Global Head of Strategy & Real Estate

Merck KGaA; Darmstadt; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in Darmstadt, Germany seeks a Head of Strategy & Real Estate to build and lead CREM's portfolio strategy, translating corporate direction into actionable multi-year plans and overseeing global real estate transactions across EMEA, AMER and APAC.

As a newly created function, you will establish portfolio and workplace strategy, governance, and M&A integration. You will partner with senior leaders, drive efficiency, and shape the real estate agenda for the organization.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in corporate real estate with senior level portfolio strategy experience.
• Strong track record in location strategy and strategic business partnering.
• Excellent ability to present to C-suite audiences and build business cases.
• Experience leading across a matrixed, multi-sector corporate environment.
• Exposure to workplace strategy and occupancy planning is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and refresh of CREM's multi-year Real Estate Plan of Record.
• Partner with business sector leads to embed CRE into planning cycles.
• Oversee Real Estate and FM due diligence for M&A and integration planning.
• Own global workplace and occupancy strategy with standards and efficiency targets.
• Oversee market intelligence and benchmark data to inform decisions.
• Provide strategic direction to regional Transaction Managers and Portfolio Managers.
• Champion governance frameworks and approve global real estate transactions above thresholds.

Skills

Portfolio strategy

Location strategy

Executive partnering

Real estate leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Matrixed environment

Relationship building

Education

Master's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance or related field

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

This is one of the most strategically significant roles in the new CREM structure, and in many respects the strategic right hand of the Head of CREM. As Head of Strategy & Real Estate, you will build and lead the capability that connects Merck's business direction to its global real estate portfolio: translating corporate strategy into actionable portfolio plans, owning the business partnering relationships with sector leadership, and overseeing the execution of transactions across EMEA, AMER and APAC.

This is a newly created function. Portfolio strategy, proactive planning and workplace strategy do not currently exist in a mature form within Merck's real estate organisation, you will establish them. Transactions capability exists and is largely retained; your mandate is to elevate it from reactive execution to strategically-led delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio Strategy: Lead the development and annual refresh of CREM's Real Estate Plan of Record, translating business growth, consolidation and transformation requirements into a multi-year portfolio strategy with clear priorities, scenarios and business cases. Own portfolio optimisation as the function's primary strategic output.
• Business Partnering: Serve as a senior strategic partner to business sector leads across Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics, embedding CRE into business planning cycles before decisions are made, not after. Build trusted relationships that position CREM as a value-creating partner.
• M&A Support – Lead on all aspects of Real Estate and FM due diligence to support Merck M&A activity, managing cross-border due diligence and master planning to capture portfolio synergies, mitigate risk, and prepare portfolio integration plan. Once M&A transaction is signed then lead the implementation of all portfolio and service delivery integration activities.
• Workplace & Occupancy Strategy: Own workplace and occupancy planning strategy at a global level, setting standards, guiding space utilisation principles and ensuring portfolio decisions reflect both business needs and efficiency targets.
• Market Intelligence: Oversee the function's market intelligence capability, leveraging external partners and broker relationships to ensure portfolio decisions are backed by real market insight, proactive lease expiry management and benchmarked market data.
• Transaction Oversight: Provide strategic direction and oversight to the regional Transaction Managers across EMEA, AMER and APAC, ensuring all transactions are strategy-led, governed consistently and executed to a high standard. Maintain sufficient transaction expertise to provide cover and resource flexibility where needed.
• Portfolio Management Oversight: Direct the regional Portfolio Managers in building and maintaining portfolio performance visibility, opportunity identification and Plan of Record delivery across all geographies.
• Governance & Process: Champion the adoption of CREM's transaction and strategy governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with playbooks, approval processes and decision rights across the team. Responsible for approving all global real estate transactions above approved thresholds.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Represent CREM in cross-functional forums alongside the Head of CREM, including OLC engagement, sector strategy sessions and M&A workstreams where real estate input is required.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in corporate real estate, with a strong track record in portfolio strategy, location strategy or strategic business partnering at a senior level within a large multinational
• Demonstrated experience developing and owning portfolio strategy, scenario planning, multi-year planning, lease expiry management, location strategy
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to build and present compelling business cases to C-suite audiences
• Deep understanding of transaction management across leasehold and freehold assets; sufficient execution expertise to provide leadership continuity across the regional transaction teams
• Experience working in a matrixed, multi-sector corporate environment; comfortable navigating complex stakeholder landscapes
• Exceptional relationship builder, able to operate credibly at senior business and executive level
• Exposure to workplace strategy and occupancy planning advantageous
• Master's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance or a related field
• Fluency in English required; additional languages advantageous given global remit

What we offer

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!