Sr. Specialist, Procurement

Job Description The Sr. Specialist, Procurement will report to the Associate Director, Procurement and will lead an active strategic role within the site sourcing teams and across Regional/Global categories. Lead the sourcing of materials and services to support business units across our Company's Animal Health division. Scope of spend impacted will be dependent upon the size, scale and complexities of the categories/subcategories to be managed. The categories for a Sourcing Specialist will be strategic in nature and highly complex requiring a wide breadth of skills including engaging stakeholders, specifically Site Management Teams, developing local / regional and global suppliers. Responsibilities Project Sourcing Leader – Lead cross‑functional team of individuals through the day‑to‑day activities of supporting the manufacturing operations with responsibility for driving the category/subcategories sourcing strategies and stakeholder management, including tier meeting attendance. Category/Subcategories Stakeholder Engagement – Understand stakeholder requirements in relation to establishing supply strategy and proactive mitigation of supply risk/issues. Lead stakeholder engagement meetings, schedule routine reviews and translate and document stakeholder requirements into tangible business results. Relationship Management – Work with business representatives, legal and other stakeholders, to develop requirements. Conduct relationship management meetings with key and active suppliers across categories and manage supplier performance levels. Sourcing – Create and execute Requests for Information and Requests for Proposals together with subsequent structured information analysis, using electronic procurement platform: ARIBA. Ensure all business requirements are captured, lead the assessment of the proposals using predefined criteria derived from the business requirements and ensure stakeholders are aligned with assessments and outcomes. Negotiation Planning and Execution – Create detailed pre‑negotiation plans, lead and participate in prolonged negotiation sessions with suppliers and conduct post‑negotiation debriefs and follow‑through plans. Drive negotiations to deliver the most value for the business. Contract Management – Lead, prepare and implement appropriate forms of contract and commitment with suppliers. Liaise with corporate legal as needed for review of contract language. Must have a strong understanding of contract language and legal positions. Supplier Performance Management – Ensure that appropriate supplier contracts and relationships have good supplier matrix embedded within them. Monitor, report, manage and continuously improve supplier performance using OTIF metrics and other tools. Drive innovation with key suppliers conducting meetings on a routine cadence. Sharing of Learnings – Work cross‑functionally with the site teams, region and global Category COE’s to share best practices where applicable. Policy Adherence – Ensure that all procurement within his/her area of responsibility is carried out in an ethical and controlled manner in line with procurement policy and procedures. Assist with the ongoing review of procurement practices and procedures. Interpret and enforce policy adherence for stakeholders and supply base. Drive Cost Savings – Identify, track and deliver cost‑saving opportunities, focusing on the accuracy of delivery. Manage purchase price variance for the category/subcategories of responsibility and track as a component of cost reduction. Manage projects and approvals for cost‑reduction initiatives with stakeholders and finance. Improve Working Capital – Identify, track and deliver working capital improvement opportunities, including payment terms monitoring and assistance in inventory reduction programs. Category Team Leadership – Membership of one or more category teams using the techniques and content created in previous items as input in the creation of breakthrough strategies. Lead and develop local/regional category strategies in support of global category strategies and sourcing strategy development. Position Qualifications Education Minimum Requirement: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Experience and Skills 3 or more years’ experience in procurement within the Life Sciences/Pharma industry. Demonstrated strong negotiation/commercial skills. Capable of prioritizing, multi‑tasking, and working to an agreed schedule. Self‑motivated and able to work both individually and as part of a team. Flexible approach to workload. Preferred Experience Indirect materials experience highly preferred. Purchasing qualification preferred, i.e. CPM, CIPS. Procurement experience within a manufacturing setting preferred. Required Skills Contract Management, Contract Negotiations, Direct Materials, Procurement Management, Raw Materials, Relationship Management, Sourcing and Procurement, Sourcing Strategies. Preferred Skills Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE EEO Statement 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: 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. Salary & Benefits Salary range: $96,200.00 - $151,400.00. 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 Travel & Work Arrangement Travel requirements: 10% Flexible work arrangements: Not Applicable Shift: 1st – Day Valid driving licence: Yes Hazardous material(s): N/A Job Posting Information Employee status: Regular Relocation: No relocation Visa sponsorship: No 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. Job posting end date: 06/18/2026 (effective until 11:59:59 PM on the day before the listed job posting end date). Requisition ID: R400808. #J-18808-Ljbffr Merck & Co.