Director, Project Management - Hybrid

Merck; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Director-level leader in Global Clinical Supply to drive end-to-end external partner management across the R&D supply chain. You will shape packaging strategies, governance, and risk management to ensure pipeline delivery.

You will lead cross-functional teams across Planning, Distribution, Sourcing, Procurement, Finance, and Quality to achieve visibility, capacity alignment, and value realization in a complex matrix organization.

Qualifications

• Requires extensive leadership in packaging and external partnerships.
• Experience aligning supplier capabilities with clinical supply priorities.
• Ability to operate in a complex matrix organization.
• Proven track record in risk mitigation and governance.
• Strategic problem solving and scenario planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute packaging strategies with external partners.
• Oversee supplier performance, timelines, and risk.
• Drive continuous improvement across GCS external partnerships.
• Collaborate with Planning, Procurement, Finance and Quality.
• Guide integration readiness for pipeline delivery.

Skills

Strategic packaging

Supplier governance

Risk mitigation

Stakeholder influence

Cross-functional leadership

Pipeline delivery

Problem solving

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 our Research & 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.

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 our Research & 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 Director will provide strategic leadership and end-to-end accountability for external vendor and partner relationships that deliver critical capabilities, resources, and services supporting GCS objectives, portfolio execution, and business continuity. This role is a part of the External Operations and Inventory Management team within External Partnerships and Sourcing. The incumbent will bring strong business acumen, enterprise leadership, and change management capability to shape supplier strategies, strengthen governance, and drive sustained operational performance. Key responsibilities include defining and advancing partnership objectives, overseeing supplier deliverables, timelines, performance, risks, issues, and opportunities, and ensuring supplier capabilities remain aligned with evolving GCS priorities. This role will lead through influence across GCS functions and enabling partners, including Procurement, Finance, Quality, and other support functions, to ensure effective decision-making, transparency, accountability, and value realization across the supplier relationship. The Director will also drive continuous improvement, process standardization, and stronger connectivity between suppliers and GCS functional areas to ensure service lines across the Global Clinical Supply Chain are governed efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with strategic business needs.

Primary Qualifications Include But Are Not Limited To

• Owns strategic direction for the packaging service line, defining priorities, advancing capabilities, and ensuring external partner performance supports GCS portfolio and pipeline objectives.
• Translate evolving business, portfolio, and network needs into forward-looking packaging strategies, operating models, and continuous improvement priorities.
• Lead through influence across a complex matrix organization, aligning GCS functions, enabling partners, suppliers, and leadership around shared objectives, decisions, and outcomes.
• Accountable for sustained service-line performance, supplier governance effectiveness, risk mitigation, capability development, and alignment of external partner execution to GCS strategy and enterprise priorities. Driving integration readiness and oversight of identified beachhead assets and our Research & Development Division targets to ensure critical pipeline delivery.
• Partner across planning, distribution, sourcing, procurement, finance, and functional stakeholders to ensure end-to-end visibility, capacity alignment, financial stewardship, and delivery of business-critical packaging needs.
• Lead strategic problem solving, scenario planning, and risk mitigation for complex or