Director, Headquarters Operations, Relationship Management (Clinical Operations) - Hybrid

Job Description

Responsible for managing external vendor(s)/partner(s) who provide resources and services that are critical to the success of Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO) and Global Clinical Development (GCD) objectives and deliverables. The incumbent is expected to have strong business acumen, excellent change management and leadership skills.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Supplier Portfolio Management:

• Provides portfolio oversight of vendor partner(s) and serves as the primary point of contact with the supplier and internal stakeholders.

• Manages supplier portfolio and serves as the primary point-of-contact to manage issue escalations and resolution with internal and external stakeholders.

• Plans, coordinates and executes Operational and Executive Meetings for strategic partnerships. Ensures timely follow up from those meetings.

• Established supplier KPIs and SLAs and to enable effective portfolio management

• Proactively monitors and manages key performance metrics across the assigned portfolio of partners to continuously evaluate performance. Ensures issues are identified and managed through to resolution in a timely manner and deliverables are met as required.

• Sourcing Strategy:

• Anticipates future internal stakeholder needs and actively collaborates with and provides guidance to vendor(s)/partner(s) to assure new capabilities and services are developed to meet those identified needs.

• Evaluates and advises clinical teams on strategy of adding a new supplier to categories as well as vendor and market capabilities and prior performance.

• Translates business needs into the Request for Proposal (RFP) specifications

• Collaborates with Research & Development Procurement to identify external vendor/partner candidates who can deliver the required services/resources for studies across the entire Clinical Development portfolio. Active participant in the Sourcing Management Process as applicable.

• Process & People Management

• Anticipates internal/external business challenges and enables process improvements to address those challenges.

• Identify and drive process improvement or other initiatives to meet business needs

• May plan and lead the transition activities related to managing an existing supplier into the company systems due to a joint venture or acquisition.

• Mentor junior and new team member. May have direct management responsibility

Required Experience and Skills:

• 10+ years of clinical trial experience.

• Proven partner/supplier management experience.

• Must demonstrate excellent collaboration and highly effective communication skills to clearly articulate needs, effectively negotiate, and facilitate issue resolution across organizational levels.

• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

• Demonstrated strong ability to work independently, critical thinking and demonstrate sound and timely decision making

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelor's degree in business, technical, or life sciences.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Proven leadership skills with ability to create and lead high performance teams and/or matrix organization

• Proven management experience or equivalent

#EligibleforERP

ResearchandDevelopmentDivisionGCTO

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

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.

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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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.

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.