Sr Specialist, Data Science

The Senior Specialist, US Market Engagement (USME) will be responsible for developing and communicating data-driven and actionable insights that drive greater customer and market understanding to inform brand strategy, help meet in-line brand growth and commercial objectives.

This hybrid role requires the individual to be a key partner to the US Vaccines Marketing Team, supporting analytics execution across the portfolio (Adolescent, Adult, and Ecosystem). This person will be business facing and will “connect the dots” across the broader DHH capability ecosystem, partnering closely with teams in market research, forecasting, payer insights & analytics, data science, data strategy, and data solutions.

The preferred candidate should have intellectual curiosity, an entrepreneurial spirit, a consultative mindset, and a strong understanding of healthcare & pharma marketing. The person should be able to identify the data, analytics, and research needs to define, enable, and inform commercial strategies of our brand and business leaders. The candidate will have a growth mindset, embody a culture of continuous learning, and possess strong technical and communication skills.

Primary Job Function and Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder Partnership: Thoroughly appreciate the assigned internal stakeholder business needs and priorities to help build analyses promoting business objectives by delivering actionable insights.

Analytic Accountabilities: Be accountable for ensuring delivery of analyses with high quality standards, timeliness, compliance, and excellent user experience (routinely keeping stakeholders and USME leads updated on progress).

Data Mining & Analytics Execution: Mine and analyze data leveraging advanced analytical/statistical techniques from disparate databases/sources (claims data/EMR Data/Sales/Distributions and other commercial sources) to drive optimization and improvement of therapy area commercial strategies.

Capability Ownership: Connect the dots across various commercial capabilities (e.g., dashboards, MMx, MarTech capabilities etc) to synthesize cohesive insights and actively inform platform/capability enhancements that directly align with evolving Marketing team needs.

AI Innovation, Automation, & Digital Mastery : Demonstrate strong interest, baseline mastery, or a proactive willingness to learn next-generation technologies (specifically Generative AI, agentic workflows, and LLMs). Actively identify, pilot, and champion the integration of AI-driven automation to streamline routine reporting, automate data narratives, and drive efficiency within a regulated environment (complying with data privacy and compliance guidelines).

Advanced Methodologies & Innovative Experimentation: Convey new trends and analytical methodologies being implemented/considered within the company ecosystem and bring new ideas forward that enhance the analytic capabilities of the organization. Contribute directly to innovative experiments, idea generation, and incubation, identifying tangible and measurable criteria to improve business processes and strategies.

Influence & Communication: Effectively convey analyses and positively influence stakeholders, supporting the USME team by translating data into actionable commercial stories and co-presenting performance readouts to marketing leadership.

A minimum of a BS (or equivalent) in Marketing, Business Strategy, Business Consulting, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Decision Science, Economics, Engineering, Public Health, or an equivalent scientific/commercial discipline.

An MBA, Master’s, or Doctorate degree in a highly quantitative or commercial discipline is a plus.

Required Experience & Skills

Pharma Analytics: Minimum of 3 plus years of relevant knowledge using data science and/or analytical techniques to deliver measurable impact in the commercial pharma landscape.

Pharma Data Assets: Knowledge in mining medical claims/EMR, social media, etc. data with a strategic/inquisitive mindset and a proven record of being able to produce actionable business insights that drive positive commercial results.

Database & Query Skills: Ability to extract data from various database tables using tools such as SQL, Databricks, Dataiku to develop features and datasets to be used in commercial analysis.

Effective Storytelling: Strong communication skills using effective storytelling grounded on data insights.

Methodological Awareness: Ability to provide guidance and help define tactics and strategies to implement targeting and segmentation schemes using predictive and machine learning models.

Presentation Formulation: Comfort formulating actionable insights and recommendations from commercial analytics into presentations (using PowerPoint etc.) and co-presenting results to various levels of franchise management.

Pharma Industry Knowledge: Proven knowledge of business processes and industry/market trends within the pharmaceutical/healthcare space.

Matrix Navigation: Effective organizational and project management skills to navigate a complex matrix environment and organize/prioritize work efficiently and effectively.

Tech-Forward Mindset: Openness and motivation to build skills in AI, machine learning, and automation (specifically learning how agentic AI and automated pipelines can enhance commercial analytics and reporting).

Work Location

Location: Upper Gwynedd, PA or Rahway, NJ.

Model: Hybrid (expected to be in the office at least 3 days/week, Monday through Thursday)., Business Analysis, Data Analytics, Data Science, Data Visualization, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Requirements Management, Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption, Brand Growth, Brand Strategy, Business Intelligence (BI), Business Strategies, Commercial Analytics, Commercial Strategies, Computer Science, Continuous Learning, Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Infectious Disease, Machine Learning (ML), Market Research, Project Management, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Management, Strategic Planning, Waterfall Model, Valid Driving License

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/)

The salary range for this role is

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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.