Job Description

Overview:

The Director, Global Media Relations, is responsible for developing and executing a global media strategy that showcases our Company's scientific discoveries and development, product approvals, thought leadership, policy, and overall performance. The director will build and maintain strong working relationships with pharma, science, mainstream and consumer reporters and editors within the U.S. and across key global markets.

To support our Company's media relations efforts, this individual will manage, develop and maintain positive relationships within the Corporate Affairs team, closely partnering with our Company's Research Laboratories, Human Health, Animal Health, Manufacturing, Policy, and Investor Relations

This leader is responsible for engaging and collaborating with key our Company markets under the supervision of the Executive Director, Global Media Relations.

The Director, Global Media Relations, is responsible for creating and maintaining strategic media response plans and creating materials to quickly spearhead publicity efforts for special news and company developments related to scientific, product and business development priorities.

This leader is highly knowledgeable of our Company's science and biomedical research, requiring an understanding of biology and high-level scientific concepts and approaches, clinical research and drug discovery and development. Furthermore, this leader is dedicated to understanding the intricacies of each business area to enable the accurate and effective sharing of the Company's story.

Importantly, this individual has a strong international and scientific media network, is an excellent presenter and can communicate complex ideas to core stakeholder groups across the world with various levels of understanding of the Company and issue.

This leader is self-motivated, detail oriented and maintains strong project management skills. This individual also can develop high-level strategic plans and implement tactical strategies that achieve key objectives.

This role is based in Rahway, New Jersey.

Scope of work and core responsibilities include:

• Oversee, and collaborate with broad international markets, managing various workstreams and ensuring alignment across media strategies and team initiatives

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with pharma, science, mainstream and consumer reporters and editors within the U.S. and across key global markets

• Lead the development of media strategies for earned, owned and shared content that reflects our Company's scientific efforts and story in print, broadcast and online media

• Partner with the broader Global Media Relations team to develop and execute media relations strategies and outreach campaigns for strategic product priorities

• Demonstrate deep understanding of media and regulatory landscape for US and ex-US regions and major markets to best facilitate sharing our Company's story in a proactive, thoughtful and coordinated manner

• Develop and share best practices and HQ media policies to encourage leadership and coordination from Global Media Relations among markets and regions

• Facilitate media training from an HQ level for Regional & Market spokespeople to ensure a coordinated, disciplined global narrative with in country and ex-US media

• Lead efforts with media relations team and executive leadership to spearhead publicity efforts for special news and company developments related to scientific, product and business development priorities

• Harness close relationships with key scientists, researchers and executives to understand and gain knowledge of pipeline and ongoing scientific priorities

• Field media inquiries and interview requests and respond or delegate, when appropriate, in a timely manner

• Support ideas for the company's internal communications and publications, and social media

• Assess company materials and develop communications materials that are easily digestible and accurately report the information

• Serve as an effective and professional company spokesperson to key media and internal audiences

• Deliver strategic communications counsel to colleagues

• Define and monitor media performance metrics

Qualifications

• Accomplished communications professional with a minimum of eight years' experience in communications, media relations, public relations agency, journalism or related field

• Deep understanding of the scientific side of the healthcare business, including regulatory environments, pricing and access

• Strong track record of partnering and building relationships with mainstream, consumer, scientific and trade media reporters in both domestic and internal outlets

• Superb writing, editing and communications skills, including the ability to speak to key media and create strong press releases and reporter pitches

• Demonstrated knowledge of media strategy and tactics

• Highly developed problem-solving skills with strong ability to develop new, innovative ways to drive communications in a rapidly changing environment

• Positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills and the proven ability to network within a highly matrixed organization and maintain collaborative relationships

• Superior project management skills with proven success managing major project deadlines simultaneously

• Proficient using the Microsoft Office Suite

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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

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, Monday - 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".

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. 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 US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

San Francisco Residents Only:We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only:We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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:

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Requisition ID:R327806