At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic marketing for paediatric vaccines, shaping brand and customer strategies.
- Company: Join a leading pharmaceutical company focused on public health and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on strategic thinking and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's health while driving business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in marketing, strong leadership skills, and a passion for healthcare.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Reporting to: Vaccines & Public Health Marketing Director
Location: United Kingdom (minimum 2 days/week Moorgate, London office, full-time)
Role Purpose
An enterprise-minded leader who defines and delivers the long-term portfolio, brand and customer strategy for our organization's Paediatric Vaccines business in the UK covering Enflonsia (RSV), ProQuad (MMRV), Varivax (varicella) and MMRVAXPRO (MMR). The role shapes future growth opportunities, influences commercial decision-making and ensures alignment between global priorities and UK market needs. Accountable for the strategic leadership and commercial performance of the Paediatric Vaccines portfolio, the Strategic Marketing Lead drives portfolio growth, lifecycle optimisation, forecasting excellence, investment prioritisation, market shaping and future business opportunities. Acting as a key strategic partner across Marketing, Medical Affairs, Commercial Access and Pricing, Corporate Affairs, Commercial Excellence and Field Teams, the role translates insights, customer needs and healthcare system dynamics into clear strategic direction that delivers both business outcomes and public health impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and own the long-term portfolio, brand and customer strategy, ensuring alignment between global priorities, UK market dynamics and business objectives.
- Lead strategic planning processes, setting portfolio priorities, growth ambitions and success measures that drive sustainable business performance.
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key external stakeholders through local and international congress to inform business priorities, generate actionable insights and influence portfolio strategy, market-shaping opportunities and customer-focused decision-making.
- Translate customer insights, market intelligence, competitive developments, healthcare policy changes and performance data into actionable strategic recommendations.
- Develop and maintain portfolio strategies that optimise product launches, lifecycle management, customer engagement and long-term portfolio growth.
- Lead portfolio investment planning and resource prioritisation, ensuring investment decisions are aligned to strategic objectives and deliver measurable business impact.
- Accountable for forecasting assumptions, demand planning oversight, management of brand budget and strategic input into financial planning processes, including budget and long-range planning cycles.
- Monitor portfolio performance and identify opportunities to optimise growth, customer impact and return on investment.
- Conduct strategic scenario planning and environmental assessments to anticipate future opportunities, risks and changes within the healthcare landscape.
- Lead strategic preparation for future market opportunities, procurement processes and evolving healthcare policy environments, partnering with cross-functional teams to shape business outcomes.
- Provide strategic leadership across cross-functional teams, establishing clear direction, alignment and accountability to ensure successful delivery of business objectives.
- Drive effective governance, business reviews and performance monitoring, ensuring timely decision-making, risk management and execution against agreed priorities.
- Represent the UK business within global and regional forums, contributing local insights and influencing future strategic direction through effective partnership and collaboration.
- Partner closely with Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Corporate Affairs, Commercial Excellence and Field Teams to develop integrated customer-focused strategies and maximise portfolio performance.
- Provide strategic commercial input to external engagement activities and support initiatives that address healthcare system priorities and improve customer outcomes.
- Champion excellence in strategic marketing, fostering a customer-centric, insight-driven and performance-focused culture while supporting capability development across the organisation.
Skills and Competencies Required
- Deep expertise in strategic marketing, portfolio management, lifecycle optimisation and business planning.
- Strong commercial acumen, including forecasting, financial planning and investment decision-making.
- Ability to synthesise complex market, customer and policy insights into clear strategic direction and business recommendations.
- Strong strategic thinking, prioritisation and scenario-planning capability.
- Exceptional cross-functional leadership and stakeholder influencing skills.
- Ability to operate effectively within a complex matrix organisation and lead through influence.
- Strong communication, executive presentation and decision-making capability.
- Demonstrated ability to balance short-term delivery with long-term strategic objectives.
Essential Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Life Sciences or a related discipline; advanced degree desirable.
- Significant pharmaceutical, vaccine or public health marketing experience.
- Proven track record of developing and delivering successful portfolio, franchise or brand strategies.
- Experience leading complex cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders across a matrix environment.
- Demonstrated success in strategic planning, forecasting, financial management and commercial delivery.
- Strong understanding of NHS structures, healthcare policy and market access dynamics.
- Comprehensive knowledge and practical application of the ABPI Code of Practice.
Strategic Marketing Lead - Paediatric Vaccines in London employer: MSD
As a Strategic Marketing Lead for Paediatric Vaccines at our London office, you will join a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to improving public health outcomes. We offer a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and strategic leadership roles, ensuring that your contributions directly impact both business success and community health. With a strong commitment to excellence and a focus on customer-centric strategies, we provide a rewarding environment where your expertise in marketing and healthcare can thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Marketing Lead - Paediatric Vaccines in London
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for MSD and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like MSD are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with MSD on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at MSD. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Marketing Lead - Paediatric Vaccines in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit MSD. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of MSD:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about MSD’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at MSD
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at MSD will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At MSD, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
