Job Description

Business Unit Director, Pharma Specialty

Business Role Purpose

The Business Unit Director (BUD) is a senior enterprise leader with full end-to-end accountability for the strategic, commercial, financial, and people performance of the Speciality Products across Austria and Switzerland. The BUD oversees the therapeutic areas of PH, HIV, Legacy and Immunology.

As a member of the Country Leadership Team, the BUD co-owns the overall success of our company, actively shaping strategy, culture, and cross-functional performance beyond the boundaries of the own Business Unit.

Key Accountabilities

1. Business Strategy & Performance

• Own full P&L accountability for the Business Unit, including revenue growth, cost control, and profitability.
• Develop and execute long-term strategy, LROP, annual operating and financial plans, aligned with global and regional priorities.
• Anticipate market, competitive, and policy trends and translate them into clear strategic choices and execution priorities.
• Take decisive course-correction actions when performance deviates from plan.

2. Commercial & Operational Excellence

• Accountable for end-to-end commercialization of our strong portfolio (and potential future products in the portfolio)
  • brand strategy and execution,
  • omnichannel and digital engagement,
  • sales excellence and incentive effectiveness,
  • forecasting, supply coordination, and launch readiness.
• Ensure that products reach patients ethically, compliantly and within label at all times.
• Use insights and competitive intelligence to shape sustainable market access and growth.

3. Leadership & People

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, diverse leadership team within the Business Unit.
• Own talent development, succession planning, engagement and retention.
• Act as a visible role model for Enterprise Leadership Skills, inclusive leadership, and our Ways of Working.
• Foster a culture of accountability, trust, psychological safety, and performance.

4. Enterprise & Country Leadership

• Actively contribute to Country Leadership Team decisions, balancing Business Unit priorities with overall country needs.
• Drive cross‑BU and cross‑functional collaboration, resolving trade-offs constructively.
• Shape and uphold the site culture, values, and agreed leadership behaviours.

5. External & Matrix Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain senior relationships with key external stakeholders (KOLs, health system leaders, institutional partners).
• Navigate a complex regional and global matrix, ensuring alignment while advocating effectively for country and patient needs.
• Represent the Business Unit and our company with credibility, integrity, and judgment.

Qualifications & Experience

• University degree in biosciences or business; MBA or PhD preferred.
• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and delivery of sustained business results.
• Proven experience in:
  • brand and portfolio management,
  • product launch and lifecycle management,
  • omnichannel and digital commercialization,
  • leading in matrixed, international environments.
• Strong track record in people leadership, coaching, and talent development.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with customers, KOLs, internal leadership, and external partners.
• Strong integrity, judgment, and uncompromising compliance mindset.
• Business-level fluency in English; German strongly preferred for the Austrian market.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate:

• Operates as a true enterprise leader, not a functional silo head.
• Demonstrates ownership, courage, and accountability for decisions and outcomes.
• Balances performance pressure with inclusive, human leadership.
• Thinks strategically while executing with discipline.
• Leads change with clarity, empathy, and resilience

We offer an attractive salary, outstanding social benefits and an exciting work environment with varied tasks in an international environment. The minimum annual salary for this position is EUR 122.100 gross and varies according to the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. We are looking forward to receiving your application.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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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. 

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