Associate Director, Policy & Communications (Oncology)

This is a fixed-term contract (FTC) role on a full-time basis, for the period from appointment until June 2027. Short notice period will be preferred. This role is predominantly head office based, with some trave,l as required for meetings. Hybrid working applies to this role. Position Overview: At our company, the Policy & Communications team reports to the Managing Director and is part of a worldwide network of communications and policy experts under the Strategic Access, Policy and Communications organisation. Policy & Communications leads and delivers our company's corporate and strategic communications (including staff / internal communications), social media and online presence, policy strategies including - central to this role - its franchise policy and communications. Reporting to the Director, Policy & Communications - Oncology, the successful candidate will be the strategic face of Policy & Communications in the Oncology Business Unit and with our external stakeholders. They will work closely with cross-functional teams to assess, create and deliver policy and communications programmes and tactics that drive our business goals through a deep understanding of, and engagement with, the stakeholder and healthcare landscape. They will work in close partnership with other Policy & Communications colleagues to deliver an integrated, winning package of policy and communications. The role would suit an outcomes-oriented individual who thrives on working in a fast-paced environment and who combines a passion for strategic and creative communications programmes with a focused and disciplined delivery style. The ideal candidate with have a proven track record of success in multiple forms of policy engagement and communication and in cross-functional teamwork, with experience and knowledge of the health landscape in the UK - preferably including knowledge of oncology. Leadership qualities and the ability to engage convincingly with senior stakeholders (internally and externally), along with experience of the life sciences industry and health, will be important. Key activities: This role is responsible for working closely with the business leaders and cross-functional teams working on Oncology, to represent and lead the Policy & Communications contribution to their success and to the success of the organisation overall - including:

• Maintaining a deep understanding of the goals of the franchise, the wider business, the critical success factors underpinning them and the challenges and opportunities that may impact them in the external and internal policy and communications environment
• Identifying and understanding the relevant internal and external stakeholders and audiences, and prioritising and managing the engagement with them
• Creating and delivering policy & communications programmes that advance the company goals and those of the individual franchises in a measurable way, through policy and communications services, across the full range of communications and engagement specialisms including therapy and corporate policy, brand and therapy-area communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, patient group relations, publications, social and digital media and issues management
• Supporting staff engagement where required
• Managing tactical communications delivery and management of suppliers employed by our company, as well as the business practices procedures governing all activities
• Providing on-going strategic counsel on communications and relevant business issues to colleagues across the organisation - particularly business and functional leaders and the Policy & Communications team
• Contributing to the broader Policy & Communications team and function including involvement in key strategic and department initiatives
Specialist skills & competencies required: Health Policy and Product Knowledge: A sound knowledge of health policy and the pharmaceutical industry environment, and the levers for influencing policy change Understanding of our portfolio, the lifecycle of products and can understand and interpret external health policy in relation to them. Enterprise Brand Management: Understanding our mission, strategy, values and franchise plans and use internal and external engagement to champion them, mitigate risks and shape our future business and organisation Stakeholder Analysis, Engagement & Influencing: Deliver on business objectives by identifying key audiences for communications and engagement, evaluating the situation and connecting with them based on a deep strategic understanding, anticipating and articulating their needs Policy and Communications Strategy & Development: Expertise in developing communication and policy strategies and providing counsel to colleagues who require assistance with challenging communication scenarios - creating programmes and messages for a variety of audiences to support our UK mission, growth strategy and business goals Shaping the tone, style and direction of key communications or policy campaigns based on in-depth knowledge of our company and its franchises alongside life sciences industry issues and stakeholder / audience perspectives Overseeing the execution of policy and communications programmes Programme Development & Execution: Ability to design strategic programmes, develop project plans and garner support for the allocation of resources and teams using sound resource estimates and business cases with supporting expertise in navigating complex internal processes for approval or support of initiatives Managing project budgets, identifying and mitigating risks, demonstrating strong prioritisation and time management skills and measuring results Compliance, Ethics & Risk Management: Understand, apply and comply with internal and external standards, proactively identifying risks, raising issues and using risk mitigation strategies where needed using sound judgment, 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: Temporary (Fixed Term) Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s): Job Posting End Date: 06/24/2026
• 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.
  
  Required Skills: Adaptability, Advertising Communications, Communications Programs, Communication Strategy Development, Content Creation, Educational Materials Development, Marketing Coordination, Pharmaceutical Policies, Public Health Research, Public Policy Development, Public Relations Services, Social Media Communications, Special Event Planning, Strategic Communication Planning, Strategic Thinking