Brand & Customer Product Manager

Job description

Job Description Job Description: The Product Manager will lead brand strategy and the planned 2027 launch in Israel for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This hands-on role requires strong marketing capabilities to translate scientific evidence, pulmonologist insights, and patient needs into differentiated positioning against current and future competitors. Key Responsibilities: Lead the integrated launch plan, defining readiness milestones, accountabilities, timelines, and performance measures through post-launch optimization. Develop and execute strategic and tactical brand plans, using market insights, pulmonologist segmentation, and patient needs to define differentiated positioning and value propositions. Coordinate launch execution across Medical Affairs, Market Access, Regulatory, Sales, Compliance, Legal, Finance, and Supply Chain, aligning workstreams and resolving barriers. Build relationships with pulmonologists, respiratory KOLs, and healthcare stakeholders to inform educational and compliant engagement plans with Medical Affairs. Partner with regional and global teams to represent Israeli needs, adapt strategy and assets locally, and share launch progress, risks, and early-market learnings. Partner with Market Access to address coverage and reimbursement barriers. Develop educational and communication initiatives for pulmonologists and all pre- and post-launch marketing and communication materials for the field team, ensuring evidence-based messaging, approved labeling, and appropriate review and approval. Initiate and deliver creative digital and field-based projects addressing stakeholder needs and brand priorities. Map the patient journey from prescription and insurance approval to ongoing use; address access and adherence barriers. Monitor launch readiness, brand performance, market trends, access effectiveness, and aggregated patient support outcomes, including initiation and adherence where permitted, to guide optimization. Ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements, company policies, and market-specific standards across all product-related activities. Own forecasting, P&L, and budgets, with rigorous tracking and reporting to maximize return on investment. Required Qualifications: Strong scientific understanding and ability to translate complex data into compelling business and marketing narratives. At least 2 years of pharmaceutical product management experience, with ownership of brand planning and execution. Proven cross-functional leadership and ability to influence without direct authority and mobilize teams around shared objectives. Strong strategic and analytical thinking, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills. Experience building professional collaborations with specialist physicians, KOLs, and healthcare stakeholders. Ability to navigate regulatory and patient access processes and partner with Market Access to address barriers. Creative, proactive, commercially minded, and solution-oriented, with strong judgment and ownership. Digital solution orientation and familiarity with digital tools and platforms Excellent Hebrew and English communication and presentation skills, including engagement with senior regional and global stakeholders. Strong project management, prioritization, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage complex tasks, adapt to changing priorities, and meet tight deadlines under pressure. Proven financial acumen, including forecasting, P&L, and budget management. Experience with regional and/or global teams in a matrix organization, aligning priorities, localizing plans, and communicating progress, risks, and support needs. Preferred Qualifications (Advantages, Not Mandatory): Previous experience in the respiratory therapeutic area, particularly COPD, and experience working with pulmonologists or respiratory KOLs. Pharmaceutical launch or pre-launch experience, including integrated readiness planning and delivery against critical milestones, is a strong advantage. Experience with reimbursement pathways or patient access initiatives. Additional location(s) Compensation Information: Required Skills: Brand Planning, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Creative Campaign Development, Cross-Functional Leadership, Forecasting Models, Interpersonal Relationships, Market Access, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Data Analysis, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Pharmaceutical Products, Presentation Delivery, Project Management, Respiratory Therapy, Strategic Planning Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE 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: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s): Job Posting End Date: 11/8/2026*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.