Associate Director, Project Management

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD is seeking an Associate Director - Project Manager for Manufacturing Network Strategy in Rahway, NJ. You will lead end-to-end project management of major supply chain changes, coordinating cross-functional teams to meet timelines and business goals while ensuring regulatory compliance and risk mitigation.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, development of robust business cases, and leadership across complex portfolios.

Qualifications

• Eight or more years in supply chain, operations, technology, regulatory, or procurement with a track record of achievements.
• Experience working in both strategic and tactical spaces.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed business cases for complex changes and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Own and manage multiple high-complexity projects with cross-functional teams and cross-divisional coordination.
• Define requirements for regulatory filings, inventory builds, and transition plans to new supply sources.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks, raise issues, and align teams to resolve conflicts.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Risk management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Science/Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Job Description

Associate Director - Project Manager, Manufacturing Network Strategy

Under the direction of the Network Strategy & Execution Director, the Associate Director is responsible for assessing, leading and managing the successful “end to end”(E2E) project management of major and complex supply chain changes by driving cross-divisional and cross-functional teams to ensure delivery of the targeted goals and timelines.

The Associate Director will effectively and efficiently achieve project objectives and define business requirements through exceptional project management. The incumbent will lead cross-functional teams for projects that may include establishing new sources of supply for registered materials or managing a portfolio of complex process changes with regulatory impact

Responsibilities

Business Case Development:

• Understanding the requirements of a complex business case for assigned changes.
• Continually assessing key business elements across project life cycle to ensure business goals remain relevant in an ever-changing business environment and elevate as required.

Project | Portfolio Management:

• Owning and developing detailed project plans for given changes using standard tools and ensures the alignment and coordination of cross-functional groups.
• Managing multiple projects at any one time that have high complexity (global supply chain impact with many inter dependencies).
• Leading and executing within multifaceted project environments with a small to large cross-functional team.

Strategic Inventory Management | Supply Transitioning:

• Defining key business requirements (validation, regulatory filing, inventory builds, and creating inventory transition plans to the new source of supply or for post-change supply).

Risk Management:

• Proactively identifying and mitigating risks and participating in Integrated Risk Management (IRM).
• Identifying and raising issues and conflicting agendas/priorities for quick resolution.
• Being able to align teams to solve problems.
• Bringing innovation into every day thinking to mitigate risks.
• Understanding and committing to Compliance.

Communication:

• Ensuring inter-project communication and integrated execution.
• Ensuring consistency and sharing of best practices.

Leadership Capabilities:

• E2E Visibility.
• Be skilled in effectively managing virtual teams and have the ability to influence both horizontally and vertically.
• Drive to engage others and have excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.
• Be able to maintain focus on the key project goals and priorities, but also be able to dive into the detail to facilitate problem resolution and ensure project success.
• Cultural sensitivity, diversity, and effectiveness.
• Regulatory Acumen and effective working relationship with Global Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Safety (GRACS).
• Demonstrated conflict resolution, problem-solving, raising concerns and accountability.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Science, Engineering or related.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of eight (8) years’ combined and diverse experience in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Technology, Regulatory, or Procurement with a demonstrated record of solid achievements.
• Working in both strategic and tactical space.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Product source changes and change control.
• Proficiency in Microsoft project.
• Flexibility with working schedule and availability to travel.
• Vaccines, biologics, therapeutic proteins, or sterile.
• Working with Global Human Health and 3rd party partners.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Biopharmaceuticals, Budget Development, Clinical Trial Management, Conflict Resolution, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Feasibility Studies, Global Supply Chain, Innovation, Innovative Solutions, Inventory Management, Knowledge Management, Leadership, Mitigated Risks, Project Management, Project Management Tools, Project Planning, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Regulatory Compliance, Retail Inventory Management, Risk Evaluation And Mitigation Strategy (REMS), Risk Management.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Biopharmaceuticals, Budget Development, Business Requirements Analysis, Business Requirements Documentation (BRD), Clinical Trial Management, Conflict Management, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Engineering Principle, Feasibility Studies, Innovative Solutions, Inventory Management, Knowledge Management, Leadership, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Works, Networking Strategies, People Engagement, Problem Solving, Project Management, Project Management Tools, Project Planning, Regulatory Affairs Management {+ 8 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

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 - Pennsylvania - West Point

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:

Ireland

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

11/8/2026

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.