Pharma Business Unit Lead, Sweden

About this role

Responsibilities

• Build, scale and lead a newly formed Pharma Business Unit in Sweden, accountable for upcoming launches and for the sustained performance of existing brands.
• Translate global strategy into compelling local brand and launch plans using our company’s Launch Framework and marketing processes; own launch readiness, milestones, governance and success metrics.
• Deliver commercial growth through forecasting, demand planning, KPI tracking and decisive performance management to maximize patient access and uptake.
• Secure market access by developing value narratives, evidence packages and health economics arguments; partner with External Affairs and relevant stakeholders to secure reimbursement and optimal access pathways.
• Lead post‑launch evaluation to capture learnings and refine future launch approaches.
• Design the organization for scale: define roles, decision rights and ways of working; recruit, develop and retain leaders and successors.
• Own BU budget, investment prioritization and ensure compliant execution. Proactively identify and mitigate commercial and reputational risks.
• Who we’re looking for
• Seasoned pharmaceutical commercial leader with extensive experience owning brands, portfolios and launches.
• Demonstrated direct people management experience (mandatory requirement) and proven leadership in cross‑functional, matrix environments.
• Deep knowledge or demonstrated experience in cardiometabolic therapeutic area; experience in immunology and/or ophthalmology is an advantage.
• Strong track record across primary and secondary care in Sweden with an excellent understanding of the Swedish healthcare system, reimbursement pathways and regulatory environment.
• Fluent in Swedish and English (written and spoken).
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity, shaping future direction, and influencing senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Preferred: advanced degree (MSc, MBA) and experience building or scaling organizations, teams or portfolios.
• What success looks like:
• A clear and scalable BU organizational design with leadership capability in place.
• Launch readiness achieved for initial assets with measurable milestones and governance.
• Strong commercial performance of the existing portfolio and demonstrated early uptake for launched assets.
• Reimbursement pathways secured or clearly advanced for priority products.
• A validated approach to post‑launch evaluation with captured learnings incorporated into future plans.
• Why Join Us:
• Be part of the Leadership Team in Sweden and report directly to the Managing Director.
• Lead at a pivotal moment: shape a new Business Unit and influence our company’s strategic growth.
• High visibility: direct exposure to senior leadership and a platform to accelerate your leadership trajectory.
• Meaningful impact: deliver therapies that improve patient lives across major therapeutic areas.
• A collaborative culture that values talent development, inclusivity and “Win as One Team” ways of working.
• Call to action If you are a strategic, hands‑on leader with a passion for launch excellence and building organizations that last, we’d love to hear from you.
• Apply now to lead our new Pharma Business Unit in Sweden and make a lasting impact.
• Required Skills:
• Clinical Documentation, Communication Strategy Development, Data Analysis, Digital Marketing, Emergency Care, Market Research, Nursing, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceutical Market, Pricing Strategies, Product Management, Results-Oriented, Sales Forecasting, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Team Leadership, Veterinary Medicine
• Preferred Skills:
• Current Employees apply
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• Current Contingent Workers apply
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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