At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful policy and communications initiatives in the oncology sector.
- Company: Join a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving patient outcomes.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Fixed-term contract until June 2027 with potential for career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a difference in healthcare while shaping strategic communications.
- Qualifications: Experience in health policy, communications, and stakeholder engagement required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Position Overview
This is a fixed‑term contract (FTC) role on a full‑time basis for the period from appointment until June 2027. The role is predominantly head‑office based with some travel required for meetings. Hybrid working applies.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain a deep understanding of the franchise goals, business success factors, and external/internal policy and communications environment.
- Identify, prioritise and manage engagement with relevant internal and external stakeholders and audiences.
- Create and deliver policy and communications programmes that advance company and franchise goals, covering therapy and corporate policy, brand and therapy‑area communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, patient group relations, publications, social and digital media, and issues management.
- Support staff engagement where required.
- Manage tactical communications delivery and supplier management, and comply with business practices and procedures.
- Provide ongoing strategic counsel on communications and business issues to colleagues across the organisation.
- Contribute to the broader Policy & Communications team and function, including key strategic and departmental initiatives.
Specialist skills & competencies required
- Health policy and product knowledge: sound understanding of health policy, the pharmaceutical industry environment, and influence levers.
- Enterprise brand management: align internal and external engagement with mission, strategy, values and franchise plans.
- Stakeholder analysis, engagement & influencing: identify key audiences, evaluate situations, and connect based on strategic understanding.
- Policy and communications strategy & development: develop strategies and counsel colleagues in communication scenarios.
- Tone, style and direction shaping: create key communications or policy campaigns informed by industry issues and stakeholder perspectives.
- Execution oversight: design programmes, develop project plans, secure resources, manage budgets, mitigate risks, and measure results.
- Programme development & execution: prepare business cases, navigate internal approval processes, and allocate resources.
- Compliance, ethics & risk management: apply internal and external standards, identify risks, and mitigate them.
Required Skills
- Adaptability
- Advertising communications
- Communications programs
- Communication strategy development
- Content creation
- Educational materials development
- Marketing coordination
- Pharmaceutical policies
- Public health research
- Public policy development
- Public relations services
- Social media communications
- Special event planning
- Strategic communication planning
- Strategic thinking
Associate Director, Policy & Communications (Oncology) employer: Merck & Co., Inc.
As an Associate Director in Policy & Communications (Oncology), you will join a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to advancing healthcare communication strategies. Our company fosters a collaborative work culture that values employee growth, offering opportunities for professional development and hybrid working arrangements that promote work-life balance. Located at our head office, you will benefit from engaging with diverse stakeholders while contributing to impactful health policy initiatives in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Policy & Communications (Oncology)
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We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Policy & Communications (Oncology)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Merck & Co., Inc.. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Merck & Co., Inc..
How to prepare for a job interview at Merck & Co., Inc.
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
