Senior PMO Business Analyst - Automation, Analytics & AI (Senior BA - AA & AI)

Job Description

The core responsibility of this role is a hands-on project delivery partner and PMO lead for emerging technology, AI, and automation in support of major change initiatives/projects in GCTO. The role will also help coordinate PMO tracking and reporting, and work to ensure technology best practices are being applied across initiatives. They will apply data stewardship and data governance principles in the management of applications. The incumbent may also identify, evaluate, build, pilot, and scale digital, AI, and automation solutions that support GCTO.

Primary responsibilities for the role include: 

Key Responsibilities:  

PMO project coordination  

• Contribute to the ongoing management of strategic process improvement initiatives within GCTO. 

• Provide general and project support to project managers by promoting cross-initiative alignment and best practice sharing.

AI/Automation strategy & intake  

• Partner across HQ Ops and GCTO functions to surface priority pain points and high-value opportunities for automation, analytics, and AI. 

• Lead development of business cases including problem definition, options analysis, solution scope, resource/cost estimates, benefits/KPIs, risks, and compliance considerations.

• Align local opportunities with GCTO priorities; verify with relevant GCDI/central repositories and teams if there are for similar tools to avoid duplication; summarize reuse opportunities and recommendations as appropriate.
  

Solution design & delivery

• Lead and drive the end-to-end delivery of tools and solutions (e.g., dashboards, workflow automation, AI-assisted processes) using appropriate platforms and methods.

• Responsible for escalation to centralized assessment when project requirements exceed local capability or scale.

• Translate business requirements into functional/technical specifications and oversee build, testing, validation, and controlled deployment; ensure security, privacy, and quality.
  

Project reporting, tracking & analytics

• Develop or oversee development of project analytics and visualization (e.g., GCTO Project Catalog, GCTO Change Management Dashboard, GCTO Pilot Tracker, etc) to track deadlines, deliverables, resources and timelines.

• Define and track project success metrics (e.g., cycle-time reduction, accuracy, adoption/satisfaction, cost avoidance/FTE savings) and embed learning loops for continuous improvement.
  

Governance, compliance & change

• Ensure solutions comply with ICH GCP, Company policies, and local regulations; partner with Compliance/Legal as needed.

• Maintain project tracking and provide periodic updates via relevant governance forums; support RRO governance processes.

• Lead change management efforts, including training plans, communications, and stakeholder engagement; contribute to capability uplift in data literacy and digital ways of working.
  

Collaboration & solution scaling

• Serve as a PMO liaison with functional representatives, Automation/Analytics/AI partners, and when required, IT and external vendors for integration and support.

• Share learnings and reusable assets with other functions and project teams; assess and adapt project-specific tools for local use.

Educational Requirements:  

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science discipline, business analytics, computing science, engineering, or related field. 

 

Required Experience:  

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in data/analytics, process improvement, or technology-enabled transformation within life sciences/healthcare or a comparable regulated environment which includes: 

• Successfully designing and delivering automation/analytics/AI-enabled solutions (e.g., dashboards, RPA/workflow automation, AI/ML pilots) that produced measurable improvements. 

• Experience coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, with hands-on project management in a matrix environment. 

 

Preferred Experience:  

• Experience working across multiple functions or on cross-functional process improvement initiatives. 

• Exposure to integrations with IT/data science teams. 

• Familiarity with clinical trial processes and operational metrics. 

• Compliance/regulatory: understanding of ICH GCP and applicable quality and data protection requirements. 

 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

• Business process modeling and requirements techniques: e.g., process mapping, user stories, acceptance criteria, functional specifications 

• End-to-end product and solution ownership mindset: with accountability for value delivery across the full solution lifecycle (ideation, MVP, rollout, scaling, maintenance, and retirement). 

• Data literacy and analytics: ability to translate business questions into metrics; hands-on with BI tools (e.g., Power BI/Tableau) and data querying basics (SQL or equivalent). 

• Automation/AI awareness: practical experience with workflow automation/RPA platforms; exposure to AI/ML use cases and constraints in clinical operations. 

• Program/project management: planning, prioritization, risk/issue management, and delivery at pace; comfortable with Agile/Lean practices. 

• Communication & influence; ability to influence across functions and present technical topics to non-technical audiences. 

• Change enablement: stakeholder engagement, training, and adoption support. 

• Problem-solving & critical thinking: structured analysis, hypothesis-driven approach, and pragmatic delivery mindset. 

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Automation, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Analytics, Process Improvements, Project Management, Risk Management, Solutions Delivery, Stakeholder Communications, Workflow Automation

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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.

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:

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.

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - Pennsylvania - North Wales (Upper Gwynedd)

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$106,200.00 - $167,200.00

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.

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 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. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

11/21/2026

*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.