Associate Director, Portfolio & Resource Operations

Merck & Co.

Elmora (NJ)

On-site

USD 142,000 - 224,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation

Sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co. in the United States is seeking an Associate Director, Portfolio & Resource Operations to lead data-driven portfolio and resource analytics.

You will maintain capacity, workload, and utilization data across functions to ensure decisions are informed by robust metrics and transparent reporting. You will collaborate with functional partners to standardize metrics, build dashboards, and improve visibility into operational performance, while supporting continuous improvement initiatives

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience (or higher degree with 4+ years).
Strong background in clinical data management and data governance.
Experience with forecasting, capacity planning, and portfolio management concepts.

Responsibilities

Maintain headcount, workload, and demand models and run allocation algorithms.
Develop forecasting tools, dashboards, and visualizations for capacity planning.
Coordinate resource and financial forecasting and invoicing; ensure data integrity.
Create role-specific training and change management communications.
Monitor and report operational performance with standardized metrics.

Skills

Change Management

Clinical Data Management

Clinical Data Standards

Clinical Trials

Collaborative Development

Data Analysis

Data Quality Assurance

Data Reporting

Data Validation

Detail-Oriented

Forecasting

GCDMP

GCP

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate)

Job description

Job Description

Under the direction of leadership, the Associate Director, Portfolio & Resource Operations supports operational excellence through data-driven portfolio and resource analytics. Responsible for maintaining accurate capacity, workload, and utilization data across functions, the role ensures decisions are informed by robust metrics and transparent reporting. Works collaboratively with functional partners to drive standardization and improve visibility into operational performance. -

Responsibilities

Forecasting, Capacity, & Portfolio Management

Maintain headcount, workload, and demand models for the functional area; run allocation algorithms to help ensure the Book of Business is delivered with quality and timeliness. -
Support operating-model optimization within the functional area, translate outcomes into action plans and track through implementation.- -
Manage real-time workload balancing, capacity, and compliance-driven case allocation across geographies within the functional area to ensure balanced operations, on-time delivery, and business continuity through holidays, resource availability, and demand peaks -
Build and maintain operational dashboards; collect, analyze, and validate portfolio data (efficiency, utilization, quality); ensure standardized reporting in partnership with cross-functional peers across GDMS (Global Data Management & Standards) and enterprise standards. -
Assist in developing forecasting tools, dashboards, and visualizations; contribute to continuous improvement of capacity modeling and workforce analytics. -
Support long-term quality management plans; participate in strategic and tactical special projects as needed. -

Operational Governance, Execution, & Metrics

Prepare inputs for Operational Reviews; ensure consistent metric definitions, sources, and timeframes per enterprise cadence and templates. -
Coordinate resource and financial forecasting, contracting, and invoicing; track variances and data integrity and publish reconciled views as required. -
Collaborate with stakeholders to maintain a unified set of metrics, training, and SOP/BP (Standard Operating Practice/ Best Practice) frameworks based on functional area needs. -
Monitor operational metrics post-system release to ensure realized efficiencies are captured in forecasting models and resource planning assumptions. -

Training, Communication, & Change Management

Support creation, maintenance, and delivery of role‑specific curriculum; co‑develop GDMS‑wide training for the functional area; measure uptake. -
Coordinate function‑specific communications and change management aligned to GDMS/GCTO (Global Clinical Trial Operations) frameworks. -
Embed Human‑first Organization practices by designing adoption aids (FAQs, quick guides) and incorporating user feedback into process improvements. -

Technical Skills

Ability to interpret operational, capacity, and financial data; comfortable with variance analysis and trends. -
Working knowledge of capacity planning, resourcing, and portfolio management concepts. -
Familiarity with functional operational systems, performance dashboards, and workforce analytics data. -
Understanding of data integrity, metric standardization, and basic QC (Quality Control)/reconciliation practices. -
Proficient with Power BI/Tableau and Excel (advanced modeling) for dashboards and what‑if views. -
Basic grasp of forecasting, budgeting, and accruals; reads plan/forecast/actuals and ties them to operational drivers. -

Non‑technical knowledge, skills, and abilities

Fluent in English; exceptional communication and influencing skills, able to engage and align stakeholders across functions, geographies, and levels. -
Skilled in organizing cross‑team work; coordinates milestones and deliverables; escalates risks early. -
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, motivating and guiding cross‑functional and virtual teams without direct authority. -
Highly adaptable and resilient, able to prioritize and perform effectively under pressure in fast‑changing environments. -
Works independently with accountability, exercising sound judgment and initiative while maintaining alignment with organizational priorities. -
Effective facilitator of decision‑making, coordinating the work of others and driving timely resolution of complex issues. -
Crafts concise, decision‑ready summaries for leadership, clearly framing risks, options, and recommendations. -
Strong organization and prioritization, managing multiple deliverables, running risk/change control, aligning stakeholders (including service providers), and providing status and governance updates. -
Strong stakeholder management and collaboration capabilities, fostering trust and effective partnerships. -
Sound judgment and accountability with emphasis on ambiguity, escalation management, and consensus‑building on process/technology improvements. -

Enterprise Leadership Skills

Networking & Partnerships - Builds and sustains collaborative partnerships across GDMS, Finance, IT, and functional leaders to align forecasting assumptions, standardize metrics, and coordinate portfolio and resource priorities. -
Business Savviness - Applies strong operational and financial acumen to interpret portfolio performance, workforce capacity, and variance trends, guiding data‑driven resource planning and efficiency decisions within the assigned scope. -
Influence - Influences cross‑functional stakeholders by translating complex capacity, financial, and performance data into clear trade‑offs, recommendations, and aligned action plans within governance forums. -

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 8+ years' of experience in a relevant field for associated job description- - - OR- Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) and a minimum of 4+ years' experience in relevant field for associated job description -

Required Skills

Change Management
Clinical Data Management
Clinical Data Standards
Clinical Trials
Collaborative Development
Data Analysis
Data Quality Assurance
Data Reporting
Data Validation
Detail‑Oriented
Forecasting
Good Clinical Data Management Practice (GCDMP)
Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
Stakeholder Engagement

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Salary & Compensation

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.

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

Employment Details