Associate Director, Operations/Service Platform Lead - Hybrid

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation

Compassionate and sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co. is seeking a senior program manager to drive platform management and cross-functional initiatives across drug development domains. You will define principles, lead agile delivery, and manage blockers and risks in a complex, regulatory environment.

The role emphasizes strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to translate business goals into actionable roadmaps, with exposure to SDLC and design thinking.

Qualifications

• B.A or B.S in mathematics, science, a health care related discipline or computer science.
• Excellent Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills
• Strong Communication and Organizational Skills
• Experience Managing Multiple Projects Simultaneously
• Knowledge of our company Systems and Services
• Ability To Effectively Prioritize Tasks and Manage Time

Responsibilities

• Define platform management principles with cross functional teams.
• Bring agile mindset to teams for faster delivery, high integrity, and quality standards.
• Proactively engage with teams to drive solutions for blockers, risks, and issues on all programs.
• Track and manage portfolio program and projects.
• Define metrics and KPI’s aligned with organization’s strategic goals.
• Develop joint OKRs with partner organizations to ensure successful collaboration.
• Make effective decisions when presented with options.
• Communicate with leadership to align project priorities with goals.
• Streamline existing processes and bring fresh perspectives.
• Develop and deliver training to drive change management with cross functional team and learning organization.
• Build relationships with clinical trial teams to understand changing requirements and manage issues and risks to the platform.
• Manage stakeholder communications on issues and disruptions.
• Lead complex projects or organizational improvement initiatives.
• Broad understanding of drug development - safety, clinical trials, trial design, data management, trial operations, regulatory, privacy, ICH, and GCP.
• Translate business strategies into implementation roadmaps.
• Project Management experience is desirable.

Skills

Documentation

Quality Assurance

Process Improvement

Project Management

Training

Troubleshooting

Communication

Technical Support

Leadership

Analytical Problem-Solving

Resource Allocation

Strategic System Maintenance

Service Delivery

Education

B.A or B.S Degree

Tools

Atlassian JIRA

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• Work with cross functional teams to define platform management principles.
• Bring agile mindset to the teams for faster delivery, high integrity, and quality standards.
• Proactively engage with teams to drive solutions for blockers, risks, and issues on all programs.
• Track and manage portfolio program and projects.
• Define metrics and KPI’s aligned with organization’s strategic goals.
• Develop joint OKRs with partner organizations to ensure successful collaboration.
• Make effective decisions when presented with options.
• Communicate with leadership team to ensure project priorities are in alignment with organizational goals.
• Bring fresh perspective to streamline existing processes.
• Develop and deliver training to drive change management partnering with cross functional team and learning organization.
• Build and foster close working relationship with clinical trial teams to better understand changing business requirements and thereby able to better manage issues and mitigate risks to the platform.
• Manage effective stakeholder communications on issues and disruptions.
• Experience in a lead role executing/overseeing complex projects or organizational improvement initiatives preferred.
• Broad understanding of drug development -safety, clinical trials, trial design, data management, trial operations, regulatory, privacy, ICH, and GCP preferred.
• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in translating business strategies into clearly defined implementation roadmaps.
• Project Management experience is desirable.
• Critical thinker.
• Demonstrated success in defining and executing high-impact technology and innovation road maps.
• Proven track record in leading large cross-functional initiatives focusing on business benefit outcomes and faster business adoption.
• Must have strong networking and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrates the courage to assume personal accountability in challenging situations.
• Must have excellent oral and written communications skills - able to present information confidentially and effectively to leadership, peers, and team.
• Ability to influence without authority and successfully manage business stakeholders.
• Prior exposure to or demonstrated the use of design thinking and SDLC methodologies is desirable.

Education Required

B.A or B.S Degree , preferably in mathematics, science, a health care related discipline or computer science

Job Qualifications

• Excellent Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills
• Excellent Communication and Organizational Skills
• Strong Technical Background In Operations Service Or Platform Management
• Proven Ability to Work Independently
• Knowledge of our company Systems and Services
• Experience Managing Multiple Projects Simultaneously
• Ability To Effectively Prioritize Tasks and Manage Time
• Proficient In Relevant Software and Technologies

Required Skills

• Documentation
• Quality Assurance
• Process Improvement
• Project Management
• Training
• Troubleshooting
• Communication
• Technical Support
• Leadership
• Analytical Problem-Solving
• Resource Allocation
• Strategic System Maintenance
• Service Delivery

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Leadership
• Time Management
• Interpersonal Skills
• Creativity
• Organization
• Critical Thinking
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving
• clinicaltrialjobs
• EligibleforERP #GDMS

Required Skills

• Agile Thinking
• Change Management
• Communication Management
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Project Management Leadership
• Project Management Tools
• Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Alignment
• Strategic Thinking
• Task Management

Preferred Skills

• Atlassian JIRA
• Critical Thinking
• Data Management
• Process Improvements

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.

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

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00 This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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 Ord
inance

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: No relocation VISA Sponsorship: No Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: 1st - Day Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): No Job Posting End Date: 09/5/2026 *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.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products.

The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century.

Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.