Head of Project Management

Global Clinical Supply (GCS) organization is within our Company's Research Laboratories and is accountable for managing the 'end-to-end' integrated clinical supply chain across our Research & Development Division portfolio to enable the execution of any clinical trial using our Company's asset.- GCS supports more than 300 Phase I-IV clinical trials run inhouse, 400+ outsourced or run by partners as well as our Company's ISS clinical trials (300+). GCS is accountable for the planning, sourcing, labeling, packaging and delivery of clinical supplies to clinical sites across more than 60+countries, all in accordance with US and WW regulations, company policies and Standard operating procedures.-
This role is a part of the External Operations and Inventory Management team within External Partnerships and Sourcing. The incumbent will bring strong business acumen, enterprise leadership, and change management capability to shape supplier strategies, strengthen governance, and drive sustained operational performance. Key responsibilities include defining and advancing partnership objectives, overseeing supplier deliverables, timelines, performance, risks, issues, and opportunities, and ensuring supplier capabilities remain aligned with evolving GCS priorities. This role will lead through influence across GCS functions and enabling partners, including Procurement, Finance, Quality, and other support functions, to ensure effective decision-making, transparency, accountability, and value realization across the supplier relationship. Owns strategic direction for the packaging service line, defining priorities, advancing capabilities, and ensuring external partner performance supports GCS portfolio and pipeline objectives.
Translate evolving business, portfolio, and network needs into forward-looking packaging strategies, operating models, and continuous improvement priorities.
Accountable for sustained service-line performance, supplier governance effectiveness, risk mitigation, capability development, and alignment of external partner execution to GCS strategy and enterprise priorities. Driving integration readiness and oversight of identified beachhead assets and our Research & Development Division targets to ensure critical pipeline delivery.
Partner across planning, distribution, sourcing, procurement, finance, and functional stakeholders to ensure end-to-end visibility, capacity alignment, financial stewardship, and delivery of business-critical packaging needs.
Lead strategic problem solving, scenario planning, and risk mitigation for complex or ambiguous business challenges, ensuring durable solutions rather than reliance on day-to-day escalation management.
Drive transformation, process standardization, and scalable ways of working across the packaging service line and broader external operations network.
Communicate effectively with senior leaders by synthesizing complex operational, supplier, financial, and performance information into clear insights, recommendations, and decision points.
Create broader organizational impact by standardizing ways of working, strengthening governance maturity, improving transparency, and enabling scalable external partnership models across GCS and driving integration into the GCS Tier Process.
Demonstrate strong proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; experience with Power BI, Power Automate, Qlik Sense, SAP, or similar business intelligence and enterprise systems preferred.
10+ years' experience in corporate environment within pharmaceutical or similar.

• Minimum 5 years experience in clinical supply chain, packaging operations and/or vendor management.
• Strong understanding of Current Good Manufacturing and Distribution Practices (cGMP/GDP), including FDA and EMEA
• Strategic planning & realization

Clinical Supply Chain Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Financial Stewardship, Problem Solving, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking, Vendor Performance Management, Vendor Relationship Management
Leadership Communication, Microsoft Applications, Strategic Influence
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.The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
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. 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
Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please, no phone calls or emails.-
Relocation:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Shift:
Hazardous Material(s):