Assoc Director, Global Procurement - Primary Market Research

Merck•Paris, New Jersey

2d•$129,000 - $203,100•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading global Primary Market Research services category within Marketing Procurement, driving transformational sourcing initiatives across the enterprise, encompassing a total spend of $150M. The candidate will lead development of procurement strategy, guiding and implementing global category management while supporting business stakeholders in achieving operational delivery and performance through the supplier base. The candidate will develop and maintain strong relationships with key business leaders across Digital Human Health, HH Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases (SP&ID), and HH Oncology and our Company's International teams. This role reports to the Director of Marketing Procurement within the Indirect Sourcing & Procurement organization. The candidate will take an active role in collaborating with an integrated global team, consisting of Category Managers, Central Functions Team, and Business Relationship Managers, to enable strategic category management and enhanced value delivery for sourcing projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
Minimum of 10+ years of experience related to strategic sourcing (global category management), business management and/or project management.
Previous exposure to multiple cross functional business teams and demonstrated progressive experience with increased responsibility.
Ability to influence, work in environments with potentially conflicting priorities.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and align cross-functional partners in a matrix environment.
Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with strong prioritization, structure, and attention to detail.
Strong analytical and communication skills; able to synthesize data into clear recommendations and executive-ready materials.
Ability to demonstrate proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability and the ability to achieve high-performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Self-starter and able to work in dynamic environment, adaptive, flexible and able to multitask.
Knowledge of Procurement related business processes.
Agile mindset, ability to learn quickly and connect the dots.
Cultural awareness and sensitivity required.
Change management experience.
Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, co-pilot and AI tools.
Adaptability
Commercial Contract Negotiations
Complex Procurement
Data Analytics
Driving Continuous Improvement
Global Sourcing Strategies
Inventory Control Management
Packaging Procurement
Procurement
Procurement Contracts
Procurement Logistics
Procurement Strategies
Procurement Transformation
Production Planning
Project Procurement Management
Purchasing Management
Raw Material Sourcing
Requisition Management
Results-Oriented
Risk Management
SAP Procurement
Strategic Procurement
Strategic Procurement Planning
Strategic Sourcing

Responsibilities

Develop a global category strategy, inclusive of regional/local elements, leveraging Global Category Management and Ways of Working.
Obtain comprehensive understanding of category elements that aid strategy development.
Develop roadmap to increase category maturity.
Drive complex and strategic projects holistically across the enterprise adopting a global approach.
Drive strategic alignment with key stakeholders globally, inclusive of regional/local markets.
Develop, sustain, and evolve stakeholder relationships through a service mindset.
Proactive engagement with business partners and stakeholders to better understand their short and longer-term priorities.
Work collaboratively to enable these priorities but also challenge status quo where appropriate, with new approaches and solutions.
Ensure compliance with Company policies and priorities.
Deliver on KPIs to support GSMG and Company objectives, including but not limited to savings, supplier, environmental sustainability and working capital.
Drive strategic supplier management as well as supplier performance management in collaboration with Supplier Development & Performance Management.
Oversee sourcing and contracting at the global, regional, and local level, aligned with the global category strategy.
Build a core team of procurement professionals who have direct responsibility of sourcing projects.
Effective talent management, proactive building a recruitment bench and succession planning.