Associate Director, US Site Payment Operations, Operations Lead

Job DescriptionRole Description:The Associate Director, Site Payment Operations, Operations Lead, reports to the Head, Site Payment Operations and leads U.S. site payment execution within Regional Operations. The role is accountable for day-to-day delivery, controls, workforce coordination, service performance, and the timely containment of operational issues, ensuring that payments to clinical trial sites are accurate, timely, and compliant. Drawing on U.S. execution experience, the role also contributes to the strategic direction of the global site payment process by helping shape global priorities, business rules, controls, functional requirements, and solutions under the direction of the Head, Site Payment Operations. The role partners with Site Budgets & Payments Operational Excellence, regional payment teams, and other functional teams to support a common global payment approach and sustainable process and system improvements.Primary Responsibilities:Lead U.S. site payment execution and translate the global capability direction, business rules, priorities, and controls established by Site Payment Operations into consistent day-to-day operations.Own U.S. delivery performance across assigned teams, including payment timeliness and accuracy, backlog management, control execution, capacity, and service outcomes.Accountable for the integrity and effectiveness of U.S. payment operations across interconnected systems, including transaction integrity, exception management, reconciliations, and synchronization of payment records.Lead, coach, and coordinate payment operations teams by establishing clear accountabilities, workload priorities, performance expectations, and workforce readiness.Monitor operational data, service measures, controls, and stakeholder feedback; identify performance variations and take corrective action within the role’s execution authority.Maintain clear communication with sites, study teams, Finance, Tax, IT/Technology, and other stakeholders regarding payment timelines, risks, dependencies, and service issues.Lead immediate containment, recovery, and stakeholder communication when U.S. payment operations fail or services are disrupted.Diagnose execution issues, resolve those within operational control, and document and transition systemic process, policy, data, or technology issues to the appropriate owner for permanent resolution.Escalate material risks, recurring failures, capacity constraints, and decisions requiring capability-level direction to the Head, Site Payment Operations; recommend strategic priorities or global changes when U.S. or cross-regional execution experience indicates a broader need.Contribute payment subject-matter expertise, execution insights, operational data, and regional perspectives to inform the strategic direction, priorities, business rules, controls, and functional requirements of the global site payment process under the leadership of the Head, Site Payment Operations.Partner with Site Budgets & Payments Operational Excellence, regional payment teams, IT/Technology, Finance, Tax, and other stakeholders to evaluate global payment scenarios, shape process and system solutions, support the implementation and operational adoption of approved changes, and validate that solutions work effectively across regional contexts.Qualifications, Skills & Experience:Required Education:A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree is required (scientific, business, or related discipline preferred); an advanced degree is a plus.Required Experience and Skills:A minimum of five (5) years of clinical research experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including experience in site payments, clinical trial financial operations, or related operations.Experience with investigator payments, clinical trial financial operations, payment systems, controls, or related financial processes.Demonstrated ability to lead operational teams, manage capacity and performance, develop talent, and deliver reliable service outcomes in a matrixed organization.Ability to translate operational needs into clear business rules, functional requirements, controls, acceptance criteria, and consistent team practices.Sound judgment in assessing payment risk and operational impact, leading immediate containment and recovery, and escalating systemic issues appropriately.Ability to use data, operational insight, and stakeholder feedback to manage priorities, improve performance, and support sound decisions.Strong communication and influencing skills, including the ability to explain complex issues and work effectively across functions, systems, and geographies.Knowledge of GCP/ICH, applicable regulatory requirements, Fair Market Value principles, and compliant clinical trial payment practices.Supports responsible digital, data-driven, and AI-enabled ways of working.clinicaltrialjobsRequired Skills: Adaptability, Business Requirements Analysis, Clinical Trials Operations, Competency Management, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Decision Making, Delivery Management, Escalation Management, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Industry Regulation, Operations Management, Payment Administration, People Leadership, Performance Improvements, Team OrganizationPreferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HEREUS 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.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 RightsEEOC 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 ActsThe primary location for this posting is:USA - New Jersey - RahwayWhere required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.The salary range for the primary location of this role is:$142,400.00 - $224,100.00This 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. 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 .Additional location(s): 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.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 OrdinanceLos 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 OrdinanceSearch 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: RegularRelocation:No relocationVISA Sponsorship:NoTravel Requirements:10%Flexible Work Arrangements:Not ApplicableShift:1st - DayValid Driving License:NoHazardous Material(s):N/AJob Posting End Date:10/25/2026*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. SummaryLocation: USA - New Jersey - Rahway; USA - Pennsylvania - North Wales (Upper Gwynedd)Type: Full time