Full-Time

Associate Director

Market Access

Updated on 9/9/2026

Deadline 9/18/26
Merck

Merck

10,001+ employees

Pharmaceutical company developing medicines and vaccines

No salary listed

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

In Person

Master's, PhD

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • A Master's or PhD in Public Health, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Pharmacy, Medical, Market Access, or a related discipline.
  • At least 15 years of experience in market access roles, preferably in the healthcare industry.
  • Experience with strategic and operational market access in healthcare; oncology and noncommunicable disease and preventive healthcare experience is a plus.
  • Experience developing and executing market access strategies, robust value dossiers, and health technology assessment submissions.
  • Knowledge of health economics and outcomes research protocols.
  • Ability to lead a team of senior professionals.
  • Problem-solving, prioritization, and organizational skills.
  • Customer focus, accountability, integrity, diplomacy, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
  • A strong institutional understanding of the Indian RACE ecosystem, including railways, the Army, CGHS, ESI, and public-sector undertakings, including governance structures and procurement dynamics.
  • In-depth understanding of the Indian healthcare insurance ecosystem, including public and private payer landscapes, reimbursement pathways, pricing controls, and access barriers.
Responsibilities
  • Develop market access plans and execution maps for the organization's products.
  • Strategize, develop, and execute key market access activities, including patient and payer research, assessment of healthcare policy dynamics, value propositions, and reimbursement strategies.
  • Assess the market access landscape, identify public-market opportunities, evaluate payer drivers and barriers, and shape policies and payer preferences to increase patient access for priority therapy areas.
  • Drive strategic planning, market access plans, and business plans to achieve business-unit revenues for identified therapy areas and brands through structured account management.
  • Contribute to proposals and concept papers, and design and implement health outcome and economic studies through final reporting; use findings to advocate with payers.
  • Develop pricing strategies and supporting business cases to optimize access, and drive health economics and outcomes research projects in coordination with regional and global teams.
  • Create cross-functional projects with regional marketing, medical, and regional/global market access teams to improve access in the public market.
  • Cultivate working relationships with government officials, policymakers, public and private payers, healthcare providers, and other market influencers.
  • Support key account management teams with communication and engagement tools to communicate product value propositions.
  • Create and drive external stakeholder management and engagement plans to increase access and maximize business opportunities.
  • Define and execute a clear market access process and its components across product portfolios.
  • Collaborate with market access, public market, marketing, global/regional market access, health economics and outcomes research, finance, human resources, external affairs, supply chain management, medical, compliance, business support, and learning and development functions to meet market access objectives and revenue goals.
  • Participate in recruitment, allocate targets, track and review performance, provide developmental feedback, suggest training programs, and facilitate employee development to achieve business-unit objectives.
  • Share knowledge, maintain relationships with relevant colleagues, and ensure activities comply with employment legislation and corporate policy.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in strategic and operational market access in oncology and noncommunicable disease and preventive healthcare.
  • Experience in the healthcare industry.

Merck is a global healthcare company that develops medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. It advances long-term health by conducting research and development to create new treatments for diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, then brings these medicines to patients, healthcare professionals, and institutions worldwide. The company’s products work by undergoing scientific discovery, clinical testing, and regulatory approval before being manufactured and sold or distributed through patient assistance programs. What sets Merck apart is its large, diversified portfolio across human medicines, vaccines, and animal health, along with a strong emphasis on R&D, global reach, and support services like Merck Connect and Merck Manuals that provide professional resources. Merck’s goal is to tackle major health threats by applying science to discover and deliver therapies that improve patient outcomes and public health across the globe.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Kenilworth, Illinois

Founded

1891

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • August 2026 melanoma data validated Merck's next-generation cancer franchise beyond Keytruda.
  • July 2026 Lipfendra approval opens a new cardiovascular growth market before Keytruda erosion.
  • February 2026 oncology reorganization concentrates resources ahead of patent expiry and late-stage launches.

What critics are saying

  • Keytruda loses U.S. compound patent protection in December 2028, pressuring oncology revenue.
  • Summit and Akeso's ivonescimab beat Keytruda in China lung cancer data in 2026.
  • Merck's 2025 $3 billion cost-cutting plan includes 6,000 layoffs, signaling margin strain.

What makes Merck unique

  • Keytruda remains Merck's oncology engine; July 2026 approvals expanded perioperative bladder and kidney use.
  • August 2026 Moderna partnership produced first positive Phase 3 individualized mRNA cancer vaccine results.
  • Lipfendra's July 2026 FDA approval created Merck's first oral PCSK9 inhibitor.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-20%

1 year growth

-20%

2 year growth

-20%
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