Associate Director, US Site Payment Operations, Operations Lead
Merck
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Job summary
Merck is seeking an Associate Director, Site Payment Operations, to lead U.S. site payment execution, ensuring accuracy and timeliness across payment processes. You will shape global priorities, manage operational risk, and coordinate with Finance, Tax, IT, and external partners.
The role requires strong leadership in a matrixed environment and deep knowledge of clinical trial payment practices. You will guide execution, implement controls, and drive continuous improvement of payment systems and
Qualifications
- Minimum of five (5) years in clinical research within pharma/biotech, including site payments.
- Experience with investigator payments and clinical trial financial processes.
- Ability to lead operational teams in a matrixed organization.
- Knowledge of GCP/ICH and regulatory requirements for clinical trials.
- Experience translating needs into clear business rules and requirements.
Responsibilities
- Lead U.S. site payment execution and translate global rules into daily operations.
- Own delivery performance across assigned teams including payment timeliness and accuracy.
- Ensure integrity of payment operations across interconnected systems and reconciliations.
- Coach and coordinate payment operations teams with clear accountability and priorities.
- Monitor data, service measures, and stakeholder feedback to drive corrective actions.
- Communicate timelines, risks, and issues to sites, study teams, Finance, IT, and Tax.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The Associate Director, Site Payment Operations, Operations Lead, reports to the Head, Site Payment Operations and leads U.S. site payment execution within Regional Operations. The role is accountable for day-to-day delivery, controls, workforce coordination, service performance, and the timely containment of operational issues, ensuring that payments to clinical trial sites are accurate, timely, and compliant. Drawing on U.S. execution experience, the role also contributes to the strategic direction of the global site payment process by helping shape global priorities, business rules, controls, functional requirements, and solutions under the direction of the Head, Site Payment Operations. The role partners with Site Budgets & Payments Operational Excellence, regional payment teams, and other functional teams to support a common global payment approach and sustainable process and system improvements.
- Lead U.S. site payment execution and translate the global capability direction, business rules, priorities, and controls established by Site Payment Operations into consistent day-to-day operations.
- Own U.S. delivery performance across assigned teams, including payment timeliness and accuracy, backlog management, control execution, capacity, and service outcomes.
- Accountable for the integrity and effectiveness of U.S. payment operations across interconnected systems, including transaction integrity, exception management, reconciliations, and synchronization of payment records.
- Lead, coach, and coordinate payment operations teams by establishing clear accountabilities, workload priorities, performance expectations, and workforce readiness.
- Monitor operational data, service measures, controls, and stakeholder feedback; identify performance variations and take corrective action within the role’s execution authority.
- Maintain clear communication with sites, study teams, Finance, Tax, IT/Technology, and other stakeholders regarding payment timelines, risks, dependencies, and service issues.
- Lead immediate containment, recovery, and stakeholder communication when U.S. payment operations fail or services are disrupted.
- Diagnose execution issues, resolve those within operational control, and document and transition systemic process, policy, data, or technology issues to the appropriate owner for permanent resolution.
- Escalate material risks, recurring failures, capacity constraints, and decisions requiring capability-level direction to the Head, Site Payment Operations; recommend strategic priorities or global changes when U.S. or cross-regional execution experience indicates a broader need.
- Contribute payment subject-matter expertise, execution insights, operational data, and regional perspectives to inform the strategic direction, priorities, business rules, controls, and functional requirements of the global site payment process under the leadership of the Head, Site Payment Operations.
- Partner with Site Budgets & Payments Operational Excellence, regional payment teams, IT/Technology, Finance, Tax, and other stakeholders to evaluate global payment scenarios, shape process and system solutions, support the implementation and operational adoption of approved changes, and validate that solutions work effectively across regional contexts.
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree is required (scientific, business, or related discipline preferred); an advanced degree is a plus.
- A minimum of five (5) years of clinical research experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including experience in site payments, clinical trial financial operations, or related operations.
- Experience with investigator payments, clinical trial financial operations, payment systems, controls, or related financial processes.
- Demonstrated ability to lead operational teams, manage capacity and performance, develop talent, and deliver reliable service outcomes in a matrixed organization.
- Ability to translate operational needs into clear business rules, functional requirements, controls, acceptance criteria, and consistent team practices.
- Sound judgment in assessing payment risk and operational impact, leading immediate containment and recovery, and escalating systemic issues appropriately.
- Ability to use data, operational insight, and stakeholder feedback to manage priorities, improve performance, and support sound decisions.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, including the ability to explain complex issues and work effectively across functions, systems, and geographies.
- Knowledge of GCP/ICH, applicable regulatory requirements, Fair Market Value principles, and compliant clinical trial payment practices.
- Supports responsible digital, data-driven, and AI-enabled ways of working.
Adaptability, Business Requirements Analysis, Clinical Trials Operations, Competency Management, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Decision Making, Delivery Management, Escalation Management, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Industry Regulation, Operations Management, Payment Administration, People Leadership, Performance Improvements, Team Organization
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.
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.
We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
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
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.
Regular
No relocation
No
10%
Not Applicable
1st - Day
No
N/A
10/28/2026
R422950
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