Communications Manager

Job Description

The purpose of our External Affairs & Market Access Team is to ensure broad and equal access to our innovative medicines and vaccines. This is achieved at individual medical accounts (Key Account Management), by ensuring reimbursement for our drugs and vaccines (Market Access) and on the long-term by addressing legislative and regulatory issues (Policy) that promote and protect the discovery of innovative medicine. All these activities are asking for strong internal and external communication that supports the achievement of our goals and positions our company as a trustful and competent partner for our stakeholders.

As Communications Manager, the successful candidate will serve as a team member of the Communications team based in Lucerne, Switzerland. The incumbent will have responsibility for hands-on-execution of both external and internal communications initiatives across Switzerland.

In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Communications Manager reports to the Communications Lead and works cross-functionally with other business units. The successful candidate should have a background in communications, possess written, verbal and social communication skills and demonstrate creativity, passion and an understanding in social media.

This position within the Communications Team supports the overarching corporate goals:

• To enhance our reputation, credibility and visibility as a leading company and healthcare partner.

• To position us among the relevant stakeholders as a leading research & development-oriented healthcare company and a responsible local player.

• To support and strengthen the identity and corporate culture through internal communication.

• To support disease and brand specific communication efforts by our Business Units.

The primary activities include but are not limited to:

Internal and external communications:

• Participation in the development and implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy for our company in Switzerland

• Creation of communication materials such as press releases, media kits and presentations

• Supporting the development and maintenance of media contacts and promoting positive media coverage of the company

• Managing the corporate website and other digital communication channels.

• Organizing press conferences, events and other communication activities

• Assisting in the creation of internal communication guidelines and processes

Online Communications:

Website:

• Overseeing and executing the revamp of company corporate website including the content

• Execute SEO-project our website

• Statistics/Monitoring

Intranet:

• Develop local specific content for the Swiss Intranet and managing updates (e.g. articles, videos, internal announcements, memos)

• Implement and conduct trainings

• Statistics/Monitoring

Digital Innovation and Social Media:

• Planning and execution of the Social Media Plan

• Execution of regular posts

• Expand the company`s Social Media presence in other channels (e.g. facebook etc.)

• Cross-collaboration with Global Social Media Team and Swiss BU’s to get insights and content

• Develop an ‘ambassador program’ for LT members

• Own and further develop company internal communication channels

Additional tasks :

• Daily monitoring of shared inboxes and responding to media inquiries

• Act as an ambassador in ensuring brand consistency (CI/CD)

• Project Support for various Corporate Volunteering initiatives

• Support organization and moderation of internal company events

Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or related field

• Languages:
  Fluent in German (native speaker preferred) / Fluent in English (oral and written) /Other languages are a plus, especially French and Italian

• Visual graphic design skills

• Experience in using social media channels and digital tools

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum 5 years of related communications experience

• Demonstrates good understanding of the healthcare environment, including the business and regulatory environment in which company competes and communicates

• Team player, collaborative spirit, ability to succeed in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.

• Strong writing, editing and verbal communications skills; strong proficiency in spoken and written English.

• Effectively collaborates with and communicates across multiple matrixed teams with diverse cultures and backgrounds.

• A curiosity and passion for public health and improving access to healthcare among underserved populations.

THE COMPANY

Our company has had a presence in Switzerland since 1963. With a regional office and manufacturing/packaging facility, Lucerne is considered the center of operations. Approximately 1,000 people work collaboratively at the four Lucerne locations (Tribschenstrasse, Citybay, Schachen and Kriens). A fifth location has been established in Zurich, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of many of our company’s medicines and vaccines, which supports our mission to save and improve lives around the world.

We are proud to be certified as a “Top Employer Switzerland” and “Top Employer Europe” showing the company’s commitment to our employees and the community around us.

CITYBAY, LUCERNE

The Switzerland Head Office of our company’s Swiss Subsidiary is based in Lucerne's city center. Located in the heart of the city, employees work collaboratively across many departments including commercial, market access, medical affairs, clinical research, regulatory affairs, and policy & communications.

Who we are ...

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. 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.

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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Requisition ID:R287226