Associate Director - Strategic Planning

Job Description

Description

Oncology is one of the top priority areas for our company, and expecting to deliver significant growth and benefit a great number of patients in the coming years.

This role therefore is needed to provide solid strategic analysis and insights for the leadership team to track / review performance and make strategic decisions to further transform the business model and identify and drive potential growth in a highly dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and business analysis for the Oncology Business Unit.
• Lead OBU forecasting and financial planning in partnership with key stakeholders, including periodic forecast cycles and long-range planning, with rigorous assessment of key assumptions, opportunities, and risks.
• Drive portfolio and new asset planning, supporting pipeline prioritization, indication assessment, and asset acceleration to optimize portfolio value and future growth opportunities.
• Lead key strategic initiatives across the OBU, including new product launches, lifecycle management, post-LOE strategy, and business development evaluations, ensuring alignment with overall business priorities.
• Drive business performance management and strategic governance, including performance tracking, management reporting, QBR coordination, and monitoring of key strategic priorities to enable effective execution.
• Partner with BU and senior leadership on key business and leadership engagements, including leadership reviews, visits, annual meetings, Townhalls, and offsite workshops, ensuring high-quality preparation, communication, and alignment on business priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from top university; major in engineering preferred, Advanced degrees (MBA, MS, MD, or PhD) preferred; oversea experiences preferred
• Consulting background (2-5 years reference) with solid basic skills; in-house strategic planning experiences in large MNC Pharma as a plus
• Strong skills in: data driven analysis, strategic thinking, problem solving, and project management capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact with individuals from a variety of disciplines at all levels (senior leaders to working teams)
• Solid business acumen (in oncology as a plus) and proven track record of “proactively getting things done”
• Effective communications in Chinese and English in written, verbal with senior leaders, local and global
• Master in MS office: e.g. PPT, excel modeling
• Fast learner, team player, integrity

Preferred

• Experience in change initiatives, especially large-scale changes in the pharmaceutical industry
• Strong executive presence and ability to speak with candor when appropriate
• Demonstrated ability to understand, distill and communicate complex information
• Ability to manage multiple projects aimed at executing and delivering on the strategic vision

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Agile Project Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Developing Proposals, Feasibility Studies, Pharmaceutical Market, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Resource Allocation, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/30/2026

*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.