Associate Director, Relationship Management (Hybrid)

Merck; West Point (AL); Hybrid; USD 139,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a key player in managing external vendor relationships within the Global Clinical Supply chain. This dynamic role requires strong negotiation and leadership skills to ensure the success of clinical trials. You will oversee supplier performance, manage project timelines, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive strategic initiatives. With a focus on continuous improvement, you will enhance supplier relationships and contribute to the growth of clinical supply operations. If you are passionate about making an impact in a collaborative environment, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Health care benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation days

Sick leave

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in corporate environments, especially in sourcing areas.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage external vendors critical to GCS objectives and deliverables.
• Collaborate with internal teams to analyze business challenges.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Data analysis

Leadership skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

PowerBI

SAP

Job description

Job Description

Global Clinical Supply (GCS) organization is within our Company's Research Laboratories and is accountable for managing the 'end-to-end' integrated clinical supply chain across ourResearch & Development Division portfolio to enable the execution of any clinical trial using our Company's asset. GCS supports more than 300 Phase I-IV clinical trials run inhouse, 400+ outsourced or run by partners as well as our Company's ISS clinical trials (300+). GCS is accountable for the planning, sourcing, labeling, packaging and delivery of clinical supplies to clinical sites across more than 60+countries, all in accordance with US and WW regulations, company policies and Standard operating procedures.

This individual will be responsible for managing external vendor(s)/partner(s) who provide resources and services that are critical to the success of GCS objectives and deliverables. The incumbent is expected to have strong business acumen and demonstrated change management and leadership skills.Key focus and responsibilities will include project management and oversight of supplier deliverables and timelines as well as management of supplier performance, issues, risks, and opportunities. This role will engage and collaborate closely GCS Functions as well as support functions (i.e., procurement, finance) to manage the supplier relationship and ensure effective partnership and continued growth. This will include management and continuous improvement of processes and enhancement of connections between the supplier and the various GCS Functional Area groups to ensure that all service lines within the Global Clinical Supply Chain are efficiently and effectively governed.

Primary Skills include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for managing external vendor(s)/partner(s) who provide resources and services that are critical to the success of GCS and acts as a primary point of contact.

• Take accountability and ownership for service line with the business and understanding the needs and wants of the organization to ensure vendors are delivering on these needs; assertiveness to accept ownership.

• Establishing and managing the relationships between our Company and the supplier to deliver on objectives.

• Ensure issues are identified and managed through to resolution in a timely manner and deliverables are met as required; Escalating as necessary to hypercare issues related to the delivery of the pipeline.

• Collaborating with internal teams to critically analyze challenges in the business. Be able to manage cross-functional teams to evaluate these challenges, risks and develop proposed solutions or strategy adjustments.

• Planning and execution Supplier Governance Meetings (operational, quarterly) and ensure timely follow up and action items at the operational meetings; ensure operational meeting minutes/trends/etc roll-up and are reviewed at Quarterly Governance.

• Manage supplier Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) where established (or create where not yet established) and to enable effective supplier management; Proactively monitor and manage key performance metrics across the assigned portfolio of partners to continuously evaluate performance. Provide feedback internally and externally.

• Collaborating with and providing guidance to suppliers and stakeholders to assure new capabilities and services are developed and existing capabilities and processes are assessed and improved (on an ongoing basis) and assuring consistent application of roles and processes across projects. Support the Sourcing Management Process (led by Procurement) and understanding business requirements and challenging the business as needed.

• Present to leadership on key strategic initiatives to share best practices, inform or to drive decisions needed

• Manage supplier strategies to align with the business and finance related to external partner expenditures/annual budget.

• Potential need to onboard and manage staff, as well as delegate tasks to new team members and oversee their performance. People management skills preferred not required; Will be required to mentor others within EPRM and across broader GCS.

Primary skills include but are not limited to:

• Strong negotiation, escalation, interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.

• Ability to lead by influence and workeffectively in matrix organizational structures Strong at motivating individuals, teams to manage the change aspects of implementing a new, outsourced model.

• Demonstrated ability to develop strong, trust based, collaborative relationships to drive change and execute on priorities with a diverse group of stakeholders

• Strategic thinking and independent decision-making abilities

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, effectively and tactfully to interact with different global professional levels and external stakeholders Excellent written and verbal communication

• Strong data analysis skills; working with ambiguous data

• Strong command of Microsoft Tools: Word, Powerpoint, Excel. Other tools such as PowerBI, PowerAutomate, QlikSense a big plus. SAP experience preferred.

• A dedication to solving complex and challenging problems with a creative mind and imaginative strategies.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or similar,Data management or analytical experience, Strong project managementor organizational skills.

• 7+ year's experience in corporate environment within external sourcing areas like clinical supply chain, relationship management, procurement, or resource management systems.

• Clinical supply chain and/or clinical trials understanding and previous exposure is an advantage.

#eligibleforERP

#GCSCareer

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:

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

$139,600.00 - $219,700.00

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/12/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe 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:R347293