MSD
Strategic Marketing Lead (Associate Director) Oncology
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Description
Location: Moorgate, London
Hybrid working (minimum 2 days/week in the office)
The Opportunity
Join our Oncology Business Unit and take a leading role in shaping the future of our UK oncology business. In a scientifically complex and rapidly evolving field, this position offers the opportunity to lead long-term strategy, guide a talented team, and translate breakthrough science into meaningful outcomes for patients. You will be accountable for defining and executing the strategy for our oncology portfolio, with line management responsibility for up to five members of the marketing team.
Leadership and Organisational Impact
The Strategic Marketing Lead manages a team of talented professionals and is expected to demonstrate enterprise leadership and to influence beyond their immediate area of accountability. Success in the role requires the ability to:
- Create a clear direction and maintain focus in a fast-moving and ambiguous environment.
- Influence senior UK, regional, and global stakeholders through credible analysis, sound judgement, and a compelling strategic narrative.
- Constructively challenge established approaches and make timely, evidence-based decisions.
- Orchestrate matrix teams, clarify roles, and hold partners accountable for shared outcomes.
- Role-model inclusive leadership, adaptability, and behaviours aligned with company values.
- Balance commercial performance with patient benefit, customer need, compliance, and the long-term reputation of the organisation.
Key Accountabilities
Portfolio & Brand Strategy
- Define the long-term strategy and ambition for assigned brands, informed by deep customer, competitor, and market insights.
- Set clear portfolio priorities, making evidence-based choices that maximize value across the short and long term.
- Translate complex data into a compelling strategic narrative that aligns stakeholders and guides decision-making.
- Ensure global assets and programs are effectively localised to meet the needs of UK customers.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Commercial Performance & Execution
- Lead launch and lifecycle planning from strategy through execution, with clear objectives, milestones, and measures.
- Monitor key performance indicators and market dynamics, adapting strategy and execution where required to meet forecast ambitions.
Cross-Functional & People Leadership
- Provide direct line management to the marketing team, focusing on coaching, performance management, and professional development to build a high-performing and inclusive culture.
- Lead a matrixed, cross-functional team, providing clear strategic direction to integrate plans across Medical Affairs, Market Access, Field Teams, and other key partners.
- Act as a senior strategic partner, influencing UK, regional, and global stakeholders through credible analysis and a compelling strategic narrative.
- Role-model enterprise leadership, constructively challenging established thinking and holding partners accountable for shared business outcomes.
Financial Planning & Management
- Own the annual financial planning and forecasting process for assigned brands, aligning resources with strategic priorities.
- Partner with Finance and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure accurate reporting and robust governance.
Customer and Market Insight
- Champion a customer- and patient-centred approach, ensuring that decisions reflect a strong understanding of unmet need and the UK healthcare environment.
- Build and maintain appropriate relationships with external experts and key customers to generate actionable insights and inform oncology strategy and market-shaping opportunities.
Essential Capabilities and Experience
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
- Define the long-term strategy and ambition for assigned brands, informed by deep customer, competitor, and market insights.
- Set clear portfolio priorities, making evidence-based choices that maximize value across the short and long term.
- Translate complex data into a compelling strategic narrative that aligns stakeholders and guides decision-making.
- Ensure global assets and programs are effectively localised to meet the needs of UK customers.
Required Skills:
Cross-Functional Work, Influence, Line Management, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Oncology Marketing, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date: 10/28/2026
A job posting is effective until 11:59:59 PM 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.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location