Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

The Associate Director, Launch Excellence will play a pivotal role in shaping how the organization plans, prioritizes, and executes launches across priority assets. This role sits at the intersection of strategy and execution, translating enterprise priorities into differentiated launch approaches, asset-specific archetypes, and leadership-ready decisions that accelerate launch impact. The role will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including BU/Brand teams, Market Access, Medical, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Commercial, and KA, to accelerate decision-making and raise the quality and consistency of launch execution.

1.      Launch Excellence Strategy, Archetypes & Governance

A.       Shape and improve the Launch Excellence framework and define the right launch approach for different asset types, launch stages, and market contexts.

B.        Turn strategic priorities into clear launch plans, key decision points, readiness reviews, and governance mechanisms that enable faster decisions and stronger execution across functions.

C.        Support leadership discussions by highlighting critical risks, trade-offs, and actions needed to keep priority launches on track and maximize launch impact.

2.      Launch Excellence capabilities, best practices, and knowledge sharing:

A.       Identify what works well across launches and turn those lessons into practical guidance, playbooks, and standards that can be used across future assets.

B.        Develop clear guidance for important launch topics, such as early launch planning, market shaping, and early post-launch scale-up, etc.,

C.        Build stronger launch capability across teams through workshops, working sessions, and leadership-ready materials that improve planning quality, consistency, and decision-making.

3.      Priority Asset PMO & Launch Acceleration

A.      Serve as the Launch Excellence lead for designated priority assets, working hands-on with cross-functional teams to drive launch priorities forward.

B.      Maintain tight control of milestones, dependencies, risks, and action plans, and proactively unblock issues that could slow execution.

C.      Drive follow-through after launch reviews and governance meetings to ensure decisions are translated into action and priority outcomes are delivered.

Requirements

Education / Professional Certificate

·        Bachelor’s degree (Master or MBA is plus)

Working Experience

·        8 years + experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with meaningful experience in launch, marketing, and cross-functional business leadership.

·        Proven track record of working across functions and influencing key stakeholders in a matrix environment.

·        Experience in at least one critical phase of launch is required; broader exposure across the launch journey is preferred.

·        Consulting background is a plus.

Professional knowledge and skill

·         Strong strategic thinking and structured problem-solving, with the ability to turn ambiguity into clear priorities and actions.

·         Collaborative and influential, with the ability to build trust, align diverse stakeholders, and drive progress without direct authority.

·         Strong communication and executive presence, with the ability to synthesize issues clearly and support high-quality decisions.

·         Agile, proactive, and resilient, with high learning agility, strong ownership, and a compliance mindset.

·         Professional proficiency in English and Mandarin.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Data-Driven Decision Making, Developing Proposals, Environmental Scanning, Market Research, Pharmaceutical Market, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Resource Allocation, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/30/2026

*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.