Director, Legal

Job Description

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and collegiality of dedicated professionals.  To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork.  As part of our global team, attorneys hired at our Company have the chance to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while exploring different opportunities to expand their own careers.

Position Overview

Successful candidates will oversee a litigation portfolio comprised mostly of commercial litigation, including claims of product liability, breach of contract, breach of duty, consumer and other fraud, as well as various business torts.

Responsibilities

• Retain and manage outside counsel and work with them on all commercial litigation from case inception through case closure including establishing case and alternative dispute resolution strategies; provide internal guidance to business and relevant stakeholders and implement litigation initiatives
• Estimate legal expenses on a quarterly basis; establish and manage litigation budgets that align with interests of business and maximize likelihood of successful outcomes; work creatively with outside counsel to minimize costs and fees
• Develop and/or coordinate preparation of weekly updates and other reports regarding status of significant cases or legal issues affecting the business
• Work closely and collaboratively with others on the U.S. Litigation team, business clients, other members of the Office of General Counsel, and Public Affairs to ensure litigation strategy comports with overall business objectives
• Anticipate and mitigate legal problems and develop strategies to reduce potential areas of risk
• Investigate factual and other issues pertaining to mass tort and commercial litigation claims and work closely with business units to properly defend and/or prosecute matters
• Assist other members of legal team as needed across all business units

• Perform risk assessments and determine when and how to resolve legal issues with input, as appropriate from key legal and other stakeholders
• Manage all aspects of multi-jurisdictional discovery pertaining to commercial litigation
• Reports to Managing Counsel of Litigation

Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Graduate of an accredited law school, with admission to Pennsylvania or another state Bar.

Required

• Five(5) or more years of litigation experience in a law firm or corporate setting
• Superior ability to analyze complex legal, business issues, outstanding writing and communication skills, a teamwork-oriented attitude, strong initiative and a proven ability to effectively manage outside counsel effectively and efficiently, consistent with applicable budgets
• Willingness and ability to quickly become proficient in new areas of legal practice
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate risks and exercise excellent legal judgment
• Must be team-oriented and have ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a solution-oriented approach to legal issues
• Maintain up-to-date understanding of litigation and the law applicable to same and proactively counsel business on legal developments potentially effecting company’s legal and reputational  status
• Experience managing a significant workload, with the ability to balance competing priorities in a fast paced and challenging environment.
• Successful candidate will work either in North Wales, Pennsylvania or Rahway, NJ office.

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:

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*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.