Job Abstract

Job Description

Position Description:

Strategic Product Leader

The Strategic Product Leader (SPL) is the architect of the Value Chain and responsible for; 1) product-based strategy, 2) supply chain end-to-end continuous improvement, and 3) product Integrated Risk Management.  

The SPL will lead the cross functional Value Chain Management Team (VCMT) for one or more vaccine products, to develop and maintain a multi-year product strategy, prioritize key investments across the vaccines supply chain, assure key project execution, and drive year on year attainment of brand operating metrics.

The scope of the product supply strategy overseen by the SPL includes: product sourcing, network capacity and supply assurance, major market launches, physical product enhancements, process and method technical changes, robustness/quality and productivity projects, business continuity and Integrated Risk Management.

The SPL will partner with the Global Brand Team and Product Development Team (PDT) leaders to ensure collective alignment to execute on the top priorities at the enterprise level. In this context the SPL will ensure that value, constraints, costs, and risks are clear and appropriately factored into decision making and aligned enterprise level product lifecycle planning.

Additionally, the SPL will lead the VCMT to serve as a network level escalation team, to manage issues and risks escalated from sites and functions that require network level responses and communications. The SPL will be accountable to drive decisions in an efficient and effective way through appropriate governance channels, and represent the brand performance and agenda, priorities, and performance with senior level stakeholders across Global Vaccines Operations (GVO) and  our Manufacturing Division . As VCMT leader, the SPL will be responsible for setting horizontal objectives for team members, coaching and managing, and partnering with functional line.

This is a highly integrative position, and it requires strong vaccines operations and technical knowledge as well as very strong leadership skills to create the vision that guides and inspires the team and stakeholders.  The role also requires strong talent management and team building skills as well as exceptional strength in communications. 

This position carries the responsibility for product portfolios that can represent several billion dollars of revenue for our Company.       

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Required: 

  • BA/BS in Engineering or Science

• Preferred: 

  • Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt

  • Master’s Degree with a minimum of ten (10) years relevant work experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• In-depth and wide breadth of experience in Vaccines Operations

• Broad cross functional skills and business/management experience

• Knowledge of the functions that support the business including: Manufacturing Operations, Finance, Regulatory, Quality, Compliance, Supply Chain and Commercial Operations

• Strategic thinking and ability to assimilate highly complicated and multi-factored inputs into an integrated strategy that clearly links to business objectives

• Demonstrated ability to make timely decisions and influence direction in ambiguous situations

• Horizontal and vertical leadership skills that enable maximizing both the individual contributor and cross-functional team accomplishments. Foundational to this is a strong business acumen, assertiveness, ability to persuade and influence decisions along with driving accountability through measured accomplishments

• Proactive mindset and ability to look outside the assigned role with an eagerness to identify and engage in opportunities to improve value chains and related business processes within the organization

• Cross functional/cross divisional project management with geographically diverse teams driving high impact results and influencing processes along with behaviors

• Demonstrated mindset of viewing new experiences as learning opportunities that strengthen leadership capabilities and the ability to guide others

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Lean Six Sigma Certification

• International/Global experience

• Multi-sector industry experience

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

Current Employees apply HERE

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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, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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”.

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. 

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