Director Policy/Government Relations

The Director is responsible for supporting global public policy efforts related to our Company therapeutic area franchises addressing infectious disease, with primary responsibility of leading development and implementation of public policy strategies in support of our Company HIV prevention program.  In conjunction with the global franchise teams, cross-functional global teams, regional and country policy teams, the senior policy team, and the broader Corporate Affairs team, the Director will help to develop and execute our Company global plan in support of the HIV prevention program, including identifying, analyzing, and responding to public policy issues, developing and implementing our Company therapeutic area policy strategy and positions, and advocating in support of our Company strategic business priorities.

• Manage development and implementation of global public policy strategic plans in coordination and alignment with cross-functional teams and planning processes in support of Global Commercial Team therapeutic-area strategies.
• Lead development of policy positions and stakeholder engagement strategies to support successful introduction, access, reimbursement, implementation, and uptake of our Company HIV prevention portfolio.
• Partner closely with commercial, market access, medical affairs, outcomes research, communications, and regional teams to identify and address policy barriers, shape the external environment, and advance policies that support prevention access, innovation, and method mix choice.
• Ensure coordination across Global Public Policy teams and with senior Global Public Policy management and Corporate Affairs stakeholders, with the Global Business Unit, Global Franchise, Global Commercial Teams, and other internal teams and stakeholders.
• Engage with regional and country policy teams to provide strategic guidance and policy coordination to support policy strategy development and implementation.
• Engage relevant internal stakeholders to ensure our Company advocacy with public policy agencies and organizations is coordinated, consistent, and effective.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including, governmental, multilateral, and non-governmental stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups.
• Engage and collaborate with HIV prevention stakeholders, including community and advocacy organizations, public health agencies, multilateral organizations, healthcare providers, and other partners involved in prevention policy, implementation, and access.
• Represent our Company in industry and other external policy-related fora with external stakeholders active in the therapeutic area policy arena.
• Manage external consultants and policy development projects.

• BS/BA required.  Master’s or graduate degree in a field related to health care policy strongly preferred. 
• Minimum 10 years of experience addressing public policy issues and strong knowledge of issues related to HIV, including experience related to HIV prevention, with at least 5 years within the global policy space preferred. 
• Experience with and expert knowledge of government and non-governmental organizations active on global public policy issues required. 
• Strong knowledge of global healthcare public policy processes including understanding the roles and influence of various stakeholders.    
• Experience engaging HIV community, advocacy, multilateral, public health, and global health stakeholders preferred.
• Experience addressing policy issues related to prevention access, reimbursement, health technology assessment (HTA), healthcare financing, public health programs, and implementation of preventive health interventions preferred.
• Understanding of issues impacting access to HIV prevention services, including barriers affecting populations disproportionately impacted by HIV, preferred.
• Experience with public health prevention programs, immunization programs, sexual health services, HIV prevention programs, or implementation of population-based health interventions preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to identify strategic priorities, work within a matrix organization to achieve policy goals. 
• Experience managing consultants and budgets. 
• Ability to work collaboratively and inclusively essential.
• Excellent English-language written and oral communication skills required. 

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Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.