Director, U.S. Patient Experience - Respiratory BU

Patient Experience Leader

Reporting to the Vice President and Business Unit Leader of the Respiratory BU, the Patient Experience Leader (PEL) will be responsible for the design, and, in some cases, the implementation, of patient support programs (PSPs) for COPD patients prescribed Ohtuvayre, or other future products. The PEL will serve as the single, commercial / BU point-of-contact and liaison to GMAx and Corporate Responsibility as it relates to our Access Program (MAP) and the Patient Assistance Program (PAP), respectively, for Ohtuvayre. The PEL will be responsible for working with GMAx and Corporate Responsibility to provide input on the initial design of these programs for Ohtuvayre and ongoing feedback on how to improve these programs for patients. The PEL will work closely with compliance and legal on education and training for applicable BU personnel, reinforcing how these non-promotional PSPs are used and discussed, including ensuring that they comply with existing OIG guidance on PSPs and limited, product-related support for patients prescribed Ohtuvayre.

Key Responsibilities of the Role :

• Design and / or provide input, as appropriate, on a cohesive and end-to-end patient experience strategy to assist patients with obtaining access to Ohtuvayre as prescribed by their physicians.
• Collaborate closely with GMAx, Corporate Responsibility, IAM, legal, compliance, and other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, to ensure patient support programs and solutions are appropriately designed and align with overall patient needs.
• Implementation and execution of any support programs through contracted Specialty Pharmacy vendors and any additional patient support program(s) implemented by the BU with respect to adherence, as appropriate.
• Orchestrate development and implementation of analytical models (e.g., risk stratification tool for personalized patient support) along with associated change management related to how information, messaging, and / or resources are delivered to patients through PSPs or other access-related teams, while working with internal and external ecosystem stakeholders.
• Provide input on the development and implementation of SOPs, Business Rules, and other operational documents, as requested by GMAx and / or Corporate Responsibility for the MAP and PAP, respectively.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders and vendors to develop and implement similar operational documents, as may be needed, for PSPs that the PEL has direct oversight for, including, for example, the Nurse Support Program and any adherence PSP that may be developed.
• Recognized as a specialist in patient experience and support program design, providing advanced functional guidance to the Respiratory Business Unit, while collaborating with experts across our company as needed.
• Maintains awareness of competitor strategies and industry trends to inform and enhance patient experience initiatives.
• Shapes the strategic direction of patient experience programs within the Respiratory Business Unit, influencing standards, best practices, and operational effectiveness.
• Coordinates and allocates work among cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure effective delivery of patient support programs.
• Tackles complex challenges in patient access and support, including the development of analytical models and risk stratification tools, requiring advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Navigates regulatory, compliance, and operational constraints to deliver innovative solutions.
• The PEL will also be responsible for defining and monitoring appropriate KPIs, as approved by Commercial Legal and Compliance, to track the status and effectiveness of the relevant PSP at meeting its intended purpose and design, identify emerging issues and working with relevant functions to identify potential improvements. PEL will coordinate cross-functional and external stakeholders (including vendors) to address emerging issues identified in regular reviews or through feedback from customers / field teams, as appropriate.

Qualifications :

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".

Salary Range : $187,000.00 - $294,400.00

Compensation and Benefits : The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https : / / jobs.merck.com / us / en / compensation-and-benefits .