Managing Director, Sub-Saharan Africa

Job Description

Role Overview

The Managing Director (MD) leads the Company’s operations across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Cluster, with full accountability for commercial performance, strategy, people leadership, and compliance. The MD represents the Company to government, healthcare institutions, and key stakeholders to protect reputation, drive growth, and ensure sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Set and execute the Cluster commercial strategy aligned with the Company’s global vision and values.
  • Identify growth opportunities, optimize resource allocation, and lead business plans, marketing, and multi-channel initiatives in full compliance.
  • Align with cluster, regional, and global leaders; ensure SSA interests are reflected at divisional level.
  • Monitor competition and shape market strategies accordingly.
• External Engagement & Market Access
  • Act as the Company’s principal representative with ministries, regulators, payers, and advocacy groups.
  • Build strategic relationships and coalitions; navigate pricing, reimbursement, and access to ensure patient availability of the Company’s portfolio.
  • Tailor solutions to stakeholder needs across the healthcare ecosystem.
  • Collaborate with regional and global teams on NGO engagement initiatives.
• Operational & Financial Management
  • Own P&L, financial planning, cost control, and performance tracking.
  • Ensure legal, regulatory, and SOP compliance; drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Oversee regulatory, pharmacovigilance, clinical, safety, and promotional activities per local laws.
  • Implement systems to monitor productivity and outcomes; propose corrective actions to strengthen growth and profitability.
• People Leadership & Culture
  • Lead and develop high-performing, cross-functional teams; guide dotted-line functions to maximize impact.
  • Foster accountability, collaboration, learning, DE&I, and agility; champion performance and succession processes.
• Risk, Compliance, Ethics
  • Establish robust risk assessment, mitigation, business continuity, and crisis response.
  • Monitor regulatory changes; ensure timely reporting of adverse events and quality issues.
  • Maintain ethical standards; monitor compliance, address non-compliance, and drive audit recommendations and quality controls.
  • Report actions that may risk fair competition or product promotion compliance.

Qualifications

• Education: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline.
• Experience: 15–20 years industry experience, including  leadership roles in marketing and sales; strong market access expertise; deep knowledge of healthcare regulations; proven leadership and development of leaders.
• Capabilities:
  • Strategic agility and change leadership
  • Superior Stakeholder management and negotiation skills
  • Financial acumen and sustainable growth focus
  • Exceptional communication
  • Integrity aligned with the Company’s values
• Language: Fluency in English; local languages advantageous.

Required Skills:

Business Development, Business Performance Reporting, Decision Making, Financial Acumen, Human Resource Management, Manufacturing Processes, Market Development, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Product Management, Profit and Loss (P&L) Management, Results-Oriented, Sales Operations, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Team Management

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:

05/6/2026

*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.