Associate Vice President, Oncology - Communications

Job Description

The Associate Vice President, Oncology, Communications is responsible for leading the global, end-to-end communications strategy for the company’s oncology portfolio, including in-line products, new indications, pipeline assets and emerging platforms. This senior leader will translate oncology business, product and scientific strategies into compelling communications that strengthen the company’s leadership in oncology, support portfolio growth and advance the needs of patients.

The Associate Vice President (AVP) will serve as a trusted strategic counselor to senior Oncology, Commercial, Research and Development, Medical Affairs and Corporate Affairs leaders. The role requires deep oncology product strategy communications experience and a demonstrated ability to connect clinical evidence, regulatory milestones, market dynamics, patient needs and commercial priorities into clear, differentiated narratives for internal and external audiences.

This leader will oversee communications across the product lifecycle—from early pipeline milestones and data disclosures through regulatory approvals, launches, indication expansions and lifecycle management. The AVP will ensure an integrated approach across global and market teams and across media relations, scientific communications, executive visibility, thought leadership, patient and advocacy engagement, digital and social channels, employee communications and issues management.

Working in a highly complex, regulated and fast-paced environment, the AVP will lead and develop a high-performing team, establish clear priorities and decision rights, and deploy resources against the oncology opportunities and risks with the greatest potential impact. The leader will bring an outside-in perspective, strong business and scientific acumen, sound judgment and the ability to simplify complex oncology information for stakeholders.

Scope of Work and Core Responsibilities:

• Serve as the senior communications advisor to Oncology leadership, contributing communications expertise to business, portfolio, product and reputational decisions.
• Develop and execute an integrated global communications strategy for the oncology portfolio that aligns with business priorities, product strategies, clinical development plans and the broader company narrative.
• Translate oncology product strategy into differentiated communications strategies and narratives that articulate clinical value, unmet need, patient impact, competitive positioning and the role of each asset within the broader portfolio.
• Lead communications planning across the full product lifecycle, including early pipeline milestones, pivotal data, regulatory submissions and decisions, medical congresses, launches, label expansions, new indications, lifecycle management and loss-of-exclusivity considerations.
• Partner closely with Global and U.S. Commercial, Research and Development, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Outcomes Research, Regulatory, Legal, Investor Relations, Public Policy, Patient Engagement and regional and market communications teams.
• Build integrated communications plans for priority oncology assets and tumor areas, ensuring consistent positioning while addressing market-specific business needs, stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Direct communications for major scientific and medical milestones, including data announcements and presentations at priority medical meetings, ensuring accurate interpretation of evidence and coordinated execution across earned, owned, social and executive channels.
• Provide strategic communications counsel for oncology product launches and indication expansions, including disease-awareness strategies, launch narratives, executive engagement, media strategy, stakeholder materials and internal readiness.
• Strengthen the company’s oncology reputation through enterprise storytelling, thought leadership and integrated campaigns that connect pipeline innovation, product impact, patient experience and the company’s long-term commitment to transforming cancer care.
• Anticipate and manage product, clinical, regulatory and reputational issues. Lead scenario planning, rapid-response communications and executive counsel in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Build and maintain relationships with influential external stakeholders, including healthcare and trade media, oncology experts, patient advocacy organizations, professional societies and other relevant stakeholders.
• Oversee communications related to oncology business development, licensing, acquisitions, alliances and partnerships, ensuring alignment with portfolio strategy, investor communications and enterprise positioning.
• Establish effective governance, operating rhythms and decision rights across global, regional and market communications teams to promote clear accountability, consistency and speed.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team of communications professionals and agency partners, building oncology expertise, strategic capability and a strong succession pipeline.
• Manage the oncology communications budget and agency roster, prioritizing resources based on business value, patient impact, reputational opportunity and risk.
• Define meaningful measures of success and use insights, analytics and external benchmarking to evaluate impact, improve decision-making and optimize communications strategies.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in communications, business, science, public health or a related field preferred.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive communications experience, including significant leadership experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology or healthcare industry.
• Extensive oncology communications experience, with a strong understanding of the oncology market, clinical development, regulatory environment, scientific exchange and evolving standards of care.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing product strategy communications for oncology assets across multiple lifecycle stages.
• Proven leadership of communications for major product launches, indication expansions, clinical data milestones, regulatory decisions and priority medical congresses.
• Strong ability to translate complex scientific, clinical and commercial information into clear, credible and compelling communications for varied audiences.
• Deep understanding of the relationships among product strategy, portfolio positioning, market access, medical strategy, patient needs, the competitive landscape and corporate reputation.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives and influencing decisions in a highly matrixed, global organization.
• Strong issues and crisis management experience, including the ability to anticipate risk, exercise sound judgment and lead with calm and urgency in high-pressure situations.
• Established ability to build relationships with media, external experts, patient advocacy organizations and other influential stakeholders.
• Proven people leadership experience, including leading leaders, developing talent, managing performance and creating an inclusive, accountable and high-performing culture.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation and narrative-development skills.
• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking and ability to balance long-term portfolio priorities with immediate execution needs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-visibility priorities, budgets and agency partners in a complex and rapidly changing environment.

Required Skills:

Business Alignment, Business Alignment, Business Decisions, Communication Management, Competency Management, Content Creation, Corporate Financial Reporting, Creativity, Crisis Communication Management, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Detail-Oriented, Enterprise Leadership, Event Planning, Executive Leadership, Financial Acumen, Leadership Theories, Marketing Communications Planning, Media Relations, Partner Relationship Management (PRM), Patient Advocacy, Planning Ability, Public Affairs Strategies, Public Speaking, Securities Regulations, Situational Leadership {+ 8 more}

Preferred Skills:

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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

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

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

$282,200.00 - $444,200.00

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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

11/17/2026

*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.