Job Description

The Associate Director, Global Professional Society Affairs (GPSA) is a role within Global Medical Proficiency and External Affairs (GMPEA), Global Medical and Value Capabilities. This position supports the development and execution of coordinated engagement strategies with prioritized professional medical societies and organizations aligned with medical, scientific, and therapeutic area (TA) objectives. This role is responsible for operational delivery, relationship management, and cross-functional coordination within an assigned TA, project, or region, while ensuring compliant, high-quality execution that advances the company’s scientific and medical objectives.

The Associate Director contributes to building productive relationships with professional societies and organizations, supports innovative engagement models, and helps ensure effective utilization of corporate membership benefits. The role operates with guidance from GPSA leadership and models a collaborative, compliant, and patient-focused approach.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Support the development and execution of engagement plans with prioritized U.S. and global professional medical societies in partnership with Global Medical & Scientific Affairs (GMSA), U.S. Medical Affairs (USMA), Policy, and Patient Innovation & Engagement (PI&E)

• Execute defined engagement strategies and tactical plans aligned with TA priorities and evolving healthcare needs

• Monitor internal milestones and external trends to inform day-to-day execution and identify opportunities for continuous improvement

• Contribute operational insights to strategic planning discussions and lessons learned reviews

External Engagement & Relationship Management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with assigned professional medical societies under the guidance of GPSA leadership

• Support participation in external meetings including congresses, industry forums, and society meetings, including coordination of logistics and engagement activities

• Serve as a point of contact for assigned society interactions, ensuring alignment, mutual value, and appropriate follow-through

• Assist with preparation of materials for external engagements, including follow-up on previous meetings and action items, creation of backgrounders, and alignment on cross-functional agenda items and attendees

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (e.g., GMSA TA teams, USMA, GMPEA, PI&E, Policy, Outcomes Research, Commercial, Compliance & Legal) to support aligned and compliant engagement activities

• Facilitate internal information flow and knowledge sharing related to professional society interactions and insights

• Support cross-functional teams by connecting colleagues to relevant professional society opportunities and resources

Operational Excellence, Metrics & Compliance

• Support tracking, documentation, and reporting of engagement activities and impact metrics

• Ensure all activities are executed in accordance with company policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards

• Assist with management of corporate memberships and utilization of associated benefits

• Contribute to operational excellence initiatives, including process improvements, templates, and best practices

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide operational support to cross-functional clinical practice guidelines and recommendation working groups related to professional medical society engagement

• Contribute to proposal review, triage, and operational evaluation processes, as applicable

• Participate in internal training and capability-building initiatives related to professional society engagement

Required Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Minimum

• Advance degree (e.g., MS, PharmD, PhD) in life sciences or a related field and a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in medical education, professional relations, medical affairs, or the pharmaceutical industry -OR- BA/BS degree in life sciences or a related field and a minimum of 5 years of experience in medical education, professional relations, medical affairs, or the pharmaceutical industry.

• Experience supporting cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment

• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work within defined timelines

• Working knowledge of industry regulations, compliance standards, and company policies

• Commitment to ethical conduct, integrity, and patient-focused decision-making

Preferred

• Advanced degree (e.g., MS, PharmD, PhD) preferred

• Experience working with U.S. and/or international professional medical societies within GI

• Exposure to congress, symposia, or scientific exchange operations

• Formal project management training or certification

Required Skills:

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Interpersonal Relationships, Medical Affairs, Medical Knowledge, Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs, Project Management, Scientific Communications

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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.

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/3/2026

*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.