Job Description

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 our company has codified its 130-year legacy. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

We know that our people are the key to our success, which is why our team works to attract, develop, retain and inspire our people so that they can learn, grow and make a true impact on the world. Together we collaborate to create a culturally rich, diverse organization ensuring we remain innovative and agile.

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please specify to our Talent Acquisition team if you need any support during the application or hiring process. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, disability status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to join our team as a Director of Program Management and Execution Excellence. We are looking for a season Program manager with a passion for driving impactful business outcomes for our company. This role offers the opportunity to influence, mentor, and lead cross-functional teams while managing large-scale projects that span multiple divisions and groups. If you thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment and are ready to make a significant impact, we want to hear from you!

The primary responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Lead and manage 1-2 Very Large programs connected across multiple applications, Value Teams and Platform components to ensure that these programs stay on target and are effective and deliver business value quickly.
Drive business outcomes by providing focused updates on multiple projects across programs.
Serve as an individual contributor while actively influencing, coaching, and mentoring resources across various projects.
Develop and implement project management strategies that align with organizational goals and objectives.
Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful project delivery.
Collaborate with stakeholders to define project scope, goals, and deliverables.
Facilitate communication and coordination among project teams, ensuring alignment and synergy.
Prepare and present project status reports to senior leadership and stakeholders.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the project management team.
Ensure project costs are well managed and any opportunities to identify efficiencies and cost savings are identified and delivered.
Additionally, this individual will play point across the whole division to consistently review and report on Project status beyond these 1 to 2 very large programs.

Required Education, Experience and skills

Bachelor’s degree in business, Management, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in program/project management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
Proven track record of managing large-scale projects.
Strong understanding of project management methodologies and best practices.
Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to influence, coach, and mentor team members across various projects.
Proficiency in project management software and tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, agile environment

Preferred Experience & Skills

Master's degree in business administration (MBA) or a related field.
PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
Experience with Agile and Lean methodologies.
Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance in the pharmaceutical industry.
Experience in driving business outcomes through strategic project management.
Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

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:

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$169,700.00 - $267,200.00

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

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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.

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Shift

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Required Skills

Animal Vaccination, Cost Management, Disease Prevention, Driving Continuous Improvement, Global Health, Management Process, Management Strategy, Measurement Analysis, Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), Portfolio, Programme, and Project Support, Program Management, Project Delivery, Project Management, Project Management Improvement, Project Scoping, Risk Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Program Management, Team Management, Veterinary Medicine, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills

Leading Project Teams

Job Posting End Date

06/11/2025

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.

Requisition ID:R351258

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, Management, or a related field
Minimum of 10 years of experience in program/project management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
Proven track record of managing large-scale projects
Strong understanding of project management methodologies and best practices
Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
Ability to influence, coach, and mentor team members across various projects
Proficiency in project management software and tools
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, agile environment
Animal Vaccination, Cost Management, Disease Prevention, Driving Continuous Improvement, Global Health, Management Process, Management Strategy, Measurement Analysis, Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), Portfolio, Programme, and Project Support, Program Management, Project Delivery, Project Management, Project Management Improvement, Project Scoping, Risk Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Program Management, Team Management, Veterinary Medicine, Waterfall Model

Benefits

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

Responsibilities

This role offers the opportunity to influence, mentor, and lead cross-functional teams while managing large-scale projects that span multiple divisions and groups
If you thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment and are ready to make a significant impact, we want to hear from you!
Lead and manage 1-2 Very Large programs connected across multiple applications, Value Teams and Platform components to ensure that these programs stay on target and are effective and deliver business value quickly
Drive business outcomes by providing focused updates on multiple projects across programs
Serve as an individual contributor while actively influencing, coaching, and mentoring resources across various projects
Develop and implement project management strategies that align with organizational goals and objectives
Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful project delivery
Collaborate with stakeholders to define project scope, goals, and deliverables
Facilitate communication and coordination among project teams, ensuring alignment and synergy
Prepare and present project status reports to senior leadership and stakeholders
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the project management team
Ensure project costs are well managed and any opportunities to identify efficiencies and cost savings are identified and delivered
Additionally, this individual will play point across the whole division to consistently review and report on Project status beyond these 1 to 2 very large programs
This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely

Program Manager- Large Programs

Job Type