Associate Specialist, Project Management- Research & Development Project Management Scheduling (Hybrid)

Job Description

Position Overview

Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) sits in the Research & Development Division at our company's Research Laboratories. Our GPAM mission is to drive pipeline progression as enterprise leaders through organizational alignment and integrated planning and execution. The Project Managers are core members of discovery, development, and alliance teams at our Company. They drive cross-functional teams to deliver projects and products that improve human health and our Company's business.  The Integrated Project Planning (IPP) group within GPAM partners with Project Managers to drive pipeline progression as experts in integrated planning through building high quality plans that are the foundation for meeting a projects strategic intent​.

The Associate Specialist, Project Management, is a subject matter expert in scheduling and planning for Early Development and/or Product Development Teams (EDTs and PDTs, respectively) and will operate under the guidance of a Director or Associate Director, Project Management to build and manage cross-functional and cross-divisional plans. They will support the scheduling and data quality for a variety of programs and will be a key partner in identifying schedule risks, communicating updates and changes, ensuring the most accurate and up-to-date information is represented and accurately incorporating process and guideline changes into the schedules. Associate Specialists are also expected to contribute to ongoing business process improvement and departmental initiatives in GPAM.

Success in this role requires attention to detail and the ability to master a variety of tools including Microsoft Project and related reporting systems. Also valued, are an aptitude for understanding interconnections between activities, a willingness to ask questions and seek solutions to challenges. As an expert in planning, the Associate Specialist will be expected to communicate clearly with other PMs and team members as well as partner closely with the PMO.

This position may be based in either Upper Gwynedd, PA or Rahway, NJ.

Primary Activities

• Partner effectively with lead Project Managers (PMs) to accurately represent the team strategy and plan in PM enterprise systems.

• Build, monitor, and analyze development project plans and schedules (timelines and deliverables) in accordance with established standards and collaboration with lead PMs and the PMO.

• Support multiple projects across any stage of development (preclinical, clinical, lifecycle management), therapeutic area and modality (small molecule, biologic, vaccine, combination product). Projects range in priority, pace, and complexity, and may include one or more alliance partners.

• Understand deliverables and interdependencies within the schedule; Identify and communicate potential conflicts and constraints; Work with PMs and team members to resolve

• Work with lead PMs to ensure high data quality in the schedule

• Accountable for use of established scheduling and planning standards, specifications, and systems

• Build new schedules for projects that enter the pipeline, as needed

• Provide mentoring and coaching to new colleagues; leverage and share subject matter expertise and scheduling best practices

• Participate in pilots for new tools and processes

• Effectively build relationships and collaborate with colleagues inside and outside of the department, as appropriate

• Participate in training courses to become educated and skilled in:

  • Overall drug development knowledge

  • Project management discipline

  • Leadership capabilities

Education Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree

Required Experience and Skills

• Highly organized and capable of working with attention to detail

• Able to relate project details to larger project objectives

• Planning, and time management skills

• Adept at learning new systems and technology

• Good conceptual, analytical, and problem-solving skills

• Demonstrated ability to work with others

• Communication skills to convey updates with an appropriate sense of urgency

• Desire for continuous learning and demonstration of learning agility

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Exposure to the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries and discovery or product development

• Coursework/training in project management

• Familiarity with project planning technology (e.g., Microsoft Project, Excel)

• Data analytics and reporting

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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

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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. 

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