Associate Director Creative Procurement

Merck & Co.; Upper Gwynedd Township (Montgomery County); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Merck & Co. in Rahway, NJ is seeking a seasoned category management leader for Creative, Digital Production, Publishing and Medical Education within Marketing Procurement.

You will lead regional and local sourcing strategies, collaborate across global teams, and guide cross-functional sourcing projects to maximize value and innovation. The role requires strong leadership, supplier relationship management, and ability to drive cost savings while ensuring alignment with business goals and ESG

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in strategic procurement or creative agency procurement.
• 5 years' analytical experience with data and dashboards.
• Expertise in creative and production agencies sourcing.
• Proven global or regional sourcing strategy execution.
• Strong communication and influence at senior levels.
• Ability to collaborate across stakeholders and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Define and plan high-level objectives aligned with long-term results.
• Develop RFIs/RFPs and lead supplier selection with strategic goals.
• Drive procurement activities and resolve transactions to sustain function.
• Design and implement supplier forums and manage key supplier performance.
• Act as trusted advisor to business partners and guide strategic decision making.

Skills

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

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, procurement, and business administration

Tools

Decideware scoping

Procurement sourcing tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Analytic dashboards

Job description

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.

Strategy Creation

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.

• 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.

Strategy Execution

Target: Implementation of tactical plans or projects directly linked to a strategy created during Sourcing.

• 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.

Operations

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.

• 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.

Supplier Relationship Management

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.

• Development/participation in 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.

Our Company's Leadership Standards applicable to the role includes:

• 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.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, procurement, and business administration.

Required Experience and Skills:

• 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.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• 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

Required Skills:

• 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

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

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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

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:

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.

Requisition ID:

R424327