Job Description
Position Summary
The Launch Planner, Sr. Specialist, is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the integrated launch plans for assigned products across local stakeholders. This role reports to the Launch Excellence Lead and serves as the operational engine of the launch governance model, enabling cross-functional alignment, milestone tracking, risk management, meeting coordination and issue resolution to ensure portfolio priorities are translated into a disciplined execution plan and that launch readiness is achieved by the target launch date.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and maintain the integrated launch project plans including timelines, milestones, dependencies, and critical path activities.
- Coordinate cross-functional launch activities across Medical, Regulatory, Access, Supply, Quality, Commercial, Analytics, and other functions as required.
- Drive weekly and monthly cross-functional status meetings and milestone gate assessments.
- Organize and facilitate launch team meetings, readiness reviews, and governance forums under the direction of the Launch Excellence Lead.
- Maintain the launch log, track open actions, risks, issues, and mitigation plans.
- Escalate critical issues, delays, or risks to the Launch Excellence Lead based on defined governance thresholds.
- Coordinate launch rehearsals and readiness checks and ensure required assets, tactics, and deliverables are complete and approved.
- Produce launch readiness reports and dashboards for governance forums and leadership updates.
- Ensure consistency in launch planning standards, templates, and documentation.
- Support readiness gate preparation by consolidating evidence and identifying gaps.
- Support handover activities from launch planning into launch execution and post-launch stabilization.
- Contribute to lessons learned, knowledge capture, and continuous improvement activities.
- Collaborate with the New Products Lead to align execution plans with portfolio priorities and launch timing.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Project Management, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related field.
- Project management certification (PMP, PMI-ACP, PMO-CP or equivalent).
Professional Experience
- 3+ years of experience in project coordination, launch planning, program management, or cross-functional operations in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industry.
- Experience supporting complex cross-functional initiatives or product launches.
- Experience with planning tools, project tracking systems, and meeting governance.
- Exposure to therapeutic area launch planning is preferred.
Skills and Competencies
- English proficiency required
- Strong project management and organizational skills
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Analytical thinking and attention to detail
- Strong problem-solving and escalation management
- Proficiency in launch planning tools, dashboards, and collaboration platforms
- Ability to work across regional and local teams
- Process discipline and accountability
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Required Skills:
Adaptability, Clinical Supply Chain Management, Clinical Trial Management, Feasibility Studies, Leadership, Performance Monitoring, Process Improvements, Project Planning, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, Self Motivation, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Technical Quality Assurance
Preferred Skills:
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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:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
06/27/2026
*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.
