Associate Director, Strategic Planning

Job Description

Description

Oncology is one of the top priority areas for our company, and expecting to deliver significant growth and benefit a great number of patients in the coming years.

This role therefore is needed to provide solid strategic analysis and insights for the leadership team to track / review performance and make strategic decisions to further transform the business model and identify and drive potential growth in a highly dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

- Lead strategic planning and business analysis for the Oncology Business Unit.
- Lead OBU forecasting and financial planning in partnership with key stakeholders, including periodic forecast cycles and long-range planning, with rigorous assessment of key assumptions, opportunities, and risks.
- Drive portfolio and new asset planning, supporting pipeline prioritization, indication assessment, and asset acceleration to optimize portfolio value and future growth opportunities.
- Lead key strategic initiatives across the OBU, including new product launches, lifecycle management, post-LOE strategy, and business development evaluations, ensuring alignment with overall business priorities.
- Drive business performance management and strategic governance, including performance tracking, management reporting, QBR coordination, and monitoring of key strategic priorities to enable effective execution.
- Partner with BU and senior leadership on key business and leadership engagements, including leadership reviews, visits, annual meetings, Townhalls, and offsite workshops, ensuring high-quality preparation, communication, and alignment on business priorities.

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree from top university; major in engineering preferred, Advanced degrees (MBA, MS, MD, or PhD) preferred; oversea experiences preferred
- Consulting background (2-5 years reference) with solid basic skills; in-house strategic planning experiences in large MNC Pharma as a plus
- Strong skills in: data driven analysis, strategic thinking, problem solving, and project management capabilities.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact with individuals from a variety of disciplines at all levels (senior leaders to working teams)
- Solid business acumen (in oncology as a plus) and proven track record of “proactively getting things done”
- Effective communications in Chinese and English in written, verbal with senior leaders, local and global
- Master in MS office: e.g. PPT, excel modeling
- Fast learner, team player, integrity

Preferred

- Experience in change initiatives, especially large-scale changes in the pharmaceutical industry
- Strong executive presence and ability to speak with candor when appropriate
- Demonstrated ability to understand, distill and communicate complex information
- Ability to manage multiple projects aimed at executing and delivering on the strategic vision

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:
Adaptability, Agile Project Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Developing Proposals, Feasibility Studies, Pharmaceutical Market, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Resource Allocation, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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:
No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

Job Posting End Date:
11/30/2026
*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.