Therapeutic Area Lead, Vaccines & Infectious Disease (Medical Affairs)

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Therapeutic Area Lead to join our Vaccines & Infectious Disease Global Medical & Scientific Affairs team and drive the future of Medical Affairs within the portfolio. If you are passionate about scientific leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and creating real impact through medical strategy, we’d love to hear from you.

Role Summary

• The Value & Implementation Global Medical & Scientific Affairs (V&I GMSA) Therapeutic Area (TA) Lead position resides in the V&I organization, which includes Global Medical and Scientific Affairs as well as Outcomes Research.

• This position is responsible for overseeing the Medical Affairs activities within the TA, ensuring that these activities are medically and scientifically valid, ethically and legally correct, and supportive of the company's business objectives.

• This position will work toward achieving the company’s global and local objectives across the TA portfolio through the harmonized and coordinated management of Medical Managers and Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs)

• Develops and executes the Country Medical Affairs Plans (CMAPs) for the TA, ensuring alignment with global strategy and adherence to relevant regulations and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• Fosters collaboration among local marketing teams, market access teams, Regional Directors of Medical Affairs (RDMAs), regional marketing, and Medical Managers to support the TA in achieving local and regional goals.

• Serves as the external interface with key TA stakeholders, professional societies, and the broader scientific community

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• MD, PhD or PharmD with a minimum of 3 to f5 years of clinical, Medical Affairs, and/or research experience in a relevant disease area.

• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with various business units and senior leaders.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to create and execute complex strategic and operational initiatives.

• Demonstrated organizational skills, including goal setting and priority alignment.

• Deep experience in the company’s therapeutic areas of interest (e.g., oncology, infectious diseases, vaccines, or specialty care).

• Experience in the development or field management of interventional/non-interventional studies.

Required Skills:

Clinical Project Management, Decision Making, Global Strategy, Infectious Disease, Market Access, Medical Review, Pharmaceutical Regulatory Compliance, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Thinking

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:

03/26/2026

*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.