and English

• Strong business and financial acumen

• Strategic and analytical thinking

• Excellent problem-solving skills and a strong drive for results

• The ability to translate scientific data into compelling value messages

• Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills

• A collaborative, customer-focused, and solution-oriented mindset

• An innovative approach with the ability to create opportunities and influence outcomes

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to step into a visible senior leadership role where your work will directly influence patient access, policy, and business success in a dynamic and evolving environment in Finland. You will join a collaborative leadership team and help shape strategies that make a meaningful difference for patients, the healthcare system, and the business.

If you are a strategic leader with strong external affairs expertise and a passion for creating access, this could be the next step in your career.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Cross-Cultural Competence, Developing Pricing Strategies, Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Internal Affairs, Job Descriptions, Market Research, Negotiation, People Leadership, Preparation of Financial Reports, Professional Networking, Public Health, Resource Allocation, Strategic Consulting, Strategic Thinking, Transfer Pricing Documentation, Writing Job Descriptions

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. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

06/9/2026

*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.