Associate Director, Supply Chain Management

Merck; Elkton (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck seeks an Associate Director, Supply Chain Management to lead end-to-end launches in major markets. You will direct cross-functional launch teams, develop market launch plans, identify risks, and transition products to sustaining owners, with influence across a global matrix of partners.

This role emphasizes collaboration with Value Chain Management, regulatory, and commercial partners to ensure launch readiness and data-driven performance tracking across programs.

Qualifications

• Experience leading cross-functional product launches and end-to-end supply chain activities.
• Ability to develop launch plans, assess risks, and drive mitigation strategies.
• Strong collaboration across Human Health, Value Chain, Development teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional launch teams for new products from launch through hypercare.
• Ensure alignment with GFLS and Supply Chain Design requirements.
• Develop launch scenarios with planning and modeling teams; present options to decision-makers.
• Identify launch risks and drive resolution through governance forums.
• Support business continuity planning with manufacturing sites and partners.
• Coach and mentor launch planners and rotational participants.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Launch management

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Process improvement

Mentoring

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Supply Chain Management (SCM) coordinates all aspects of supply through planning, sourcing, manufacturing, inventory management, packaging, and delivery. In partnership with Marketing, Finance, and Manufacturing, we build robust demand and supply plans to ensure our life-changing products reach the right customer, at the right place, and at the right time.

As a member of the Global Launch Planning (GLP) department, the Associate Director, Supply Chain Management is accountable for the end-to-end execution of assigned new product launches in first major markets. Reporting to the Director, Supply Chain Management – Global Launch Planning, you will lead cross-functional/divisional launch teams, develop and maintain market launch plans for your assigned portfolio, identify and mitigate launch risks, and carry your products through hypercare to a formal transition to sustaining owners. This is an individual contributor role with no direct people management responsibility; leadership is exercised through influence across a global matrix.

Key Responsibilities

Launch Execution and Risk Management

• Lead cross-functional/divisional launch teams for assigned products, from launch preparation through hypercare, and execute a formal, documented transition to designated sustaining owners.
• Partner with Value Chain Management to ensure assigned launch plans align with the Global Filing and Launch Strategy (GFLS) and Supply Chain Design requirements.
• Develop launch supply scenarios in collaboration with Commercial, E2E Planning, and Operations Research modeling teams; translate scenarios into clear options and recommendations for decision-makers.
• Identify risks to launch and ongoing supply, develop mitigations, and drive resolution within the working team; eliminate through appropriate governance forums with clear options and recommendations.
• Contribute to business continuity planning for assigned products in collaboration with technology, manufacturing sites, procurement, regulatory, and commercial partners.
• Support cross-functional Global Event Management activities for new product supply interruptions, minimizing impact to supply, discard, revenue, and Company reputation.

Capability Building and Continuous Improvement

• Apply and improve GLP standard work, launch processes, and systems to enable on-time launches and repeatable, high-performing execution.
• Track and report process and operational metrics for assigned products; surface performance improvement opportunities to the Director and the GLP team.
• Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, Communities of Practice, and the After-Action Review (AAR) process.
• Provide coaching, onboarding support, and knowledge sharing to launch planners and rotational/gig participants; mentor peers without formal reporting responsibility.

Stakeholder Engagement and Alignment

• Build and maintain cross-enterprise stakeholder relationships across Human Health, Value Chain Management, Development and Commercialization Teams (DCT), Regional Supply Chain Management, New Product Introduction, External Manufacturing, and Supply Sites.
• Communicate clearly in ambiguous and uncertain conditions, and elevate through appropriate governance channels to enable timely business decisions.
• Support New Product S&OP for assigned products in collaboration with Global Human Health.
• Ensure visibility of assigned new products in supply governance forums including GL