Associate Director, Clinical Operations - Organizational Engagement (Hybrid)

The Associate Director, Organizational Engagement reports to the Head of Global Data Management & Standards (GDMS) Business Operations and is responsible for the development, maintenance, and execution of the engagement and communications strategy for Global Data Management & Standards (GDMS).  In collaboration with the GDMS functional areas, coordinates the delivery of targeted communications to advance organizational priorities in alignment with departmental goals and branding guidelines. Responsible for the development and maintenance of the GDMS communications framework; leads planning and delivery of GDMS events; and serves as a day-to-day partner to GDMS leaders to support internal messaging, executive communications, and presentation materials. 

Responsibilities

Internal Engagement & Communication Strategy 

• Develops, plans, and executes the global engagement and communications strategy for Global Data Management and Standards (GDMS), ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and communication guidelines  Collaborates with the heads of the GDMS Project Management Office (PMO), Change Management, and GDMS project sponsors in the development of communications for special initiatives 

• Coordinates and oversees communication activities conducted by assigned Business Operations Specialists or functional area-assigned resources 

• Develop and execute the GDMS enterprise employee engagement strategy, designing and leading engagement initiatives including surveys, listening strategies, and action planning; analyzing feedback data and translating findings into actionable insights and recommendations for GDMS leadership 

Communication Framework, Content Channels & Brand Consistency

• Develops and maintains the GDMS communications framework and toolkit to drive efficient, high quality communications 

• Develops and maximizes fit-for-purpose GDMS communication channels to drive targeted information distribution, consumption, and uptake 

• Maximizes effectiveness of communications campaigns and channels leveraging data-centric measurement plans and stakeholder feedback; synthesizes insights and recommends improvement to communication strategies (ex. frequency and format) 

• Ensures GDMS communications are developed consistent with GCTO and company branding guidelines

• Translate complex initiatives, including systems migrations, standards changes, and process redesigns, into actionable, audience-appropriate communications that drive understanding across GDMS 

Events, Engagement, & Knowledge Sharing

• Leads planning and delivery Plan and execute of major GDMS events (e.g., town halls, GDMS Data Management Center visits , leadership messaging, updates ) including narrative arcs, visuals, and engagement mechanics

• Provides ad hoc support as relevant (e.g., industry presentation consultation; onboarding communications, intern events) 

Leadership Communications & Stakeholder Partnership

• Serves as day-to-day partner to GDMS leaders on internal messaging; drafts and refines executive communications and presentation materials 

• Develop and deliver structured communication plans for major GDMS change initiatives, in partnership with Change Management, ensuring messaging reinforces adoption objectives throughout each initiative lifecycle 

• Ensure alignment across training, communications, and leadership messaging for major initiatives  

• Acts as a reliable partner to GDMS and other cross-functional teams, actively seeking input, aligning on priorities, and closing feedback loops to drive high-quality, coordinated engagement and communications 

Qualifications, Skills & Experience 

Technical Skills:

• Ability to translate data management subject matter and content into clear narratives for target audiences 

• Advanced skills in SharePoint Online administration and page design; governance of content hubs and basic HTML/UX 

• Experience working with enterprise communications tools (e.g., email/newsletter platforms, survey tools, asset libraries); template creation and governance 

• Expertise in interpreting campaign/channel analytics (e.g., email, SharePoint, Teams/Yammer); ability to compile metrics into simple dashboards 

• Deep knowledge of internal communications controls (privacy, accessibility, records retention) and brand/tone standards 

• Experience in measuring and drawing insights from communications metrics; building channel scorecards, running A/B tests, and optimizing based on data 

• Experience in applying project management tools and methods to enhance overall effectiveness 

Preferred: 

• Experience in service provider and production management across design, video, events, and content operations 

Non-Technical Skills:

• Exceptional communication skills with ability to drive content creation and delivery across a broad range of stakeholders (e.g., executive, organizational, geography-specific, and functional) 

• Customer and stakeholder mindset with experience in coordinating and coaching content authors with a focus on clarity, quality, tone, and compliance 

• Experience coordinating teams, partnering across the organization, leading decision making, and delivering results without positional or program authority 

Enterprise Leadership Skills:

• Business Savviness - Uses organization and industry information to identify trends, assess current business practices and results, and/or evaluate specific function/operation changes and anticipate their impact 

• Strategic Planning - Identifies more critical and less critical activities and assignments; adjusts priorities when appropriate. 

• Execution Excellence - Takes action that goes beyond job requirements to achieve results 

• Influence - Clearly communicates the benefits of an idea, proposal, or approach (for the individual, team, and organization); tailors the persuasion strategy to engage individuals emotionally and rationally; leverages supporting evidence to address anticipated objections; summarizes benefits to ensure understanding 

Qualifications & experience: 

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 8 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, data management, clinical trial operations, operations, or relevant field. 

OR

• Advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) with a minimum of 4 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, data management, clinical trial operations, operations, or relevant field 

• A minimum of 3 years overseeing communication planning in a global, matrixed organization is required 

eligibleforERP

clinicaltrialjobs

GDMS

Required Skills:

A/B Testing, A/B Testing, Adaptability, Biopharmaceutical Industry, Brand Consistency, Business Acumen, Change Management, Clinical Database Programming, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Data Standards, Clinical Trials, Communications Planning, Data Analysis, Data Management, Data Quality Assurance, Data Reporting, Data Validation, Detail-Oriented, Employee Engagement Strategies, Good Clinical Data Management Practice (GCDMP), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Interpersonal Relationships, Knowledge Sharing, Mentoring Staff, Production Management {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

R&D Strategy, Research and Development

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 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.

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 .

You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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.