Executive Director, Technology Procurement

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 232,000 - 365,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision healthcare

Other insurance benefits

Retirement benefits (401(k))

Paid holidays

Vacation

Compassionate and sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, USA, seeks an Executive Director of Technology Procurement to lead its global sourcing strategy for technology across the enterprise.

You will partner with senior leaders to shape strategy, manage supplier risk, and drive value from digital transformation initiatives. This role requires deep expertise in technology sourcing, executive stakeholder management, and complex negotiations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a technology, business, supply chain, or related field.
• 15+ years in technology procurement, strategic sourcing, or related roles.
• Strong knowledge of technology vendors, service providers, and procurement models.
• Proven leadership within procurement or indirect procurement teams.
• Experience leading enterprise technology sourcing and complex negotiations.
• Strong financial acumen to analyze data and build business cases.
• Experience leading large, high-visibility programs in global settings.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, analytical, and stakeholder skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and perform in fast-paced environments.
• Cultural fluency; experience with global, remote teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead global procurement strategy for technology categories (software, cloud, infra, cybersecurity, telecom, data & analytics, AI, hardware, services).
• Partner with senior technology leaders to align sourcing with digital transformation goals.
• Identify cost optimization and supplier consolidation opportunities.
• Run enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives including RFPs and negotiations.
• Negotiate complex global technology agreements with risk and service goals in mind.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and governance for performance improvement.
• Embed procurement in technology planning to improve delivery and reduce risk.
• Advise executives on sourcing strategy and market trends.
• Use analytics and digital tools to increase speed and insight in decisions.
• Guide Digital Strategy teams to improve data visibility and procurement effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with policies, cybersecurity standards, and third-party risk management.

Skills

Technology procurement

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

People leadership

Financial acumen

Global/matrix environment

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Technology, Business, or related field

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Executive Director, Technology Procurement to lead global sourcing strategy for technology across the enterprise. In this high-impact leadership role, you will partner with senior technology and business leaders to shape procurement strategy, drive commercial value, manage supplier risk, and support the company’s digital transformation agenda.

This role requires a strategic thinker with deep expertise in technology sourcing, executive stakeholder management, and complex negotiations. You will lead a global team, oversee strategic supplier relationships, and help ensure procurement is a proactive enabler of innovation, resilience, and value creation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead global procurement strategy for technology categories, including software, cloud, infrastructure, cybersecurity, telecom, data & analytics, AI, hardware, and professional services.
• Partner closely with the CIDO, senior technology leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to align sourcing strategy with business priorities and digital transformation goals.
• Identify, prioritize, and deliver value creation opportunities through cost optimization, demand management, supplier consolidation, and innovation-led sourcing.
• Lead enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract execution using e-sourcing tools.
• Negotiate complex global technology agreements while ensuring business requirements, risk controls, and service expectations are fully addressed.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, including performance governance, commercial oversight, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
• Embed procurement early in technology planning and investment decisions to improve outcomes, reduce risk, and strengthen delivery.
• Advise senior leaders on sourcing strategy, commercial structures, supplier risk, and market trends.
• Champion modern procurement practices, leveraging analytics, automation, AI, and digital tools to improve speed, insight, and decision-making.
• Partner with Digital Strategy & Insights teams to enhance data visibility, category intelligence, and procurement effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, cybersecurity standards, regulatory requirements, and third-party risk management processes.
• Develop and execute inclusive sourcing strategies, with a strong focus on diverse supplier engagement in the U.S. and globally.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing global Technology Procurement organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Technology, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in technology procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, technology operations, consulting, or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of technology vendors, service providers, and procurement operating models.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience within procurement or indirect procurement organizations.
• Proven experience leading enterprise technology sourcing and commercial negotiations across software, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and professional services.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze complex data, build business cases, and influence decision-making.
• Experience managing multiple high-visibility programs in a global, matrixed environment.
• Strong negotiation, communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Cultural fluency and experience working with global, remote teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as needed.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Technology Management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives, including CIO, CDO, CFO, and business leadership teams.
• Experience in highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, or financial services.
• Exposure to digital transformation, AI, cloud modernization, or enterprise technology strategy initiatives

Why This Role Matters

This is a pivotal leadership role at the intersection of technology, sourcing, and enterprise value creation. You will help shape how the organization invests in and governs technology—driving smarter decisions, stronger partnerships, and measurable business impact.

Required Skills: Digital Strategy, Digital Transformation, Driving Continuous Improvement, Executive Relationship Management, IT Strategic Planning, Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Procurement Leadership, Sourcing Strategies, Stakeholder Management, Strategy Development, Supplier Engagement, Supplier Relationship Management, Supplier Risk Management

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 note we comply with relevant legal accommodations. 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.

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $231,900.00 - $365,000.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

• medical
• dental
• vision healthcare
• other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Job Posting End Date

11/5/2026

A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.