Executive Director, Intelligence Operations Center

MSD Malaysia; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 331,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) Retirement

Paid Holidays & Vacation

Sick Days & Leave

Job summary

Merck & Co. is seeking an Executive Director of the Intelligence Operations Center to lead our global security intelligence strategy within the Resiliency Center.

This role will transform raw data into strategic insights, guiding threat forecasting, insider risk, and protective intelligence across the enterprise. The incumbent will build a world-class intelligence program, establish rigorous standards, partner across business units, and ensure secure, uninterrupted global operations through

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience directing intelligence operations, strategic analysis, or risk management programs.
• Deep subject matter expertise across insider risk, geopolitical threat analysis, and protective intelligence.
• Outstanding enterprise leadership and stakeholder management with cross-functional influence.

Responsibilities

• Build and scale a comprehensive Intelligence Operations Center within the Resiliency Center.
• Lead the insider risk program with legal, HR, and cybersecurity partners.
• Establish rigorous analytical standards and intelligence tradecraft across products.

Skills

Leadership

Geopolitical threat analysis

OSINT

AI-enabled analytics

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

OSINT tools

Data visualization tools

AI analytics platforms

Job description

Job Description

As a critical leadership role within the broader Resiliency Center, the Executive Director of the Intelligence Operations Center (IOC) will lead our Company’s global security intelligence strategy, serving as the central authority for threat forecasting, strategic analysis, and risk mitigation. This visionary leader will build and oversee a comprehensive, world-class intelligence program encompassing geopolitical threats, insider risk, protective intelligence, and embedded intelligence functions. By establishing rigorous analytical standards and fostering deep collaboration across all business units, the successful candidate will empower our Company to navigate a complex global landscape safely, transforming raw data into actionable, strategic insights that protect our people and assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, direct, and scale a comprehensive Intelligence Operations Center within the Resiliency Center, overseeing geopolitical threat analysis, protective intelligence, and enterprise-wide embedded security intelligence programs.
• Lead the strategic design and execution of our Company’s insider risk program, partnering collaboratively with legal, human resources, and cybersecurity to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate internal threats.
• Establish and enforce rigorous analytical standards and intelligence tradecraft across all products, ensuring the delivery of high-fidelity, actionable insights to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Forge deep, cross-functional partnerships across all areas of the business to ensure security intelligence functions are seamlessly integrated and directly enable safe, uninterrupted global operations.
• Direct the development of strategic forecasting and threat horizon assessments, providing senior management with early warnings on geopolitical, physical security, and operational developments that could impact our Company.
• Oversee the evaluation and integration of advanced intelligence platforms, AI-driven analytics, and data aggregation tools to modernize and scale the center’s capabilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned or as required based on the evolving needs of our Company.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., International Relations, Security Studies, Intelligence) preferred

Required Experience and Skills

Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience directing intelligence operations, strategic analysis, or risk management programs within a multinational corporation, government, or relevant intelligence agency. Deep subject matter expertise across multiple security intelligence domains, specifically insider risk, geopolitical threat analysis, and protective intelligence. Exceptional enterprise leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the proven ability to influence, collaborate, and build trust seamlessly across global business units. Outstanding communication skills, capable of distilling complex global threat landscapes into clear, strategic recommendations. Strong familiarity with modern intelligence technology stacks, including Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), data visualization, and AI-enabled analytical platforms.

Preferred Experience and Skills: Demonstrated track record of building and maturing comprehensive intelligence programs from the ground up. Experience briefing C-suite executives and board-level audiences.

Alarm Management, Alarm Management, Clinical Judgment, Contingency Planning, Contract Management, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Strategies, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Data Breach Response, Detail-Oriented, Emotional Resilience, Empathy, Enterprise Leadership, Executive Leadership, Financial Acumen, Innovation, Insider Threat Mitigation, Intelligence Analysis, Intelligence Collection, Intelligence Operations, Interpersonal Relationships, Investigation Techniques, Open Source Intelligence, Project Risk Assessments, Property Maintenance {+ 10 more}

Operational Requirements

Willingness and ability to work flexible hours to manage a global intelligence function. Able to travel globally as required.

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s):

The salary range for this role is $210,400.00 - $331,100.00 This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.