Job detail for Associate Director – Medical Advisor, Oncology - Pipeline & Hematology

Job Description

Associate Director – Medical Advisor, Oncology - Pipeline & Hematology

Reporting to the Therapeutic Area Head, Oncology, the Medical Advisor, Oncology is primarily responsible for scientific knowledge management and strategic medical or scientific advice regarding upcoming oncology indications, with a focus on hematological malignancies within the oncology department. Working with a group of Medical Science Liaisons and commercial counterparts, the Medical Advisor provides strategic expertise and employs key tactics to ensure the oncology therapeutic sector achieves its objectives.

The Medical Advisor is responsible for developing key tactics and overseeing their execution to achieve associated objectives in the Oncology Medical Affairs plan, in compliance with all strategic objectives for this therapeutic sector in Canada. This may include post-licensure studies, publication plans, and other knowledge transfer activities. The Medical Advisor supports the Director, Medical Affairs, Oncology and works within a Canadian framework, taking into account guidance provided by the respective global teams and the Regional Director, Medical Affairs, Europe-Canada, to identify areas of strategic interest for Canada and address them by establishing a tactical Medical Affairs plan for each therapeutic sector under their responsibility.

The Medical Advisor must adopt a customer-oriented approach, build professional relationships with key scientific leaders in Canada, and support efforts in key strategic sectors. These interactions may also extend to regulatory bodies, payer groups, and key patient advocacy groups, as directed by the Therapeutic Area Head, Oncology.

Internally, the Medical Advisor participates in strategic team meetings and shares medical or scientific expertise with counterparts in other functional sectors, including Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Legal, and Marketing groups in Canada, and in the Europe and Canada regions as needed. The position holder also provides support during product approval requests and the drafting of reports required by regulatory bodies.

Key include:

• Scientific Leadership: Responsibility for the Oncology Medical Affairs plan. Working in collaboration with a team of Medical Science Liaisons, provides advice and direction based on national strategy, and identifies medical and scientific gaps.

• Responsibility for the development, prioritization, and execution of strategic and tactical plans aimed at addressing previously identified gaps.

• Prioritizes tactics to meet the needs of the clinical scientific leader.

• Acts as the national point of contact for the regional Medical Affairs team for their group's indication. Works in close collaboration with the Europe-Canada Medical Affairs teams and the Regional Director, Medical Affairs to obtain support from regional or global bodies for Canadian projects.

• Interactions with global clinical trial operations and our company's research laboratories to provide support during Phase II and III studies, local clinical evaluations, and investigator-initiated studies, and to continue to generate interest in conducting clinical development studies in Canada.

• Medical point of contact for all functional units (Market Access, , Clinical Research, Marketing, and Regulatory Affairs). Scientific leader for their indication when collaborating with the Oncology business unit to ensure effective management of existing products as well as new product launches.

• Participation as a medical leader in cross-functional brand teams, providing scientific expertise during meetings while ensuring scientific credibility and compliance with high ethical standards in all activities.

You are the ideal candidate if you have:

• Pharm.D., M.D., or Ph.D. degree.

• 2 to 3 years of experience as a Medical Science Liaison; experience as a Medical Advisor is preferred.

• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and the drug development process.

• In-depth clinical knowledge in oncology, as well as an excellent understanding of strategic clinical development and study design principles for hematological cancers.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Strong presentation and meeting skills.

• Strong sense of ethics and integrity. In-depth knowledge of Good Clinical Practice and the Innovative Medicines Canada Code.

• Ability to work within a high-level team and a matrix organizational structure. Outstanding team spirit allowing for effective work in a cross-functional structure. Ability to successfully interact with a variety of people at the local, regional, and global levels, including local clinical investigators, contract research organizations, payer administrators, regulatory officials, and representatives of various patient advocacy organizations with an interest in our products and clinical trial results.

• Fluency in French is required.

• Location: Quebec or Ontario.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy.

We may use artificial intelligence and automated tools to support our recruitment process. These tools are used to support, not replace, human judgment. All hiring decisions are made by our hiring managers.

We are proud to be a company that values the contribution of diverse, talented, and committed individuals. The fastest way to foster innovation is to bring together diverse ideas in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge each other's points of view and solve problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. In accordance with our accommodation policies and applicable provincial and federal accessibility legislation, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Advisory Board Development, Clinical Trial Development, Clinical Trials, Ethical Standards, Hematology, Interpersonal Interactions, Investigator-Initiated Studies (IIS), Medical Affairs, Medical Marketing Strategy, Meeting Facilitation, Oncology, Scientific Communications, Scientific Leadership, Strategic Planning, Study Design, Team Collaboration

Preferred Skills:

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Secondary Language(s) Job Description:

Associate Director (Medical Advisor), Oncology - Pipeline & Hematology

Reporting to the Therapeutic Area Head, Medical Affairs for Oncology, the Medical Advisor - Pipeline & Hematology is primarily responsible for the scientific knowledge management and strategic medical/scientific advice regarding our upcoming broad oncology pipeline with a focus on hematological malignancies. Working with Medical Scientific Liaisons, and working in concert with commercial counterparts, the Medical Advisor will provide expert strategic input and execute on key tactics in support of the objectives of our pipeline and hematological malignancy initiatives.

The Medical Advisor is accountable for the strategic development, execution, and delivery of assigned tactical objectives of the Oncology Medical Affairs Plan, in alignment with the overall strategic objectives for the therapeutic area in Canada. This will include deliverables such as post-licensure studies, publication plans, and other knowledge transfer activities. The Medical Advisor will support the Therapeutic Area Head (Pan-tumour), Oncology and will work within a Canadian framework in alignment with the direction provided by the respective Global Teams and the Regional Director, Medical Affairs Europe & Canada, identifying areas of strategic interest within the Canadian scope, and addressing those with a tactically-focused Medical Affairs Plan for each indication under their responsibility.

The Medical Advisor has a customer-focused approach, developing professional relationships with scientific leaders in Canada and supporting efforts in key strategic areas. These interactions may also extend to regulatory bodies, payers groups and key advocacy groups, as needed/assigned by the Therapeutic Area Head (Pan-tumour), Medical Affairs Oncology.

Internally, the Medical Advisor will participate in key strategic teams to provide expert medical/scientific advice and technical perspective to the Business Development and Portfolio Management functions. The incumbent will share medical/scientific expertise with counterparts in other functional areas such as Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Quality Assurance, Legal and Marketing in Canada, and throughout the Europe Canada Region as requested. The position will also maintain responsibility for support towards new approvals and regulatory reporting.

Core assignments include:

• Scientific leadership: Responsibility for the Oncology Medical Affairs Plan. Collaborating with Medical & Scientific Liaisons, identifies medical and scientific gaps, and strategically prioritizes tactics to fulfill Scientific Leader needs. Accountable for the development, prioritization and delivery of strategic and tactical plans that addresses identified gaps.

• Work in partnership with Global Medical Affairs teams and Regional Director of Medical Affairs to advocate for support of Canadian initiatives at the regional/global level.

• Interactions with Global Clinical Trials Organization and Research and Development Laboratories Organization in support of R&D-Phase II-III trials, Local Clinical Evaluations and Investigator-Initiated Studies and to continue to attract clinical development studies to Canada.

• Support to the Oncology Business Unit and Market Access Group to ensure successful management of existing products and launches of new products. Participate as a member of the brands cross-functional teams, providing scientific expertise at meetings and ensuring scientific credibility and high ethical standards throughout all activities.

You are the ideal candidate if you have:

• Pharm.D., M.D., or Ph.D. degree.

• 2 to 3 years of experience as a Medical Science Liaison; experience as a Medical Advisor is preferred.

• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and the drug development process.

• In-depth clinical knowledge in oncology, along with an excellent understanding of strategic clinical development and study design principles for hematologic cancers.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Advanced presentation and facilitation skills.

• Preference to candidates with demonstrated team leadership skills, as well as listening and coaching skills.

• Strong ethics and integrity. Solid knowledge of Good Clinical Practice principles and of the Canadian Innovation Medicin Canada Code.

• Ability to work in high performance teams, and in a matrix organization.

• Excellent team player; excels at teamwork in cross-functional groups.

• Ability to interact successfully with a variety of individuals at the local, regional and global level, which include local clinical investigators, contract research organizations, payer administrators, regulatory officials and individuals of various patient advocacy organizations with a particular interest in our products and clinical trial outcomes.

• Fluency in French is required

• Location: Québec or Ontario

This job posting is for an existing vacancy position .

We may use artificial intelligence and automated tools to support our recruitment process. AI tools are used to support, but not replace, human judgment. All hiring decisions are made by our hiring managers.

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. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

We encourage applications from all qualified candidates. In accordance with our accommodation policies and applicable provincial and federal accessibility legislation, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process.

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:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Na

Job Posting End Date:

09/30/2026

*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.