Associate Director, Learning & Development (REMOTE - US)

Job Description

Our US Ophthalmology team is committed to transforming the lives of patients living with diabetic macular edema (DME) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with a portfolio of two products in the pipeline. We aspire to achieve this through a relentless commitment to patients, innovation, ensuring access to life‑changing therapies, and collaborating with healthcare systems, governments, and payers to make treatments available to those who need them most. Our focus is on patients, scientific rigor, and flawless execution—bringing breakthrough therapies to those who need them.

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director of Ophthalmic Learning & Development to lead the design and execution of end-to-end strategic learning plans for product launches and ongoing commercial learning execution. This leader will define learning strategy, help design launch workshops and curricula, establish measurement frameworks, and partner cross-functionally to ensure learning drives desired business outcomes for our new launch asset in Ophthalmology.

Responsibilities:

• Develop comprehensive, end-to-end strategic learning plans that align with product strategy, commercial objectives, regulatory requirements, and customer needs.

• Assist design and development of launch workshop curricula and associated learning assets (facilitator guides, participant materials, job aids, e-learning modules, assessments, simulations, and virtual instructor-led content).

• Define learning pathways for different roles (field sales, medical science liaisons, customer support, market access) and for different phases (pre-launch, launch, post-launch, in-line maintenance).

• Establish measurement and evaluation frameworks (performance metrics, behavioral indicators, business KPIs) and implement a plan to collect, analyze, and report learning impact.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders — sales and product leadership, commercial training, HR/Talent, Medical, Regulatory, Marketing, Sales Operations — to align content, timing, and rollout logistics.

• Lead pilot programs and continuous improvement cycles using learner feedback, performance data, storytelling, and A/B testing of methodologies.

• Provide thought leadership on adult learning theory, blended learning approaches, digital enablement (microlearning, virtual labs, simulations), and change management practices.

• Manage, mentor and grow a high-performing team of L&D professionals; set priorities, develop talent, and ensure effective cross-functional collaboration.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Proven leadership designing strategic learning programs in regulated industries (Ophthalmology pharma/biotech/healthcare preferred).

• Deep expertise in instructional design methodologies, adult learning principles, and curriculum development.

• Strong experience creating and facilitating or overseeing launch workshops and multi-day immersive training programs.

• Demonstrated ability to define and implement learning measurement frameworks and link learning to business outcomes.

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills; ability to work effectively at senior levels across functions.

• Strong project and program management skills — able to manage complex timelines, budgets, and cross-functional dependencies.

• Analytical mindset with experience using data to drive decisions; comfortable with KPI development and reporting.

• Change management experience — able to design learning that supports adoption and behavior change in the field.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; capable presenter and facilitator.

• Strong business acumen — understands Ophthalmic pharma market commercial drivers and how learning interventions translate to performance.

• Ability to travel as required for in-person workshops and stakeholder engagement.

Required Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, or currently in pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience in Human Resources, or related discipline.

• Minimum of 10+ years of related experience (8+ years with Master’s degree)

• Experience in the area of Ophthalmology in either a sales or learning/education capacity.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience in learning, talent, HR, or comparable areas; experience in applicable technical/professional areas pertinent to the division / function served

• Experience in facilitating & delivering learning solutions.

MSJR

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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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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