Director, Strategic Planning
Merck, Cambridge, MA, United States
Job Description
The Enterprise Strategy Office (ESO) develops, implements, and drives enterprise strategy in support of our company, its customers, and other stakeholders. The scope of this group includes strategy development, strategy execution and value realization, enterprise strategic planning, risk management, and strategic venture investments in healthcare as part of our Global Health Innovation fund. Together, we identify business critical opportunities, frame and evaluate options, and ensure effective implementation and cross‑functional engagement to realize impact. Oncology is a key area of focus for our company, and our portfolio is large, diverse, and evolving rapidly. Within ESO, we provide deep strategic partnership in developing, assessing and shaping our strategy at the portfolio, indication and asset level, as well as the capabilities we need to continue delivering transformative therapies to patients.
Position Description The person in this role will help develop and drive Oncology R&D strategy priorities, tackling complex and often ambiguous questions that have significant upside for our company. They will work with senior leaders to identify and frame important topics, conduct rigorous assessments that can inform leadership decision‑making; develop, refine and lead Oncology strategic initiatives across our company; and help evolve and establish capabilities needed for our company’s Oncology Research & Development to be successful. This individual will collaborate cross‑functionally with Oncology leaders across our company and will be a critical partner across multiple teams. They will be charged with solving problems, driving value, and building a coalition of support that is needed for the creation and adoption of change. This individual will foster a psychologically safe, diverse, and inclusive environment by leading teams both directly and indirectly and mentoring special‑assignment partners.
Primary Responsibilities
Partner with Oncology senior management and leaders to identify high‑value strategic imperatives
Lead the framing, assessment, and recommendation of key initiatives in collaboration with executive leaders across oncology
Develop fact‐bases using internal and external data sets to support leadership decision‑making
Interrogate a deep and broad Research & Development portfolio to aid in resource allocation, prioritization and maximization of patient impact
Bring to bear experience in oncology (across discovery, translational sciences, development and commercialization) to identify capability gaps and ways to evolve
Lead internal and external teams to drive ideas from conception to implementation
Partner with cross‑functional teams to support implementation and deliver on key objectives
Drive cultural engagement with diverse and inclusive teams
Position Qualifications Education and Industry Experience Requirement
PhD in a relevant scientific discipline (Oncology preferred) or MD from a top‑ranked program, equivalent experience considered
5+ years of strategy management consulting experience from a top‑tier firm (e.g., BCG, McKinsey, Bain) or equivalent strategy experience driving R&D programs
Minimum of 5+ years of biopharma‑related experience post PhD/MD in a relevant strategy consulting or industry context, with deep expertise in Oncology R&D
Experience managing teams as well as external vendors
Required Skills
Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) with demonstrated capability across diverse roles and functions
Problem solving and insight generation – ability to frame and conceptualize complex, ambiguous questions and drive towards clear, substantiated answers relevant to the questions at hand
Strong analytical skills with ability to efficiently interrogate different types of data to deliver relevant, high‑quality insights
Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written skills; ability to communicate effectively with senior management and across all levels of the business
Demonstrated leadership qualities with the ability to empathize, listen, and enable other colleagues to thrive
Ability to influence decision‑making in a highly matrixed organization
Strong business acumen, with ability to build consensus
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and solve problems, focusing on the highest‑impact initiatives
High emotional intelligence; growth mindset with strong curiosity and intrinsic motivation
Collaborative team player who is organized, coachable, and driven to improve
Location Rahway, NJ preferred, with the potential opportunity for placement in Boston.
Salary and Benefits Salary range: $169,700.00 – $267,200.00.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information can be found at
https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits .
Application 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 04/08/2026.
Equal Employment Opportunity As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
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Position Description The person in this role will help develop and drive Oncology R&D strategy priorities, tackling complex and often ambiguous questions that have significant upside for our company. They will work with senior leaders to identify and frame important topics, conduct rigorous assessments that can inform leadership decision‑making; develop, refine and lead Oncology strategic initiatives across our company; and help evolve and establish capabilities needed for our company’s Oncology Research & Development to be successful. This individual will collaborate cross‑functionally with Oncology leaders across our company and will be a critical partner across multiple teams. They will be charged with solving problems, driving value, and building a coalition of support that is needed for the creation and adoption of change. This individual will foster a psychologically safe, diverse, and inclusive environment by leading teams both directly and indirectly and mentoring special‑assignment partners.
Primary Responsibilities
Partner with Oncology senior management and leaders to identify high‑value strategic imperatives
Lead the framing, assessment, and recommendation of key initiatives in collaboration with executive leaders across oncology
Develop fact‐bases using internal and external data sets to support leadership decision‑making
Interrogate a deep and broad Research & Development portfolio to aid in resource allocation, prioritization and maximization of patient impact
Bring to bear experience in oncology (across discovery, translational sciences, development and commercialization) to identify capability gaps and ways to evolve
Lead internal and external teams to drive ideas from conception to implementation
Partner with cross‑functional teams to support implementation and deliver on key objectives
Drive cultural engagement with diverse and inclusive teams
Position Qualifications Education and Industry Experience Requirement
PhD in a relevant scientific discipline (Oncology preferred) or MD from a top‑ranked program, equivalent experience considered
5+ years of strategy management consulting experience from a top‑tier firm (e.g., BCG, McKinsey, Bain) or equivalent strategy experience driving R&D programs
Minimum of 5+ years of biopharma‑related experience post PhD/MD in a relevant strategy consulting or industry context, with deep expertise in Oncology R&D
Experience managing teams as well as external vendors
Required Skills
Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) with demonstrated capability across diverse roles and functions
Problem solving and insight generation – ability to frame and conceptualize complex, ambiguous questions and drive towards clear, substantiated answers relevant to the questions at hand
Strong analytical skills with ability to efficiently interrogate different types of data to deliver relevant, high‑quality insights
Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written skills; ability to communicate effectively with senior management and across all levels of the business
Demonstrated leadership qualities with the ability to empathize, listen, and enable other colleagues to thrive
Ability to influence decision‑making in a highly matrixed organization
Strong business acumen, with ability to build consensus
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and solve problems, focusing on the highest‑impact initiatives
High emotional intelligence; growth mindset with strong curiosity and intrinsic motivation
Collaborative team player who is organized, coachable, and driven to improve
Location Rahway, NJ preferred, with the potential opportunity for placement in Boston.
Salary and Benefits Salary range: $169,700.00 – $267,200.00.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information can be found at
https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits .
Application 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 04/08/2026.
Equal Employment Opportunity As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
#J-18808-Ljbffr