Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Merck’s U.S. Oncology business is advancing innovative therapies for patients with cancer, including a potential mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy for early-stage melanoma. The Associate Director, Field Reimbursement Strategy will establish the strategy, operating model, governance, training, and field support capabilities needed to help treatment sites navigate payer, coverage, reimbursement, and access challenges. The role will partner with market access, commercial, patient engagement, data, technology, and external teams to optimize field reimbursement effectiveness and customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Field Reimbursement Strategy: Define the field reimbursement strategy, support model, and engagement priorities to address patient access barriers, reimbursement challenges, and provider support that are unique to the treatment journey for this product
• FRM Targeting & Engagement Strategy: Define FRM targeting, engagement triggers, and field priorities, including when broad provider education versus case-specific reimbursement support is required to optimize patient access and treatment initiation
• Provider Access Education Strategy: Establish the strategy for non-promotional reimbursement and access resources, including discussion guides, reimbursement education materials, prior authorization support tools, denial and appeal resources, and office workflow support materials
• FRM Training & Capability Development: Develop and execute comprehensive training strategies that equip FRMs with the knowledge, tools, and capabilities needed to support treatment sites navigating reimbursement, coverage, and access requirements for a novel individualized therapy
• Field Engagement Governance: Define brand-specific engagement rules, support priorities, escalation pathways, and business requirements that guide FRM interactions across the patient journey and ensure alignment with patient support objectives
• Technology, Data & Innovation Strategy: Partner with Data & Technology teams to define business requirements for CRM capabilities, field visibility tools, reporting solutions, and emerging technologies that enhance field effectiveness and customer engagement
• Field Commercial Partnership & Alignment: Partner closely with field commercial leadership (COLT) to define FRM engagement expectations, priorities, and support activities, ensuring reimbursement support strategies are aligned with the needs of treatment sites, the complexities of an individualized therapy, and overall brand objectives
• Field Analytics, Insights & Optimization: Leverage field, reimbursement, provider, and operational insights to identify trends, operational gaps, and root causes, translating findings into actionable recommendations that improve field effectiveness, patient access, and provider experience

Skills

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent (BA/BS)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, market access, reimbursement, patient services, field reimbursement, or related commercial functions
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and optimizing field reimbursement, patient access, reimbursement support, or provider engagement strategies and programs
• Strong understanding of the reimbursement and access landscape, including buy-and-bill reimbursement, medical benefit coverage, payer dynamics, benefits investigation and verification, prior authorization, appeals, and provider access workflows
• Experience developing reimbursement education strategies, field engagement approaches, training programs, and non-promotional access resources for providers and treatment sites
• Demonstrated ability to establish field engagement models, business rules, and support strategies that align customer needs, brand objectives, and operational capabilities
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities, with a demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, resolve complex operational challenges, and translate strategy into execution
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build alignment across a complex matrix organization
• Brand Strategy, Clinical Outcomes, Customer Marketing, Direct Marketing, Engagement Marketing, Engagement Strategies, External Partners, Market Access, Marketing Program Management, Media Strategies, Oncology, Patient Engagement, Performance Evaluation Management, Product Launch Support, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Decisions, Strategic Thinking
• MBA or equivalent preferred
• Experience supporting the commercialization or launch of advanced therapies, including cell therapy, gene therapy, radioligand therapy, individualized therapies, or other complex treatment modalities
• Experience working with Field Reimbursement Managers (FRMs), reimbursement support vendors, or related provider-facing support capabilities
• Deep understanding of oncology patient journeys, reimbursement pathways, specialty distribution models, and advanced therapy treatment ecosystems
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• Current Contingent Workers apply [HERE](

Benefits

• Annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
• 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.
• Remote work arrangement.

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