Associate Director

Position Summary The Associate Director, Product Owner for Client Virtualization is responsible for defining and driving the product strategy, roadmap, and delivery for the client virtualization platform within End User Computing. This role combines product ownership, technical leadership, and people leadership to deliver secure, reliable, and user-centered virtual desktop and application services that enable the enterprise. The ideal candidate brings strong experience operating in a product model, with a clear understanding of product lifecycle management, outcome-based prioritization, backlog management, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. This leader will partner closely across technology and business teams, guide a high-performing team, and ensure the platform continues to evolve in support of enterprise priorities and user needs. Key Responsibilities Product Strategy and Product Model Leadership Define and own the client virtualization product vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap. Operate effectively within a product model, with accountability for product outcomes, prioritization, and value delivery. Translate business needs, user feedback, and technical requirements into a clear and actionable product backlog. Prioritize enhancements and investments based on business value, risk, user experience, and strategic alignment. Partner with stakeholders to shape demand, manage intake, and drive transparent decision-making. Promote a culture of iterative delivery, continuous improvement, and measurable outcomes. Technical Leadership Provide technical oversight for virtual desktop infrastructure, virtual application delivery, and related end user computing capabilities. Partner with architects, engineers, and operations teams to evaluate solutions, manage technical debt, and improve resiliency, security, and performance. Support root cause analysis, incident reviews, and service improvement efforts for client virtualization services. Stay current on industry trends, platform capabilities, and emerging technologies that may influence the roadmap. People Leadership Lead, coach, and develop a team of product and/or technical professionals. Set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and support career growth and performance. Build an inclusive, accountable, and collaborative team culture. Foster ownership, innovation, and continuous learning across the team. Stakeholder Engagement and Delivery Partner with business leaders, application owners, service management, security, infrastructure, and architecture teams to align priorities and execution. Communicate roadmap status, dependencies, risks, and decisions clearly and proactively. Influence across a matrixed organization to drive alignment and delivery. Establish effective governance for demand intake, prioritization, and product decision-making. Track and report progress against product outcomes, service performance, and user satisfaction measures. Required Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in related field 10 years of IT experience 4+ years of experience in product management, end user computing, infrastructure, or virtual desktop technologies Strong knowledge and demonstrated experience working in a product operating model Experience owning product roadmaps, backlogs, and outcome-based delivery Proven people leadership experience, including coaching, development, and performance management Strong technical understanding of client virtualization platforms and EUC environments Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills Preferred Experience Preferred Experience with Citrix, VMware Horizon, Azure Virtual Desktop, or similar virtualization platforms. Familiarity with agile delivery, product governance, and value-based prioritization. Experience in a global enterprise or regulated environment. Understanding of IT service management, change management, and operational support models. Familiarity with enterprise collaboration and delivery platforms such as ServiceNow, Jira, Confluence, and GitHub. Experience supporting AI adoption and enablement, including productivity and workflow use cases involving Copilot. Competencies Product model leadership and outcome-based thinking Strong people leadership and talent development Product strategy, roadmap, and backlog ownership Technical credibility in client virtualization and end user computing Cross-functional collaboration and influence Analytical decision-making and prioritization Change leadership and continuous improvement Familiarity with enterprise tools such as ServiceNow, Jira, Confluence, and GitHub Ability to evaluate and drive AI adoption using tools such as Copilot Success Measures Clear ownership of product outcomes and roadmap execution Effective use of product model practices Strong team performance, engagement, and development Improved service quality, user experience, and adoption Successful prioritization and delivery of business value Strong stakeholder satisfaction and operational stability Demonstrated adoption of modern productivity and AI-enabled ways of working Required Skills Agile Environments Agile Environments Azure Virtual Desktop Backlog Management Big Data Technologies Cloud Computing Construction Management Cross-Cultural Awareness Data Integration DevOps Emerging Technologies End User Computing Influence IT Change Management People Leadership Product Lifecycle Product Management Product Prioritization Product Strategies Server Management Software Development Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder Management Strategic Planning Technical Debt {+ 1 more} Preferred Skills and Company Culture 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. 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. 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. Salary The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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 Employment Details 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 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. Job Posting End Date: 07/31/2026 *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. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr