Brand & Customer Product Manager

Job Description Job Description: The Product Manager will lead brand strategy and the planned 2027 launch in Israel for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This hands-on role requires strong marketing capabilities to translate scientific evidence, pulmonologist insights, and patient needs into differentiated positioning against current and future competitors. Key Responsibilities: • Lead the integrated launch plan, defining readiness milestones, accountabilities, timelines, and performance measures through post-launch optimization. • Develop and execute strategic and tactical brand plans, using market insights, pulmonologist segmentation, and patient needs to define differentiated positioning and value propositions. • Coordinate launch execution across Medical Affairs, Market Access, Regulatory, Sales, Compliance, Legal, Finance, and Supply Chain, aligning workstreams and resolving barriers. • Build relationships with pulmonologists, respiratory KOLs, and healthcare stakeholders to inform educational and compliant engagement plans with Medical Affairs. • Partner with regional and global teams to represent Israeli needs, adapt strategy and assets locally, and share launch progress, risks, and early-market learnings. • Partner with Market Access to address coverage and reimbursement barriers. • Develop educational and communication initiatives for pulmonologists and all pre- and post-launch marketing and communication materials for the field team, ensuring evidence-based messaging, approved labeling, and appropriate review and approval. • Initiate and deliver creative digital and field-based projects addressing stakeholder needs and brand priorities. • Map the patient journey from prescription and insurance approval to ongoing use; address access and adherence barriers. • Monitor launch readiness, brand performance, market trends, access effectiveness, and aggregated patient support outcomes, including initiation and adherence where permitted, to guide optimization. • Ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements, company policies, and market-specific standards across all product-related activities. • Own forecasting, P&L, and budgets, with rigorous tracking and reporting to maximize return on investment. Required Qualifications: • Strong scientific understanding and ability to translate complex data into compelling business and marketing narratives. • At least 2 years of pharmaceutical product management experience, with ownership of brand planning and execution. • Proven cross-functional leadership and ability to influence without direct authority and mobilize teams around shared objectives. • Strong strategic and analytical thinking, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills. • Experience building professional collaborations with specialist physicians, KOLs, and healthcare stakeholders. • Ability to navigate regulatory and patient access processes and partner with Market Access to address barriers. • Creative, proactive, commercially minded, and solution-oriented, with strong judgment and ownership. • Digital solution orientation and familiarity with digital tools and platforms • Excellent Hebrew and English communication and presentation skills, including engagement with senior regional and global stakeholders. • Strong project management, prioritization, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage complex tasks, adapt to changing priorities, and meet tight deadlines under pressure. • Proven financial acumen, including forecasting, P&L, and budget management. • Experience with regional and/or global teams in a matrix organization, aligning priorities, localizing plans, and communicating progress, risks, and support needs. Preferred Qualifications (Advantages, Not Mandatory): • Previous experience in the respiratory therapeutic area, particularly COPD, and experience working with pulmonologists or respiratory KOLs. • Pharmaceutical launch or pre-launch experience, including integrated readiness planning and delivery against critical milestones, is a strong advantage. • Experience with reimbursement pathways or patient access initiatives. Additional location(s) Compensation Information: Required Skills: Brand Planning, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Creative Campaign Development, Cross-Functional Leadership, Forecasting Models, Interpersonal Relationships, Market Access, Marketing Budget Management, Marketing Data Analysis, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Pharmaceutical Products, Presentation Delivery, Project Management, Respiratory Therapy, Strategic Planning 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: 11/8/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM 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.