Data Strategy Launch Products Associate Director ( Regional Role, Europe)

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Associate Director, Data Strategy Launch Products to be based in one of our company’s multiple locations across the region (London, Germany, Spain, Italy).

In this role, you will play a pivotal role in driving new product launches across the Core European Region (CER), working closely with the Human Health (HH)/Commercial team. Your primary responsibility will be developing a cutting-edge strategy for data sourcing and utilising commercial data assets to inform crucial business decisions and actions within the markets. Reporting to the International Data Strategy Lead, you will take charge of managing the relationship with data providers across the industry.

What you will do:

As the Data Strategy Launch Products Associate Director, you will proactively identify data gaps and opportunities across our company’s product portfolio within each market, to ensure effective management and resource allocation for data needs. You will also explore innovative partnerships with other vendors/sources to address any identified data gaps. Additionally, conducting benefit realisation activities, such as exploratory data analyses, fit-for-purpose assessments, and proof-of-concept use case tests, will be crucial in evaluating value, quality, cost, and efficiency.

Collaboration with various stakeholders within the organisation is key, including Business, Market Data and Analytics teams, Procurement, Data strategy international, Contracting, Governance & Compliance, and Vendor Management. You will handle escalations and drive the team to meet agreed-upon Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

In summary, the Data Strategy Launch Products Associate Director will lead the charge in optimising data sourcing, utilising commercial data assets, and driving innovation in support of new product launches. Collaboration, resource management, and continuous improvement will be paramount to the success of this role.

Key responsibilities:

• Continuously work with data science teams to help provide access to the core data needed to drive the business.
• Function as a data subject matter expert, understanding all the data, as well as the BI systems, be able to understand what use cases each data source is able to answer.
• Conducts data needs assessments using input from key country business stakeholders, identifies gaps in current Data Strategy versus ideal state & prioritizes identified gaps.
• Proactively identify sources necessary to solve a data gap, including partnering with Data Vendors to innovate in areas where data does not exist.
• Conducts assigned data innovation analytics including data quality assessments, fit-for-purpose analyses, and proof-of-concept use case tests.
• Leverage the data to develop clear understanding of efficiencies, and partnership values to convey key insights to help inform strategic decisions.
• Collaborate on preparation of the annual Budget Plan.
• Drive root cause analysis for data supplier process performance issues and establish remediation plans.
• Ensure processes are conducted in compliance with all internal and external policies, standards, regulations and, predefined SLAs.
• Monitors development of data playbooks to drive standardized and maintain metrics, identifying the processes which could be scaled to other data suppliers.
• Confirm strategy is aligned with broader enterprise priorities.
• Ensure alignment with other country data teams and share best practices.

What you will need to be successful in this role:

Education and required experience:

• Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) in Data Science, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, IT, MBA, or an equivalent scientific/commercial discipline within the pharmaceutical industry.
• 5+ years of experience in analysing healthcare administrative data, electronic health records, and/or disease/patient registries for relevant quantitative and qualitative research.  

Preferred:

• MS (or equivalent) in Data Science, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, IT, MBA, or an equivalent scientific/commercial discipline within the pharmaceutical industry.

Skills/Competencies:

• Strong business acumen with a keen ability to understand how data (Healthcare professionals, consumer, payer, patient, account, engagement, etc.) can be leveraged to inform critical commercial decisions and actions.
• Proven ability to analyse and assess the commercial value of data assets.  
• Proven potential to effectively collaborate with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. 
• Global experience a plus.
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to identify innovative approaches to addressing data needs.
• Excellent presentation, analytics, and communication skills, both written and verral, are required to synthesise key issues and communicate/persuade constituencies towards specific actions and initiatives.
• Ability to attain “trusted advisor” status with key stakeholders and business clients.  
• Ability to operate in dynamic, transforming environment.
• Project management and root cause analysis

Your role at our company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our company, we’re inventing for life. 

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively for the common good. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. 

Closing date for applications: 12th July 2024

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Required Skills:

Business Analysis, Data Science, Demand Management, Innovation, Requirements Management, Sourcing and Procurement, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

07/12/2024

*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.

Job Posting End Date:07/12/2024

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.

Requisition ID:R300940