Job Description

Reports to: AVP Intercontinental Business Operations

Position Summary

The Intercontinental Portfolio Lead is a critical leadership role within the Intercontinental (IC) Regional Team, responsible for driving franchise performance, execution excellence, and strategic alignment across thePharma/Specialty portfolio. The Portfolio Lead will ensure effective translation of strategy into execution, accelerate launch readiness, and deliver sustained performance across markets, while serving as the primary interface between Global Franchises and the Intercontinental Region. In addition, the Portfolio Lead is accountable for leading 1–2 high-impact cross-regional strategic initiatives, focused on advancing capabilities, improving execution models, and unlocking growth across Intercontinental markets.

The role requires deep enterprise and commercial strategic expertise, a hands-on execution-focused leadership approach, and a strong understanding of the Intercontinental business. Success requires strong analytical skills to generate insights and actionable plans, exceptional influencing skills with tact and diplomacy, and a proven track record of business leadership, collaboration, and delivering results in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Position Responsibilities

Franchise Leadership Regional Stewardship

• Act as the IC lead and spokesperson for thePharma/Specialty franchise
• Lead and coordinate the IC franchise community and squads across regions
• Drive alignment of strategy, priorities, and execution across markets and sub-regions (CMOs/RCLs in AP, EEMEA, and LATAM)
• Represent IC perspectives in global discussions and governance
• Act as the primary interface between Global Franchises and Intercontinental, building strong partnerships across global, regional, and local stakeholders

Strategy Execution Performance Management

• Consolidate global strategies into clear, actionable regional priorities
• Monitor, consolidate, and report business performance across the portfolio
• Identify risks and opportunities and drive proactive course correction
• Ensure disciplined execution against financial and strategic objectives

Launch Excellence Portfolio Acceleration

• Coordinate regional efforts for launch readiness and launch excellence
• Drive lifecycle management priorities and portfolio optimization
• Support execution across both launch and in-line assets

Strategic Initiatives Capability Building

• Lead 1–2 cross-regional strategic projects such as localizations, commercial business development, above-market partnerships, and capability deployment in coordination with cross-functional teams (Access, Policy, BD, DHH)

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience across marketing, sales, access, commercial operations or related experiences in pharmaceutical or management consulting company
• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree (MBA, MSc, or equivalent) preferred
• Proven track record in commercial strategy and execution, launch excellence and/or portfolio management, leading complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Exposure to multiple markets and diverse healthcare systems

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Depth of Therapeutic Area expertise inPharma/Specialty, coupled with the Intercontinental region experience (Market experience is a strong plus (PL and people management))
• Depth of Marketing, Market Access understanding and PL management, as well as a fundamental understanding of the Intercontinental business
• Leadership and Impact: Proven track record of high-performance launches and driving business results
• Collaboration Influence without authority: Strong collaboration skills, both within commercial teams and cross divisional teams including RD and manufacturing, medical affairs, Outcomes Research and Access
• Communication: Ability to clearly articulate messages/information across the enterprise and to all levels, including highest levels of senior leadership
• Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to analyze complex data and create clear patient and customer centric strategies
• Challenging Status Quo: Ability to push past internal obstacles to drive initiatives forward

Travel

• Position requires up to 30-50 % travel

Location

• Preferenceis for this role to be based in Lucerne, Switzerland (Intercontinental HQ).Relocation support can be provided to the successful candidate, if required.
• The role may also be basedin the United States, in Rahway or Upper Gwynedd.Only U.S.-based local candidates will be considered for U.S.-based positions, and no visa or relocation support to the United States will be provided.

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. Pleaseclick 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 varied experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with varied 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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is
$190,800.00 - $300,300.00

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 on our US Compensation and Benefits homepageUS Compensation and Benefits homepage.

You can apply for this role throughcareer page, (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
We do 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.

Required Skills:
Commercial Strategies, Cross-Functional Leadership, Data-Driven Decision Making, Executive Communications, Influence, Launch Excellence, Portfolio Management, Profit and Loss (PL), Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:
Speciality Pharmaceuticals
Current Employees applyHERE

Current Contingent Workers applyHERE

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:
International

VISA Sponsorship:
Yes

Travel Requirements:
50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
no

Job Posting End Date:
07/20/2026*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: R401554