Job Description

Senior Specialist, Business Consulting, Commercial Analytics & Solutions, Japan

The Senior Specialist, Business Analyst, Japan within the Human Health Digital Data & Analytics (HHDDA) team is key to driving strategic initiatives in unlocking customer and patient insights to support business objectives.

This role is positioned at the intersection of data-driven insights and commercial strategy, and requires a blend of technical acumen, strong leadership, and exceptional communication skills.

Candidates with a strong background in analytics, project management, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical ecosystem will find this role a challenging yet rewarding opportunity.

The position emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and the continuous pursuit of knowledge, positioning the candidate as a crucial player in shaping data-driven commercial strategies within the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Requirements Gathering and Analysis:

Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to identify and document business needs and processes.Conduct interviews and workshops to gather comprehensive information.Analyse and prioritize requirements to ensure alignment with the organization’s goals.Utilize an understanding of pharmaceutical data landscapes to inform analytical approaches.

Project Management & Coordination:

Act as a liaison between business users and technical teams, ensuring smooth communication and project alignment.Oversee project timelines, resources, and deliverables to guarantee timely completion.Report on project statuses, risks, and issues to stakeholders, utilizing root cause analysis, and providing solutions where necessary.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Establish and cultivate relationships with stakeholders across various functions to align on strategy and initiatives.Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams to incorporate new trends and methodologies in decision-making.

Strategic Development and Ideation:

Maintain a catalog of use cases and prioritize them to address business questions and opportunities effectively, acting as a subject matter expert and activating expertise across HHDDA to generate / refine ideas.Facilitate cross-functional teams, including Global HHDDA team members, in agile delivery of analytical solutions, ensuring scalability and applicability to business needs.Enable adoption / change management of HHDDA Advanced Analytics solutions by fostering local advocacy, cultivating relationships, and establishing credibility, while closely partnering with Japan business  stakeholders.Advocate adoption of advanced analytics solutions, fostering relationships and credibility with local teams.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Background:A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline is mandatory, with a preference for an MBA or a master’s degree in fields like Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Science.Industry Experience:Minimum of 6+ years experience in delivering complex analytical projects within the pharmaceutical industry or at a management consulting firm.Minimum of 4+ years experience in applied data science, including familiarity with data visualization and storytelling desirableTechnical and Analytical Skills:Strong understanding of pharmaceutical business processes, market trends, and the commercial value chain.Proven ability to translate complex business requirements into analytical problems that can be tackled with data solutionsLeadership and Communication:Demonstrated leadership abilities to influence cross-functional agile teams.Excellent interpersonal skills to manage relationships and collaborate effectively in a matrixed environment.Language proficiencyNative-level reading, writing and speaking proficiency in Japanese, to create, review materials, and communicate with the local team.Business-level of proficiency in English, to communicate in writing and verbally with global and local stakeholders and colleagues.Organizational Acumen:Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize work efficiently in a complex environment.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

The preferred candidate for this role should exhibit:

Entrepreneurial Spirit and Consultative Mindset:A proactive approach to solving business challenges by identifying and utilizing novel data sources.Intellectual curiosity and ability to identify innovative approaches to addressing business needs and pain points.Excellent presentation, analytics, and communication skills, both written and oral, are required to synthesize key issues and communicate / persuade constituencies towards specific actions and initiatives.Ability to attain “trusted advisor” status with key stakeholders and business partners.Growth Mindset and Continuous Learning:A commitment to staying updated with industry trends and methodologies, fostering an environment of learning and growth within the team.Strong Communication Skills:The ability to articulate complex analytical insights and business strategies to non-technical stakeholders effectively.Proven potential to effectively collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, with Global experience being a plus.Agility in Leadership:The ability to lead agile teams and navigate dynamics within a diverse group of stakeholders.Ability to operate in dynamic, transforming environment.

Who We Are…
For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

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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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Business Analysis, Data Science, Demand Management, Innovation, Requirements Management, Sourcing and Procurement, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

12/31/2025

*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.

Requisition ID:R328898