Strategic Access, Policy, and Communications Director

Job Description

THE OPPORTUNITY 

Position Objective

We are seeking an experienced, strategically minded Director of Strategic Access, Policy, and Communications Director to lead integrated short‑ and long‑term access and external affairs strategies that ensure timely patient access to our innovative medicines and vaccines. This role owns reimbursement strategy and execution, aligns access planning with unmet needs for patients, HCPs and public‑health, and leads external affairs to shape policy environments that support innovation and equitable care. The successful leader will combine deep payer engagement experience, commercial acumen, and public‑policy influence to deliver sustainable coverage, affordability and uptake.

WHAT YOU WILL DO 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead Strategic Access, Policy & Communications in Taiwan, directing strategy and delivery across a 10+ person team to drive measurable impact

• Define and embed a bold External Affairs, Policy, and Patient Access vision aligned with regional and global priorities, turning strategy into execution

• Architect integrated pricing, reimbursement, HTA submissions, and evidence-generation strategies that link clinical value to commercial goals and accelerate patient access

• Serve as senior external spokesperson to governments, payers, regulators, and stakeholders, leading advocacy and system-level engagement

• Anticipate policy and health system shifts, translating insights into access, risk mitigation, and opportunity strategies

• Advise Cluster Leadership; with our #2 oncology product the cluster is of top strategic importance in AP—this role is critical to expanding access to a deep, broad pipeline

• Mobilize cross-functional alignment, elevate corporate positioning, build a high-performing SAPC, and uphold ethics and compliance

WHAT YOU MUST HAVE 

Qualifications

• BA/BS with a master’s degree in public health/epidemiology, health policy, or health economics

• Minimum 5 years of Reimbursement Market Access experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in team leadership role

• Demonstrated ability to identify optimal reimbursement pathways consistent with the brand strategy in a rapidly evolving market access landscape

• Strong leadership skills and ability to collaborate across the organization

• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, negotiating, and conflict resolution skills

• Critical thinking with track record of turn-around experience 

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and project management skills

• Track record in policy shaping, public affairs or external affairs roles, including engagement with government, multilateral organizations, or patient advocacy groups

• Proven experience implementing outcomes‑based contracts, annuity models or other innovative financing solutions

• Familiarity with compliance requirements for stakeholder engagement and transparency reporting

• Experience across multiple markets is a plus

Who we are

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Cross-Cultural Competence, Developing Pricing Strategies, Direct Marketing, Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Market Access, Marketing Management, Market Research, Negotiation, People Leadership, Preparation of Financial Reports, Professional Networking, Public Health, Resource Allocation, Strategic Consulting, Strategic Thinking, Transfer Pricing Documentation

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:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

05/31/2026

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