Associate Director Creative Procurement
Merck
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Merck seeks a seasoned procurement leader to drive regional category management for Creative, Digital Production & Publishing, and Medical Education within Marketing Procurement. You will collaborate across global and regional teams to design sourcing strategies, lead cross-functional sourcing processes, and deliver value through supplier relationships and performance management.
The role emphasizes strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, and alignment with business partners to achieve
Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years in strategic procurement, creative agency procurement, marketing or related role.
- 5 years' experience analytical skills.
- 5 years' experience working with data, and reporting dashboards.
- In-depth subject matter expertise in the creative and production agencies or sourcing field and current industry trends and best practices.
- Proven success in developing and executing global or regional creative sourcing strategies.
- Strong communications and influencing skills at senior levels.
- Proven ability to collaborate with a wide variety of individuals, including senior management, stakeholders, team members, other departments and suppliers.
- Proven ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a dynamic environment Preferred.
Responsibilities
- Strategy Creation: Definition and planning of high-level objectives for long-term results in sourcing.
- Strategy Execution: Development and execution of RFIs/RFPs aligned with strategic goals.
- Operations: Manage day-to-day procurement activities and contract/PO processes to ensure smooth execution.
- Supplier Relationship Management: Build and sustain relationships with suppliers and ensure performance against business requirements.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
This role is responsible for regional category management and sourcing leadership of Creative, Digital Production & Publishing, and Medical Education within Marketing Procurement, focused on a global mindset through collaboration with Human Health business partners as well as regional and/or local sourcing professionals in a matrix organization.
The candidate will work with regional and local teams to support development and implementation of a sourcing strategy at a global level, leveraging a Supply Strategy Council framework, while leading key initiatives.
In addition, the candidate will be responsible for establishing and leading cross-functional teams through the sourcing process and providing strategy oversight for regional and/or local components of the category. Day-to-day responsibilities of this role include identifying and managing key priorities: value creation, service delivery, foster innovation & digitalization & corporate social environmental responsibility. This individual requires a service mindset.
In addition, this role is responsible and accountable for sustaining existing and developing new cooperation frameworks across three stakeholder groups:
- With Procurement Colleagues:Participates/leads teams of global, regional & local representatives to develop and implement strategic source plans as well as to ensure alignment on key initiatives and priorities for broader Marketing services categories. Act as a member of the team willing to carry out the mission and ensure that input from all members is taken into consideration.
- With Business Partners:Identifies and engages with critical stakeholders and partners to define and meet or exceed business requirements and identify and manage profit plan savings targets. Understands strategic business requirements at a 1,3 & 5-year horizon. Acts as a trusted advisor to a wide range of business partners in the Marketing organization with a keen ear for needs and wants, and the ability to influence and guide strategic decision making, but also the courage to appropriately challenge the status quo.
- With Suppliers:Responsible for building relationships with Global, International and Enterprise suppliers and managing key supplier performance against business requirements using proven processes; ensures adequate inclusion of suppliers in RFPs and contracts as applicable. Supports major regional supplier relationships. Acts as a representative of the Corporation with a relentless drive to ensure our Company is using Supplier’s core competencies, provides a fair opportunity for sustainable growth, and optimizes the spend.
Key activities are listed below. The degree and time dedicated to each of these activities will vary depending on the maturity of the category and the strength and level of trust acquired with both suppliers and business partners.
Target: Definition and planning of high-level objectives targeted to long term results that will impact the way our Company views and purchases this category. This is the "big picture" creation, and it entails active engagement with senior stakeholders as well as critical members of the business in the category during Sourcing Management Process.
Typical Activities: Meetings with stakeholders to discuss Sourcing Management Process strategic tools; participation in workshops and meetings during Sourcing Management Process; dialogue and meetings with Global Procurement in connection with Target; participation in Market Intelligence activities in connection with Target; data gathering and analysis in connection with Target; others that contribute to fundamentally change or effect the status quo in pursuit of a long-term competitive advantage to our Company.
Target: Implementation of tactical plans or projects directly linked to a strategy created during Sourcing.
Typical Activities: Development, rollout and execution of RFIs/RFPs pursuant to supplier selection aligned with strategic goals; process re-engineering in cooperation with the business pursuant to modify or create processes in connection with strategic goals; dialogue and meetings with Global Procurement in connection with execution of strategic goals; others that are directly linked with execution of strategic goals.
Target: Drive ongoing procurement activities pursuant to transactions and projects not in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategy creation/execution. This is the "keep the lights on", and it is normally driven by daily/weekly requests from the business and procurement.
Typical Activities: Contract review/negotiations; PO issue resolution; creation of new vendors; supplier issue resolution; technology/process execution; dialogues and meetings with Global Procurement in connection with supplier and stakeholder resolution; data gathering and analysis leading to short/medium term insights not in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategy creation/execution; all transactions not in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategy creation/execution which ensure sustainability of the procurement function.
Target: Design, planning and implementation of actions and projects in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategic goals pursuant to develop, improve, sustain or reposition our Company's relationship with critical/strategic suppliers.
Typical Activities: Development/participationin supplier forums, congresses or market organizations; dialogues and meetings with business partners and suppliers in connection with Target; review, analysis and negotiation of contracts pursuant to Target; data gathering/analysis pursuant to generation of insights in connection with Target.
- Make Rapid, Disciplined Decisions -Make timely decisions at the right level with the right data and support them once made.
- Act with Courage & Candor -Speak openly, honestly and with conviction: have the courage to take appropriate risks and make difficult decisions.
- Demonstrate Ethics & Integrity -Adhere to the highest standards of trustworthy and ethical behavior in all interactions and hold others to the same standards; comply with all laws, policies, and regulations; identify and address ethical issues without hesitation.
- Foster Collaboration -Actively listen and seek to understand differing perspectives; work together to achieve the common goals of our Company.
- Drive Results -Set clear performance standards; overcome obstacles; hold ourselves and others accountable for achieving results.
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, procurement, and business administration.
- Minimum of 5 years in strategic procurement, creative agency procurement, marketing or related role.
- 5 years' experience analytical skills.
- 5 years' experience working with data, and reporting dashboards.
- In-depth subject matter expertise in the creative and production agencies or sourcing field and current industry trends and best practices.
- Proven success in developing and executing global or regional creative sourcing strategies.
- Strong communications and influencing skills at senior levels.
- Proven ability to collaborate with a wide variety of individuals, including senior management, stakeholders, team members, other departments and suppliers.
- Proven ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a dynamic environment Preferred.
- Negotiating with creative/digital/marketing agencies of record.
- Advanced Microsoft Office suite experience.
- Knowledge of Decideware scoping application.
- Knowledge of procurement sourcing tools.
- Knowledge of analytic dashboards.
SHPE2026
Agency Management, Agency Relationship Management, Agency Relationships, Commercial Contract Negotiations, Cost Analysis, Cost Negotiations, Cost Reduction, Cost Savings, Creative Sourcing, Driving Continuous Improvement, Negotiation, People Leadership, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Improvement, Supplier Relationship Management, Technical Evaluation, Vendor Selection
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.
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
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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
The primary location for this posting is:
USA - New Jersey - Rahway
Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.
The salary range for the primary location of this role is:
$129,000.00 - $203,100.00
This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
Additional location(s):
Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.
Additional location(s) Compensation Information:
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
Employee Status
Regular
Relocation
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship
No
Travel Requirements
25%
Flexible Work Arrangements
Hybrid
Shift
1st - Day
Valid Driving License
No
Hazardous Material(s)
n/a
Job Posting End Date
11/11/2026
- 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.
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