Global Development Project Lead — Associate Director

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Associate Director, Project Manager in Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) to drive cross-functional project strategies across drug development teams and therapeutic areas. This role partners with team leaders to progress the R&D pipeline, build integrated plans, manage risks, and mentor other project managers across the GPAM organization, including teams in the US and abroad.

Based in Rahway, NJ or Upper Gwynedd, PA, the position emphasizes leadership, negotiation,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; concentration in a scientific or applied discipline preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in project management or a related role required.
• Advanced degree (MS, MBA, Ph.D., PharmD) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Managing the end-to-end drug development process, including projects of significant complexity; driving cross-functional teams and leading by influence.
• Guide teams through creation, approval, and execution of integrated project plans across development phases.
• Build and maintain project schedules and enterprise information systems; identify risks and ensure clear communication.
• Leverage relationships to remove obstacles and drive business results.
• Navigate corporate governance and enable decision-making processes.
• Lead key team meetings with agendas and accountable follow-up.
• Participate in ongoing training to enhance leadership competency.
• Participate in GPAM initiatives to improve processes and cross-department collaboration.
• Provide mentoring and oversight to partner project managers.

Skills

Project Management

Cross-Functional Leadership

Enterprise Project Management (EPM)

Drug Development

Clinical Research

Collaboration

Process Optimization

Change Management

Business Decisions

Progress Monitoring

Project Implementations

Project Management Governance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

PMP certification

Job description

Merck is seeking an Associate Director, Project Manager in Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) to drive cross-functional project strategies across drug development teams and therapeutic areas. This role partners with team leaders to progress the R&D pipeline, build integrated plans, manage risks, and mentor other project managers across the GPAM organization, including teams in the US and abroad.

Based in Rahway, NJ or Upper Gwynedd, PA, the position emphasizes leadership, negotiation,