Sourcing Manager

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ is seeking a Sourcing Manager to lead procurement for Clinical Trial FSP, shaping sourcing strategies, negotiating budgets, and managing contracts with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Key duties include RFIs/RFPs/RFQs, supplier performance monitoring, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve organizational objectives. Hybrid work arrangement and a strong compliance focus are offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain management, finance or vendor management.
• Superior analytical skills for evaluating complex clinical trial budgets and supplier bids.
• Ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders in a challenging clinical trial environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; formal presentations are required.
• Able to lead cross-functional teams and work independently with minimal guidance.

Responsibilities

• Source and execute RFIs, RFPs, RFQs with structured information analysis and using Ariba.
• Budget negotiation based on detailed analysis and benchmarking.
• Prepare, finesse, and implement appropriate contract forms with legal and senior management input.
• Provide guidance on budgetary and contractual impacts as part of a cross-functional team.
• Elevate issues to procurement leadership and other functions as needed.
• Develop strategic relationships with scientific and operational stakeholders.
• Monitor, report and improve supplier performance in a cross-functional setting.
• Evaluate suppliers and markets to inform sourcing strategy.
• Act as active Category Team member to optimize supplier strategies.

Skills

Adaptability

Analytical Thinking

Benchmarking

Contract Management

Data Analytics

Driving Continuous Improvement

Financial Acumen

Influencing Skills

Procurement Management

Production Planning

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Supplier Selection

Supply Chain Processes

Vendor Management

Education

BS/BA

Six Sigma certification desirable

MBA or advanced degree desirable

Tools

Excel

Ariba

Job description

Job Description

Sourcing Manager

The selected candidate will provide procurement support for Clinical Trial Functional Service Provider (FSP). This includes strategic analysis of suppliers, supply markets and supply chains to inform the development, execution and ongoing management of clinical sourcing strategies. Key data includes internal budgets, supplier budgets and invoicing information. This role works closely with internal stakeholders in the clinical research, procurement, and finance organizations to achieve cross-functional business objectives. The Sourcing Manager is also responsible for certain aspects of contract execution and ongoing contract management. This role will report to the Associate Director to support high quality sourcing initiatives and procurement category management.

Primary Activities include:

• Sourcing - to create and execute RFIs, RFPs, RFQs together with structured information analysis and using Ariba systems
• Budget Negotiation - to conduct negotiations with suppliers based on detailed analysis of internal specifications, supplier costs, and internal benchmarks
• Contract Execution and Management - to prepare, finesse, and implement appropriate forms of contract and commitment with suppliers involving legal counsel and senior management as needed
• Stakeholder Support - to provide appropriate guidance around budgetary and contractual impacts of decisions/actions as part of a cross-functional team
• Appropriately elevate issues and concerns to procurement management and other functional areas such as legal, privacy, compliance, etc
• Business Partnering - to work closely with scientific and operational stakeholders and to develop successful, long-term, strategic relationships that enable joint achievement of shared organizational objectives
• Supplier Performance Management - to monitor, report, manage, and continuously improve supplier performance as part of a cross-functional team
• Supplier and Supply Market Analysis – to evaluate suppliers and supply markets based on facts, data, reports, and changes in technology with the objective of providing deep and meaningful insight to Sourcing Management teams
• Category Team Membership – to be an active member of a category team to influence the development and optimization of ongoing supplier and sourcing strategies

Minimum Education Requirement:

• BS/BA. Certification in six sigma desirable. MBA or advanced degree are desirable.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in roles such as, but not limited to, procurement, purchasing, supply chain management, finance, vendor management, with a strong understanding of procurement processes, systems, and methodologies
• Superior analytical skills in evaluating complex clinical trial budgets, comparing supplier bids and internal benchmarking data
• Ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders and suppliers in the context of a challenging clinical trial environment
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) and the ability to communicate well with varying levels of management. Formal presentations are required
• Must be adaptable in dealing with ambiguous and complex environments
• Able to effectively lead work within diverse cross functional teams to achieve client, department, and company goals
• Requirements for critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to work independently with minimal guidance from manager.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical industry, clinical research process and clinical trial operations
• Extensive experience in managing sponsor/supplier interactions across various roles, including business development, project management, contract management, and relationship management.
• Proficiency working in Excel and Ariba

Required Skills:

• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking
• Benchmarking
• Contract Management
• Data Analytics
• Driving Continuous Improvement
• Financial Acumen
• Influencing Skills
• Procurement ManagementProduction Planning
• Regulatory Compliance
• Risk Management
• Supplier Selection
• Supply Chain Processes
• Vendor Management

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

09/11/2026

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 click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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.

*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.

The salary range for this role is

$96,200.00 - $151,400.00

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.

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:

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