Director, Global Public Policy

Organization: Merck
Location: Washington, DC | Brussels, BE | Rahway, NJ | Upper Gywnedd, PA
Date Posted: 02/27/2025

Job Description

The Director is responsible for supporting global public policy efforts related to our company’s therapeutic area franchises addressing non-communicable diseases, with primary responsibility for leading the development and implementation of public policy strategies in support of our company’s cardiovascular disease pipeline.

In conjunction with the global franchise teams, cross-functional global teams, regional and country policy teams, the senior policy team, and the broader Corporate Affairs team, the Director will help to develop and execute our company’s global plan in support of the cardiovascular disease pipeline. This includes identifying, analyzing, and addressing public policy issues, developing and implementing our company’s therapeutic area policy strategy and positions, and advocating in support of our company’s strategic business priorities.

The role is based in the United States (Washington, DC/Rahway/Upper Gwynedd), Belgium (Brussels), or Switzerland (Zurich/Lucerne).

Primary Activities

Manage development and implementation of global public policy strategic plans in coordination and alignment with cross-functional teams and planning processes in support of Global Commercial Team therapeutic-area strategies.
Ensure coordination across Global Public Policy teams and with senior Global Public Policy management and Corporate Affairs stakeholders, with the Global Franchise, Global Commercial Teams, and other internal teams and stakeholders.
Engage with regional and country policy teams to provide strategic guidance and policy coordination to promote policy strategy development and implementation.
Engage relevant internal stakeholders to ensure our company’s advocacy with public policy agencies and organizations is coordinated, consistent, and effective.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including governmental, multilateral, and non-governmental stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups.
Represent our company in industry and other external policy-related fora with external stakeholders active in the therapeutic area policy arena.
Manage external consultants and policy development projects.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in science or administration. A Master’s or graduate degree in a field related to healthcare policy is strongly preferred.
Minimum 10 years of experience addressing public policy issues and strong knowledge of issues related to non-communicable diseases or a related area of healthcare, including experience related to cardiovascular disease, with at least 5 years within the global policy space preferred.
Experience with and expert knowledge of government and non-governmental organizations active on global public policy issues.
Strong knowledge of global healthcare public policy processes, including understanding the roles and influence of various stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to identify strategic priorities and work within a matrix organization to achieve policy goals.
Experience managing consultants and budgets.
Ability to work collaboratively and inclusively.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Application Process

Current Employees apply [HERE].
Current Contingent Workers apply [HERE].

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

For more information about personal rights under U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

[EEOC Know Your Rights]
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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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 U.S. State Acts.

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a hybrid model consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday – Thursday. The specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business-critical tasks require an on-site presence.

This hybrid model does not apply to:

Field-based positions
Facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions located at a company site
Positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work)
Any other position for which the company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met remotely

Please note, this hybrid work model guidance does not apply to roles designated as “remote.”

Salary & Benefits

The company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final salary determinations will take into account factors such as primary work location, relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected U.S. salary range:
$187,000.00 – $294,400.00

Available benefits include:

Bonus eligibility
Long-term incentives (if applicable)
Health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
Retirement benefits
Paid holidays, vacation, and sick days

A summary of benefits is listed [here].

Fair Chance Ordinances

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.