Director, Oncology Portfolio & Strategic Planning Lead

Job description

Job Description Role Overview: Our Oncology organization is dedicated to delivering breakthrough innovations that extend and improve the lives of people with cancer across Asia Pacific. We are focused on maximizing the impact of our leading oncology portfolio while preparing the region for future growth through strong lifecycle management, strategic portfolio choices, and launch excellence. The Director, Oncology Portfolio & Strategic Planning Lead is a key regional leadership role responsible for shaping and driving the strategic direction of the oncology portfolio across Asia Pacific. This role leads regional portfolio strategy across current and future assets, with primary accountability for franchise lifecycle management and new product planning for priority oncology pipeline opportunities. The role requires strong enterprise leadership, strategic prioritization, and cross-functional influence across regional, global, and market stakeholders. The incumbent will translate portfolio ambition into actionable regional plans, guide key investment and market prioritization decisions, ensure the region is well positioned to maximize value from inline and future oncology assets, and lead a high-performing team responsible for advancing regional portfolio priorities. Key Role Considerations Owns the overall regional portfolio view across inline growth and future pipeline opportunities in oncology. Leads strategic trade-off decisions across lifecycle management, investment prioritization, launch sequencing, and resource allocation. Shapes the regional perspective into global development, commercial, forecasting, Stage Gate, and Enterprise Go-to-Market (EGTM) decisions. Balances long-term strategic planning with near-term execution against business priorities. Includes people management responsibility, with accountability to coach, develop, and lead a high-performing team. Requires strong matrix leadership and influence across commercial, medical, market access, outcomes research, finance, and business development stakeholders. 1) Portfolio Strategy & Strategic Choices Lead the development and continuous refinement of the regional oncology portfolio strategy across Asia Pacific, aligned with enterprise and global oncology priorities. Define and communicate strategic choices across inline brands and pipeline assets, including prioritization, sequencing, market focus, and resource allocation. Integrate lifecycle management and new product planning into a cohesive portfolio roadmap that balances near-term business performance with long-term growth. Continuously assess market trends, competitive developments, customer needs, and access dynamics to inform strategic recommendations and portfolio decisions. 2) Oncology Franchise Lifecycle Management (LCM) Leadership Lead Asia Pacific lifecycle management strategy for oncology franchise across priority projects and markets. Identify and evaluate LCM strategic options, market shaping needs, and competitive defense strategies to maximize brand value over time. Partner with markets and cross-functional stakeholders to translate lifecycle strategy into actionable plans with clear milestones and accountability. Drive regional alignment on strategic priorities, ensuring consistency of direction while allowing for local market adaptation. 3) New Product Planning Lead regional new product planning for priority oncology pipeline assets, from early commercial assessment through launch readiness. Guide opportunity assessment, market prioritization, commercial assumptions, and strategic framing for future oncology assets across Asia Pacific. Partner closely with global, regional, and local teams to ensure Asia Pacific perspectives are reflected in development, value strategy, and launch planning. Oversee key forecasting, Stage Gate, and Enterprise Go-to-Market (EGTM) deliverables for selected pipeline assets. 4) Cross-Functional and Enterprise Leadership Serve as a senior regional commercial leader across oncology portfolio discussions, influencing decisions with regional and global stakeholders. Build strong partnerships with medical, market access, finance, policy, analytics, and business development functions to enable integrated decision-making. Represent the Asia Pacific perspective credibly in governance forums, global discussions, and strategic planning processes. Foster alignment and decision quality across markets with diverse maturity, access environments, and competitive realities. 5) People Leadership and Capability Building Directly manage and develop a team responsible for lifecycle management and new product planning priorities across the oncology portfolio. Create clarity on role expectations, priorities, and development plans while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team culture. Coach team members to elevate strategic thinking, prioritization, stakeholder management, and execution rigor. Build organizational capability, ways of working, and planning discipline across lifecycle management, new product planning, forecasting, Stage Gate, and EGTM process What will you do: >10 years of pharmaceutical industry experience with strong exposure to oncology, specialty care, or innovative medicines. Substantial regional or global strategic marketing, portfolio strategy, new product planning, or lifecycle management experience. Strong business acumen and strategic thinking, with ability to manage complexity and make high-quality trade-off decisions. Demonstrated ability to influence across a matrix and lead without direct authority. People management experience with a track record of coaching and developing talent. Strong analytical skills with ability to synthesize market insights into clear strategic recommendations. Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills. Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives with strong ownership and discipline. Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, or a related field required. Preferred Experience in oncology new product planning and inline brand strategy. Broad understanding of Asia Pacific market dynamics, access environments, and launch challenges. Experience engaging global development, commercial, or governance teams. Advanced degree such as MBA, MSc, or equivalent. Who we are We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world. What we look for Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today Required Skills: Asia Pacific Markets, Asia Pacific Markets, Business Acumen, Coach Team Members, Data-Driven Decision Making, Digital Marketing, Global Team Collaboration, Innovation, Leadership, Market Access, Marketing Analytics, Market Research, Market Trends, Oncology, Oncology Marketing, Organizational Capability, Outcomes Research, Pricing Strategies, Professional Networking, Regional Marketing, Relationship Building, Scenario Planning, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Management, Strategic Market Analysis {+ 1 more} Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers app