Job Description

We are expanding our Medical Affairs Specialist Medicine team and we have a brand new role for a Medical Advisor (Associate Director level) Ophthalmology to be based in Moorgate, London.

You will report to the Therapy Area Medical Head, Specialist Medicines, and support the General & Speciality Medicine portfolio strategy with a focus on the Ophthalmology therapy area. You will lead the development and implementation of the country medical affairs plan (CMAP) in the UK by providing medical insight and applying expert knowledge on our portfolio and the disease area. You will also identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with healthcare professionals (HCPs), providers and academic centres whilst being a champion of cross functional partnership with local, regional and global colleagues.

This will be a high-visibility role with ample opportunity to lead and participate in a wide range of Medical Affairs activities that support both pipeline and established company products, including launch activities.

What you will do:

• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of relevant products and disease area(s) in order to act as an expert medical resource.
• Provide fair, balanced, non-promotional and unbiased medical and scientific support in response to specific requests from HCPs for further information on our product portfolio, clinical development program, or disease area(s) of interest.
• Participate in the development of the CMAP and implement tactics that align with the Company’s therapeutic areas of interest e.g., symposia, advice seeking activities, medical education initiatives.
• Represent the Medical Department at local or regional non-promotional medical events (e.g. Medical Congresses and Symposia), utilising the events to attain ongoing clinical knowledge and appropriately gather competitor intelligence.
• Develop partnerships with market access, regulatory and development colleagues to appropriately and rapidly gain access for patients to our medicines e.g. Health Technology Appraisals, patient access schemes and compassionate use programmes.
• Develop and maintain professional and credible relationships with the health care community in collaboration with relevant internal functions deliver improved patient outcomes.
• Act as an authoritative resource to all departments for the identification of scientific leaders who can collaborate on specific projects or activities including potential investigators for our clinical development programmes.
• In collaboration with colleagues facilitate the delivery of data generation activities, including the identification of suitable research projects, research centres, investigators and innovative methods to generate data.
• Support our commercial colleagues to provide balanced and scientific information and training.
• Maintain compliance with applicable local, global and national laws, regulations, guidelines, codes of conduct (including but not limited to the ABPI Code of Practice) company policies and procedures for Pharmacovigilance.

What you will need:

• Medical degree or pharmacy degree with GMC/ GPhC registration.
• Ophthalmology/Retinal disease Therapy Area knowledge.
• Experience either in the pharmaceutical industry or in a healthcare setting preferred.
• High level of knowledge of ABPI Code of Practice and GCP, final signatory status or a potential to attain final signatory status within a reasonable timeframe.
• Proven relationship building skills with scientific leaders (either in the pharmaceutical industry or healthcare/academic setting).  
• Understanding of the wider NHS environment and key opportunities for pharma and the NHS to partner effectively within the scope of the ABPI Code of Practice.
• IT skills, including but not limited to use of MS Office software.

Skills/competencies:

• Strong prioritisation and decision-making skills.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with partners across divisions in a matrix environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, communication skills (written and oral).
• Eagerness to learn and open to new ideas.

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.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Clinical Development, Clinical Knowledge, Clinical Marketing, Codes of Conduct, Competitive Intelligence Analysis, Data Analysis, Healthcare Education, Healthcare Management, Interpersonal Relationships, Management Process, Medical Affairs, Medical Care, Medical Knowledge, Medical Marketing Strategy, Medical Teaching, Ophthalmology, Patient Outcomes, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, Project Management, Project Reviews, Scientific Communications, Scientific Publications {+ 5 more}

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

01/6/2026

*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.