Job Description

We are committed to ensuring that no patient is left behind in the fight against cancer and other severe diseases. As healthcare systems face increasing pressure from capacity constraints, complex diagnostic requirements, and funding challenges, the need for innovative system transformation and sustainable patient access solutions has never been greater.

The Healthcare Team Lead is a people leadership role within the Oncology Healthcare Franchise, reporting to the Healthcare Franchise Lead. In this role, you will lead and develop a team of Healthcare Managers working across oncology indications to improve treatment rates, remove patient pathway and capacity barriers, and enable timely access to innovation.

You will translate Healthcare Franchise priorities into disciplined execution through pathway optimization programs, Patient Access Program support, system transformation initiatives, and strategic partnerships. Working closely with Account Management, Medical, Market Access, Policy, Sales, Marketing, Diagnostics, and regional partners, you will ensure that account plans are activated with clear ownership, measurable outcomes, and strong patient and system impact.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Healthcare Managers by setting clear priorities, building capability, ensuring accountability, and creating a high-engagement culture aligned with the Healthcare Franchise strategy.
• Translate Oncology Healthcare Franchise priorities into account-level execution, ensuring Healthcare Managers understand regional environments, stakeholder ecosystems, patient pathways, capacity constraints, and interdependencies.
• Drive pathway optimization and system readiness initiatives that address diagnosis, referral, treatment initiation, capacity, and access barriers across priority oncology indications.
• Coordinate Patient Access Program approvals and related operational processes for selected indications and new molecules prior to public reimbursement, ensuring compliant, timely, and patient-focused execution.
• Enable Healthcare Managers to identify patient and system barriers, shape strategic partnership opportunities, and deliver scalable solutions that improve treatment rates and accelerate patient access.
• Partner effectively across ONECOLOGY, Account Management, Medical, Market Access, Policy, Sales, Marketing, Diagnostics, Oncology Healthcare Leaders, and regional/global colleagues to surface risks, scale opportunities, and align national programs with local account needs.

Skills and Competencies Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Medicine, or Business required; Master’s degree or advanced clinical/scientific degree (MBA, MD, PhD, MPH, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Strong people leadership capability, including coaching, prioritization, performance management, capability building, and creating clarity for a team operating in a complex healthcare environment.
• Strong understanding of strategic account management and the ability to translate national Healthcare Franchise priorities into account-level execution.
• Proven experience leading teams or complex cross-functional initiatives, preferably in oncology, market access, patient pathways, healthcare transformation, or strategic partnership roles.
• Strong project management and implementation discipline, with the ability to define milestones, align stakeholders, remove barriers, and track measurable patient, system, and business outcomes.
• Oncology experience and a strong understanding of patient pathways, multidisciplinary care, diagnostic requirements, treatment initiation barriers, and hospital-level execution dynamics.
• Advanced understanding of access, reimbursement, hospital drug programs, and capacity constraints in Poland, with the ability to connect these insights to practical Healthcare Manager activities.
• Strong knowledge of the national and regional health economy.
• Excellent understanding of the Polish oncology patient pathway and the policies influencing opportunities.
• Outstanding networking and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of Polish business and strategic priorities.
• Familiarity with oncology product and service portfolios.
• Ability to adapt quickly to internal and external changes.
• Understanding of project management methods, with the ability to drive sponsorship and gain stakeholder support.

Leadership Behaviours Required:

• Win as One Team
• Focus on What Matters
• Act with Urgency
• Experiment, Learn & Adapt
• Embrace Diversity & Inclusion
• Speak Up & Be Open-Minded
• Lead with Patient and System Impact
• Develop People and Capability

You Should Apply If You Have:

• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, MedTech, life sciences, or a related industry, preferably in oncology or specialty care.
• People leadership experience, including direct line management or strong evidence of leading teams through complex cross-functional healthcare initiatives.
• Experience working with oncology patient pathways, hospital networks, diagnostics, access barriers, or system transformation initiatives is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to convert account insights and healthcare-system barriers into clear priorities, practical action plans, and measurable pathway or access improvements.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage healthcare professionals, hospital stakeholders, internal cross-functional teams, and regional colleagues in a compliant and outcome-focused way.
• Ability to lead through influence in a matrix environment, aligning Healthcare Franchise, Account Management, Medical, Market Access, Policy, Sales, Marketing, Diagnostics, and external partners behind shared patient and system outcomes.

What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation based on regular market reviews
• Strong focus on equality and inclusion
• High-quality work tools
• Meaningful development opportunities
• A dynamic and purpose-driven oncology environment

Join Us:

If you are motivated by improving patient outcomes, building high-performing teams, and shaping the future of oncology in Poland, we encourage you to apply.

Join us today and help shape the future of oncology in Poland.

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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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