Associate Director, Global Sourcing & Contracting

Job Description

The Global Sourcing Management Group (GSMG) plays a pivotal role in driving efficient sourcing practices for our company through the execution of a comprehensive end-to-end sourcing process. This encompasses collaborating with key business stakeholders to gain a thorough understanding of goods or services requirements, meticulously identifying, and assessing viable suppliers, conducting rigorous RFx evaluations, finalizing supplier selections, and culminating in the negotiation and formalization of contracts.

Situated within the Business Operations organization of GSMG, the Global Sourcing and Contracting (S&C) team assumes the responsibility for the flawless execution of GSMG's sourcing and contracting endeavors. This encompasses the seamless coordination of activities, from initial engagement with business stakeholders to the meticulous evaluation of prospective suppliers through RFx steps, final supplier selections, and the ultimate completion of negotiation and formal contracting processes.

By undertaking these strategic sourcing functions, the GSMG and S&C further our company's overarching objective of optimizing procurement practices and fostering robust supplier relationships in the pursuit of organizational success.

The role of the Associate Director Global Sourcing & Contracting is critical in driving strategic sourcing initiatives and collaborating with the category team to facilitate operational and transactional activities. This includes actively participating in creating and managing RFx processes, engaging with suppliers, evaluating RFx responses, and handling other sourcing-related tasks within the SAP Ariba platform.

The Associate Director Global Sourcing & Contracting plays a pivotal role in supporting major and minor category procurement efforts, working alongside Procurement Category Leads globally. By closely aligning with these stakeholders, the incumbent gains insight into the more significant supply strategies and successfully implements them.

In addition to sourcing responsibilities, the Associate Director Global Sourcing & Contracting will allocate approximately 25% of their role to program management, supporting the Central Functions Sourcing & Contracting (S&C) team and leading initiatives across all HUBs globally. This includes tracking progress, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and leveraging PMO methodologies to enhance project execution, manage risks, and deliver key initiatives on time.

This strategic collaboration ensures that sourcing activities are effectively managed, enabling the organization to maximize value, optimize costs, and enhance supplier relationships.

The incumbent is expected to establish and maintain strong, positive business relationships cross-divisionally and cross-regionally, be an effective problem solver and demonstrate a strong aptitude for leadership. They should also demonstrate strategic thinking, a global mindset, strong business judgment, and effective communication. Critical thinking and challenging the status quo are important success factors in this role.

Position Responsibilities                            

Primary responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leads a team of Sourcing & Contracting professionals executing the sourcing and contracting process.
• Ensures their organization understands their role in the end-to-end design, are adequately trained and deliver high quality service to category leads, business stakeholders and suppliers.
• Ensures that operations are effectively managed across the hubs in close partnership with other Hub Planners and Hub Leads across all 4 Sourcing & Contracting hubs globally.
• Collaborates with peers from other S&C Hubs to ensure knowledge sharing, such that all teams are able to operate effectively and independently on a day-to-day basis.
• Assures development and maintenance of relevant process knowledge articles, category cards and training materials.
• Identifies, defines, and assists in developing strategy for continuous improvement opportunities within the central function.
• Identifies opportunities and defines requirements for system enhancements, partner with process excellence, Ariba and IT organization to test and deliver them, and ensure successful deployment through change management and communication processes.
• Resolves issues and effectively handles escalations within current process to ensure business stakeholder and category team satisfaction.
• Takes a proactive role in understanding category strategy roadmaps and requirements to ensure S&C processes are effectively designed and the organization is trained appropriately to meet established service levels.
• Defines and monitors metrics to evaluate process health and effectiveness and provides ongoing service control and sustainability.
• Aligns with GBS, Finance, Procurement Category, SDPM and other stakeholders globally to support their operational objectives.
• Understands characteristics of the current sourcing strategy and actively identifies opportunities for improvement of business stakeholder experience.
• Acts as a leader to ensure accountability towards the business whilst providing holistic, standard, turn-key solutions.
• Demonstrates both tactical as strategic thinking and creative problem solving in response to position Procurement organization as a tool for supporting the business.
• Manages execution of the projects (RFx) with value up to $20 million.
• Responsible for E2E compliance contract management process with 3rd parties, including drafting, negotiations, contract compliance and execution.
• Responsible for to complete internal and external 3rd party risk assessments, prior to contracting and to maintain accurate records of risk assessment findings and risk mitigation strategies proposed.
• Communicating the outcomes of risk assessments and informing business stakeholders about proposed mitigation strategies. 

Education & Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of Sourcing and/or Contracting experience.
• Management and supervisory experience preferred, ideally in a matrix environment.
• Strong business acumen and knowledge of business processes supported by transaction processing capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and manage an effective team of highly qualified and culturally diverse professionals.
• Fluency in English
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or related field.

Technical & Interpersonal Skills Requirements

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Apps (Excel, Word, PowerPoint at a minimum).
• Enhanced knowledge of SAP Ariba system.
• Enhanced knowledge of compliant sourcing and contracting processes.
• Strong organizational skills to coordinate and manage multiple projects in parallel.
• Strong written and verbal skills enabling effective communication with all levels of management – senior leaders through working teams.
• Ability to operate independently and remain focused through change or uncertainty.
• Strong customer service mind-set.
• Global and continuous improvement mindset.
• Problem solving and analytical skills with a proactive management style to implement new processes.
• Willingness to challenge current thinking/processes.
• Solid experience identifying and leading change initiatives, strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organization skills.

Physical Position Requirements

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for business meetings, workshops and leadership meetings.
• Travel expectations can be up to 20% of the time.

#eligableforerp

VETJOBS

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

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 Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

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

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):

Job Posting End Date:

*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.