Job Description
The Associate Director of Forecasting will be accountable for developing strategic forecasts for a set of products and indications, as well as interpreting implications, developing insights, and communicating these to the business to help action the marketing strategy. The person in this role will work extremely closely with other DD&A functions, including Market Research, Data Science, and Payer Analytics to build a strong perspective on the market and asset situation and thus the inputs to the strategic forecast. They will also work very closely across a range of commercial stakeholders, including Global and Regional Marketing, Market Access, and Finance. The person will be an independent contributor but will partner very closely with other forecasting colleagues in a matrixed structure to develop and deliver forecasting insights. they will act as a core point of contact regarding development of product and indication forecasts and forecast-related insights.
The ideal candidate will have deep comprehension of and knowledge across a range of forecasting methodologies, as well as a strong realization of their respective business area (oncology, pharma, or vaccines). They will have demonstrated the ability to quarterback highly cross-functional teams across forecasting, market research and data science, as well shown an aptitude for partnering closely with business and finance teams. They will also have an entrepreneurial spirit, consultative mindset, and strong appreciation of the available data landscape and sources of insight. This person will help scope, design, and deliver well-defined forecasting projects (including periodic forecasting cycles) and insights.
This role will require interfacing and collaborating with many teams. The candidate will have demonstrated consistently strong management skills in addition to an ability to work objectively. The person will have a growth mindset and embody a culture of continuous learning. Strong communication skills are essential for a candidate to be successful in this role.
Primary assignments:

• Working closely with Forecasting Director, establish appropriate forecast modeling approaches, tools, and techniques for your respective asset(s) and/or indication(s).
• Partner closely with BEA, Market Research, Data Science, Payer Analytics, and other HHDDA functions on a continual basis to develop appropriate insights strategies and plans to have the necessary inputs for strategic forecasting.
• Develop and deliver the forecasts and forecasting insights for the forecasting cycles aligned with the company's enterprise forecasting process, working closely across a matrixed team including both US and India-based colleagues.
• Promote ongoing appreciation of and engagement with the business regarding actual performance against forecast, including what is driving it.
• Engage closely with the business (Marketing, Market Access) and Finance in aligning on inputs, outputs, and the overall forecasting insights for each cycle.
• Bring a range of forecasting capabilities to bear in addressing business strategy and decision-making.
• Partner closely with others in a highly matrixed organization including across large teams, ensuring we always operate as One Team.
• Drive frequent, clear communication around the forecasting process, inputs, insights, and other related topics to ensure your business and HHDDA partner stakeholders are aligned.
• Enable interconnected problem-solving with other HHDDA functional colleagues and business colleagues around targeted business questions.
• Be a thought leader and strategic partner for our business partners via the establishment of close, trust-based relationships.
• Comprehend business stakeholders' priorities and help develop strategic forecasting-related solutions that promote business objectives in collaboration with the broader commercial insight teams.
• Travel may be required (

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in related discipline

Knowledge and Skills:

• Minimum of 4+ years of relevant delivery of complex analytical projects in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry using market research and/or large patient or physician databases.
• Knowledge in developing forecast models and/or related analytics, (e.g., scenario analysis, business case development, etc.)
• Knowledge working in highly cross function, matrixed teams. Demonstrated ability to partner with and guide with appreciation and compassion.
• Directing diverse groups of work colleagues and positively manage ambiguity.
• Self-motivated, proactive, ability to work objectively and partner seamlessly. Direct without authority.
• Ability to appreciate business process and break down business questions into specific, tangible hypotheses and requirements to guide analysis.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with an appreciation for data oriented analytical methods.
• Ability to operate in an unstructured environment and have strong organizational skills to create structure and clarity. Ability to prioritize work efficiently and effectively to get things done.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Therapeutic area knowledge (for the respective TA of oncology, vaccines, or pharma/rare).
• Advanced forecasting knowledge including developing different types of models (patient-based, trend-based, etc.), developing advanced scenarios and simulations, and deeply appreciation the nuances of modeling for the respective TA.
• Constative business partner knowledge (either within a company or as a consultant)
• Prior working knowledge in functions that this person will be partnering closely with, including Marketing, Market Access, Finance, Market Research, Data Science, or Payer analytics.

Position location: Rahway, NJ (hybrid)
NOTICEFORINTERNALAPPLICANTS
In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.
If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.
Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.
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U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".
Under New York State, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate's relevant skills, experience, and education.
Expected salary range:
$149,400.00 - $235,100.00
Available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. For Washington State Jobs, a summary of benefits is listed 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:
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship:
Yes
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Required Skills:
Business Analysis, Data Science, Demand Management, Innovation, Requirements Management, Sourcing and Procurement, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning
Preferred Skills:
Job Posting End Date:
05/20/2024
*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.
Job Posting End Date:05/20/2024
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.
Requisition ID:R288148