Associate Director, MAI Contracting & Operations

Job Description

Associate Director, Market Access Insights – Contracting Operations, DHH India Capability Hub

Our Digital Human Health (DHH) organization is redefining how we understand patients, providers and markets, leveraging digital, data, analytics and AI to drive more precise, faster and impactful decisions across the product lifecycle. As part of this ambition, we are entering a phase ofheightened complexity and scale in Market Access Insights (MAI), driven by multiple upcoming launches, evolving access and pricing dynamics, MFN implications and emerging customer models. This requiresMAI to evolve to an integrated, AI-enabled, insight‑driven and transformation‑enabled capability.

TheAssociate Director, MAI – Contracting Operations (India Hub) will lead theend‑to‑end build and scale‑up of a critical in‑house capability across contracting, operations and systems, enabling greater integration, governance and scalability in support of evolving Market Access Insights priorities. This role will work in close partnership with the MAI Leadership to establish astructured, future‑ready operating model, supporting increasing complexity in pricing, contracting and access workflows in a launch‑intensive environment.

The position reports to theDirector, Market Access Insights, DHH India Hub Delivery and would be based out of Hyderabadwith international and domestic travel as required by business.

Key responsibilities:

Lead theend‑to‑end setup of the MAI contracting operations capability,covering contract management, operations, data reporting, analytics management, systems operations, customer contracting and trade contracting

Partner closely with the Director todefine the structure, governance model and ways of working for this capability within the broader MAI organization

Owntalent strategy, hiring and team build‑out, ensuring the right mix of domain expertise, operational rigor and analytical capability

Design and operationalizescalable workstreams, processes, operating rhythms and system interactions, ensuring efficiency, consistency and control

Establishstandardized frameworks for contracting and operations workflows, aligned with MAI priorities across pricing, reimbursement and access

Build and drivetraining, enablement and capability development programs, ensuring sustained performance and integration with BU‑aligned MAI teams

Ensure strongconnectivity with MAI portfolios and DHH capabilities, enabling seamless support for pricing, contracting and access‑related initiatives

Required Experience and Skills:

Required : BA/BS in Business / Marketing / Healthcare

Preferred : Advanced degree (MBA, PharmD, PhD)

8 years of experience, with relevant expertise in market access, pricing, advanced analytics, market research, strategic planning, marketing or related roles within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry

4 years of people leadership experience, with a proven track record of managing dynamic and high performing teams

Significant experience in leading transformation and change management

Understanding of payer landscapes, pricing reimbursement dynamics and contract execution workflows

Strong experience in contracting operations, pricing strategy support or commercial/access operations

Demonstrated experience in building or scaling operational or capability teams, including defining structure, processes and governance

Experience working with data, reporting systems and analytics platforms supporting access, contracting or commercial operations

Deep therapeutic area (TA) knowledge in Oncology, Rare Diseases, Vaccines and Pharma, including strategic implications across launch and pipeline products

Ability to translate global franchise business needs into digital, data and insight-driven solutions

Understanding of how digital/data and analytics functions collaborate with enterprise stakeholders

Experience shaping and implementing global engagement models within commercial digital organizations

Demonstrated success deploying global capabilities and tailoring them for regional or local execution

Proven track record of leading globally distributed teams to deliver aligned, enterprise-wide solutions

Required Skills:

Biopharmaceutical Industry, Biotechnology, Business Decisions, Business Intelligence (BI), Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), Contract Management, Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Digital Analytics, Human Diseases, Machine Learning (ML), Market Access, Market Pricing, Pricing Strategies, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Management, Strategic Planning, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

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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:

07/31/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the dayBEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the dayBEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID: R406600