Paralegal – Corp Secretary’s Office

Merck • Rahway, NJ

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Paralegal III to join the Corporate Legal team in the Office of General Counsel. The team is responsible for legal and regulatory matters pertaining to our status as a public company, as well as all aspects of corporate governance. The position reports to the Corporate Secretary and also works closely with other team members and internal departments.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive corporate information with discretion.
Review, draft and/or develop legal documents and communications independently.
Independently handle legal and/or factual research, as appropriate.
Respond to questions and inquiries with sound advice on complex issues under the direction of an attorney, as appropriate.
Lead and/or guide delivery of a broad range of initiatives to streamline processes and tools that improve overall productivity of legal support.
Cultivate, maintain, and influence relationships with stakeholders.
Manage fast-paced or demanding deadlines.

Requirements

• High School degree required
• Bachelor's degree or Paralegal certificate preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience
• Experience in corporate governance or securities at a major public company or law firm.
• Adaptability
• Board Governance
• Business (Corporate) Law
• Cite Checking
• Collaborative Development
• Confidentiality
• Conflict Minerals
• Contract Administration
• Corporate Governance
• Data Management
• Detail-Oriented
• Financial Advising
• Legal Acumen
• Legal Document Review
• Legal Documents Preparation
• Legal Research
• Legal Technology
• Litigation Preparation
• Meeting Deadlines
• Notary Services
• Patent Databases
• Patent Prosecution
• Process Streamlining
• Regulatory Submissions

Nice To Haves

• Substantive expertise on public company governance, Section 16 reporting obligations, and other SEC rules and obligations affecting the disclosure obligations of public companies.
• Ability to operate with high degree of independence and discretion, including with respect to highly sensitive and critical business matters.
• Excellent organization and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, resourceful, adaptable, decisive, capable of working independently and autonomously, as well as in a team, and possessing mature, independent judgment.
• High level of leadership presence, business acumen and influence.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Office Suite and be able and willing to learn new technology and software applications (such as Section 16 Manager and Workiva).

Responsibilities

• Files and assists in preparing quarterly, annual, and other reports with the SEC (Forms 10 K, 10 Q, 8-K, 11 K, and SD - Conflict Minerals Disclosure).
• Leads preparation of certain other SEC documents, including Section 16 filings for our company's officers and directors (Form 3, 4 and 5) and 13-Fs.
• Collaborates and maintains effective working relationships with varied internal stakeholders, including attorneys throughout the Office of General Counsel and colleagues in finance, accounting, as well as treasury, and external vendors.
• Prepares and manages SEC and other regulatory filing checklists, gathers exhibits, and coordinates with cross-functional teams (finance, investor relations, external counsel) to obtain required information.
• Prepares legal onboarding documentation for new officers and directors; identifies and addresses necessary updates to templates.
• Assists with completion of NYSE listing requirements, including periodic attestations
• Stays current on legal and regulatory developments
• Manages Director compensation, including ensuring all Directors are paid accurately and in a timely fashion, orienting new Directors regarding director compensation program and addressing ongoing questions from directors regarding administration of the program.
• Assists with corporate organization maintenance for subsidiaries, including preparing resolutions and unanimous written consents.
• Prepares memos for officers and directors related to securities filings

Benefits

• 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees