Sr. Specialist, Project Management - Chemistry Manufacturing & Controls (CMC) (Hybrid)

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision healthcare and

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation

Job summary

MSD in Rahway, NJ, seeks a CIPM Senior Specialist, Project Manager, to lead cross‑functional development teams through drug and vaccine programs. You will shape integrated plans, manage schedules and risks, and ensure clear, proactive communication with stakeholders.

Requires a Bachelor’s in a scientific field and 3+ years in project management; experience in drug/vaccine development and lifecycle management is preferred. Flexible, hybrid work environment with competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or applied discipline is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in project management or a related role.
• Experience with planning and execution of strategies for drug/vaccine product registration and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end development processes for moderately complex projects.
• Guide creation, approval, and execution of integrated project plans.
• Build and maintain project schedules and communicate with stakeholders.
• Identify risks and facilitate governance and decision-making.
• Facilitate key team meetings and cross-functional initiatives.

Skills

Adaptability

Change Management

Clinical Development

Clinical Supplies Management

Clinical Trial Management

CMC Development

Communication

Corporate Governance

Cross-Functional Leadership

Drug Development

GMP

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal Relationships

KPI

Overcome Obstacles

Portfolio Management

Project Management

Project Planning

Risk Management

Teamwork

Working Independently

Detail-Oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

Job Description

Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) sits in the Research & Development Division at our company (known as our company's Research Laboratories). The Project Managers in GPAM are core members of development teams at our company, driving these cross-functional teams to deliver projects and products that improve human health and business. The CMC Integrated Project Management (CIPM) Senior Specialist, Project Manager, is a core member of Development and Commercialization Teams (DCTs), partnering with team leads to develop strategies and execute our Company's drug and vaccine development efforts to progress the R&D pipeline. The Senior Specialist is expected to provide project management leadership and drive cross-functional teams with sufficient influence and proficiency in project management to take on assignments with minimal guidance. Projects could span the full Chemistry Manufacturing & Controls development continuum from Line of Sight to First in Human to Transfer to Supply stage-gates.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end development process for projects that are of moderate complexity and/or work effectively with other CIPM team members to ensure successful execution of higher complexity development team strategies and project plans, guiding teams to develop comprehensive strategies and ensure successful execution.
• Guide teams through the creation, approval, and execution of integrated project plans appropriate to the project's phase of development and complexity.
• Build and maintain project schedules and critical project information, using these tools to integrate activities across key functional areas, work with team leads to proactively identify risks, and ensure clear and effective communication with key team, management, and cross-departmental stakeholders.
• Leverage relationships and networks to improve and enhance team dynamics, with guidance from senior CIPM team members and team leads as needed, to proactively identify and remove obstacles to drive business results.
• Navigate our Company's process and organizational norms to enable teams to understand corporate governance and business requirements, thereby enabling informed decision-making.
• Prepare for and facilitate key team meetings including creating thoughtful agendas, ensuring appropriate participation, contributing project management insights, and following up to ensure the team continues to make progress while holding others accountable.
• Participate in CIPM and Global Project and Alliance Management departmental initiatives and workstreams aimed at improving the way that we work and the way that we interact with one another as well as other departments.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in a scientific or applied discipline preferred
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in project management or a related role required
• Experience with the planning and execution of strategies for drug / vaccine product registration and commercialization / life-cycle management (can be R&D, manufacturing, or commercial perspective), with demonstrated ability to translate knowledge and expertise to other development teams and areas.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to effectively accomplish goals in a team setting.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a resource for colleagues and program teams.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams and networks; able to foster cooperation in others.
• Highly organized and capable of working with attention to detail; Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to build alignment around complex situations.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Knows when and how to speak up and appropriately raise issues to team and to management.
• Ability to succeed in a dynamic environment with flexibility to respond to changing priorities.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience and knowledge of clinical drug development strongly preferred; including the different phases of development and how the various functional areas contribute to a comprehensive strategy
• Project management certification (PMP) and/or formal coursework/training in project management strongly preferred

Required Skills

• Adaptability
• Change Management
• Clinical Development
• Clinical Supplies Management
• Clinical Supply Chain Management
• Clinical Trial Management
• CMC Development
• Communication
• Corporate Governance
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Drug Development
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Interpersonal Communication
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
• Overcome Obstacles
• Portfolio Management
• Project Management
• Project Planning
• Risk Management
• Teamwork
• Working Independently

Preferred Skills

• Detail-Oriented

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. 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. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

Primary Location

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Compensation

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below. The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $117,000.00 - $184,200.00 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.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision healthcare and 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 Locations

Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

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

Employment Details

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date

11/11/2026 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.

About the Company

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.