Watch Officer (Night Shift)

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Night Shift Watch Officer to monitor real-time global events and coordinate crisis response within our Resiliency Center. This frontline role protects people, operations, and assets while collaborating with cross-functional partners.

Reporting to the Director of Watch Desk Operations, you will lead incident triage, draft security advisories, and support continuous improvement of watch processes with AI-enabled tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• At least 3 years of experience in a GSOC or similar fast-paced monitoring environment.
• Experience using situational awareness and threat intelligence platforms.

Responsibilities

• Monitor real-time global events and identify risks using integrated platforms.
• Perform initial triage, impact assessment, and rapid escalation to leadership.
• Draft incident reports and travel security advisories for stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary contact for employee assistance and travel risk inquiries at night.
• Coordinate handovers with Day Shift to ensure continuity.
• Assist in improving watch desk workflows and testing new tech.

Skills

Alarm management

Alarm monitoring

Analytical thinking

Crisis management

Incident response

Decision making

Executive protection

Risk intelligence

Real-time monitoring

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Threat intelligence platforms

Security monitoring software

Mass notification systems

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Night Shift Watch Officer is a critical frontline role within our Company's Resiliency Center, responsible for maintaining real-time situational awareness and threat monitoring during peak global business hours. Reporting to the Director of Watch Desk Operations, this role serves as the lead tactical interface for incident triage, information coordination, and crisis escalation. The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic, high-visibility environment, utilizing advanced technology platforms and AI-driven tools to protect our Company's people, operations, and assets while collaborating actively with cross-functional business partners.

Job Description and Responsibilities

Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct continuous real-time monitoring of global events, utilizing integrated threat intelligence and situational awareness platforms to identify potential risks to our Company.
• Perform initial triage, impact assessment, and rapid escalation of emerging incidents, ensuring timely and accurate information flow to leadership and relevant business units.
• Draft and disseminate clear, concise incident reports, travel security advisories, and daily intelligence summaries for enterprise stakeholders.
• Act as the primary point of contact for employee assistance and travel risk inquiries during nighttime operations, providing immediate guidance and support.
• Coordinate seamlessly with the Day Shift team during shift handovers to ensure total continuity of operations and situational awareness.
• Assist in the continuous improvement of watch desk workflows, including the testing and adoption of new technological platforms and AI-assisted operational procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned or as required based on the evolving needs of our Company.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• At least 3 years of experience in a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC), intelligence watch floor, emergency dispatch, or similar fast-paced monitoring environment.
• Experience using situational awareness and threat intelligence platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a corporate security environment.
• Familiarity with mass notification and crisis management systems.
• Prior military or law enforcement experience in an operational role.

Skills & Competencies

Strong analytical capability, with the ability to rapidly synthesize multiple streams of information into clear, actionable assessments.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to remain composed and make sound, rapid decisions under pressure.

Collaborative team player with a strong focus on customer service.

Physical & Operational Requirements

Must be able to work a fixed night shift schedule, potentially including weekends and holidays.

Must be flexible and able to work a 12-hour rotating night shift schedule; specific shift hours, durations, and rotations are subject to change based on company operational tempo and business needs.

Able to travel locally or regionally as required.

Required Skills

• Alarm Management
• Alarm Management
• Alarm Monitoring
• Analytical Thinking
• Business Continuity Management (BCM)
• Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
• Confidentiality
• Counterintelligence Investigations
• Crisis Management
• Database Management
• Decision Making
• Emergency Notification Systems
• Event Monitoring
• Executive Protection
• Forensic Investigations
• Incident Analysis
• Incident Management
• Incident Reporting
• Incident Response
• Physical Security
• Project Risk Assessments
• Real Estate Management
• Real Time Monitoring
• Risk Intelligence
• Safety Reporting {+ 9 more}

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

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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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 incl