Job Description

Associate Director, Emerging Commercial Data Product, DHH India Capability Hub

 

Our Digital Human Health (DHH) organization is charged with innovating how we understand our patients and their needs. Working cross functionally, we are inventing new ways of engaging with our customers and patients by leveraging digital, data and analytics to measure our organizational impact.

 

The Associate Director, Emerging Commercial Data Product, based out of India, will be a strategic partner to the business stakeholders at US, India level to enable value-driven decision making. The individual will lead a team of data product professionals responsible for planning, prioritizing, managing and executing work across the company’s portfolio. This individual is expected to be collaborative and a strong team player, interacting with multiple internal and external groups, to influence decision-making for the teams they support, while working closely with their Leader. This role requires understanding of pharma domain, data product implementation experience and affinity and eagerness to change the ways of working with AI-driven mindset.

 

The Associate Director, Emerging Commercial Data Product will work alongside other DHH teams to help “connect the dots” across the DHH cross functional teams and lead orchestrating the planning and delivery of complex data products. The team member will build strong relationships and collaborate with various cross functional teams across US & India. The role will report to Director, Data Products - India Hub, Digital Human Health (DHH).

 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

 

• Lead the DSPI Data Product Group for Emerging Commercial:
  • Own the strategy and roadmap for the Emerging Commercial Data Product portfolio (Specialty Pharmacy, Payer, Market Access, Content).
  • Align data product priorities with Emerging Commercial business goals and the broader DSPI and DHH India Center strategy.
  • Prioritize use cases and initiatives based on business value, feasibility.
• End-to-end Data Product Management:
  • Oversee end to end delivery of data products from discovery to deployment and support.
  • Ensure products are reliable, scalable, well-documented, and deliver clear, measurable business value.
  • Ensure robust processes for demand intake, prioritization, backlog management, and release planning.
• AI & Advanced Analytics Data Product Enablement:
  • Lead the enablement of AI‑driven data products in areas such as
    • Content analytics (e.g., content performance, personalization, experimentation)
    • Adobe and digital marketing data products (e.g., journey analytics, campaign performance, omnichannel optimization)
  • Partner closely with analytics, marketing, and digital teams to ensure data products are designed to support AI/ML and advanced measurement needs.
• People Leadership & Organization Development:
  • Manage a team of approximately 30–40 FTEs, including product managers/owners, analysts, and supporting roles.
  • Define and drive people aspirations, training plans, and career roadmaps, ensuring robust succession planning and talent development.
  • Foster a culture of high performance, psychological safety, continuous learning, and inclusive collaboration.
• Stakeholder Management – Emerging Commercial & DHH India:
  • Act as a primary point of contact for Emerging Commercial stakeholders for DSPI data products.
  • Collaborate closely with leaders across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Digital to understand strategic priorities and translate them into product roadmaps.
  • Coordinate with DHH India leadership to ensure alignment on capacity, delivery milestones, and strategic initiatives.
• Vendor & Partner Management:
  • Manage relationships with 2–3 major external service providers, ensuring high-quality delivery, adherence to SLAs, and cost-effective engagement.
  • Define and oversee vendor scope, performance, and governance, including periodic reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with enterprise & CDO data platform, architecture, and infrastructure, bronze and silver teams to ensure the DSPI data products leverage appropriate technologies and are future-ready.
  • Coordinate with other DHH India teams and leaders to share learnings, align on standards, and jointly deliver cross-functional initiatives.

 

Required Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in a science, data analysis, or business-related field within the Pharmaceutical or Biotechnology industry
• 8+ years of progressive experience in data & analytics and/or commercial data product management, including leading large teams and complex, cross-functional data product portfolios in a global, matrixed environment.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, with a proven track record of managing dynamic and high performing teams
• Deep understanding of Real-world data assets and commercial pharma data ecosystem
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills with ability to connect the dots, consolidating and synthesizing across primary/secondary data insights
• Strong problem-solving abilities, to find and execute solutions to complex or ambiguous business problems
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a talent for effectively communicating complex concepts to a wide range of global stakeholders
• Relationship-building and influencing skills with an ability to collaborate cross functionally
• Experience in working in multi-national corporations with geographically distributed teams and matrix reporting lines

 

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Global experience, with understanding of US and exUS data ecosystems
• Experience in Life Science or consulting industry
• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PharmD, PhD) preferred

Required Skills:

Backlog Management, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Business Intelligence (BI), Cross-Functional Collaboration, Database Administration, Data Engineering, Data Management, Data Modeling, Data Visualization, Design Applications, Digital Healthcare, Information Management, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, IT Demand Management, Pharmacotherapeutics, Product Prioritization, Psychological Safety, Relationship Management, Software Development, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking, System Designs

Preferred Skills:

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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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

NA

Job Posting End Date:

07/14/2026

*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.