Director, Policy & Communications

The Director, Global Public Health Organizations, is responsible for executing vaccine and infectious disease policy engagement strategies with key global public health organizations that serve as procurement, funding, implementing, and/or recommending bodies, including Gavi, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, and WHO.

The Director will develop and implement comprehensive stakeholder engagement plans to advance strategic enterprise objectives, proactively identify opportunities and risks, and inform franchise and cross-functional strategies. Additionally, the Director will facilitate coordination and communication across local, regional, and global teams, assessing implications for headquarters and geographies, as well as relevant geopolitical dynamics.

The Director will also represent the company in industry association committees, multilateral engagements, and other relevant external fora. This position reports to the Executive Director, Global Public Health Organizations for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases and will be based alternatively in Upper Gwynedd, PA, Washington, DC, Rahway, NJ or Geneva, Switzerland.

• →Develop and execute engagement strategies with global vaccines and infectious diseases public health organizations, including Gavi, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, and WHO, in support of enterprise objectives for both inline and pipeline products.
• →Coordinate and provide company input into position papers, recommendations, and other public policy instruments led by these organizations.
• →Inform commercial strategies and cross-functional plans by bringing policy and political insights and expertise.
• →Represent Global Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Policy in multilateral engagements and support development of related materials and trackers.
• →Monitor and analyze the policy environment and provide timely updates and briefings on relevant global organization dynamics.
• →Prepare clear, concise, and timely briefing materials and presentations for senior leadership engagements with policymakers, public health experts, and internal stakeholders.
• →Develop and socialize internal and external narratives to effectively communicate key developments involving global policy organizations.
• →Drive strategies to maximize the impact of engagement with trade associations, including participation in relevant working groups and committees.
• →Contribute to quarterly and annual strategic planning and evaluation processes for the Global Public Policy function.

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Public Policy, Public Health, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related field.
• Preferred: Master’s or professional degree (e.g., MPP, MPH/MSPH, MPA, MA/MS in Political Science, or MBA).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in global vaccines and infectious diseases public policy, with demonstrated ability to engage effectively with global public health organizations, or direct experience working within that sector.
• Experience providing strategic thought leadership and issue management to global institutions, think tanks, and advocacy organizations to help shape policy.
• Demonstrated ability to work across diverse, matrixed teams; influence without authority; and drive alignment toward shared goals.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the development of briefing materials and presentations for executive audiences.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with senior leadership and high-level external stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate complex policy, regulatory, and legislative environments; think strategically; and develop innovative solutions.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in time-sensitive environments.
• Experience working across culturally diverse teams with a high degree of collaboration.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time, as business needs require.
• Fluent in English (written and verbal); Fluent French (written and verbal) is a bonus.

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The salary range for this role is

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.