Job Abstract

Job Description

Position Description:

Senior Specialist, Procurement, Analytical Labs

The selected candidate will provide expert procurement support for the Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (DSCS) organization for third party analytical laboratories. This includes strategic sourcing of services and evaluation of suppliers, supply markets and supply chains. 

This role works closely with internal stakeholders in the Analytical R&D in  our Research & Development Division,  Enterprise Quality supporting  our Manufacturing Division , testing, procurement, and the finance organizations to achieve cross-functional business objectives. This role is responsible for negotiating with suppliers, contract execution, and ongoing contract management.

This role will report to the Associate Director to provide high quality strategic analysis of data to drive sourcing decisions and to manage their sub-categories effectively.

Primary Activities

• Sourcing - to create and execute RFIs, RFPs, RFQs together with structured information analysis and using Ariba systems.

• Budget Negotiation - to conduct negotiations with suppliers based on detailed analysis of internal specifications, supplier costs, and internal benchmarks.

• Contract Execution and Management - to prepare, finesse, and implement appropriate forms of contract and commitment with suppliers involving legal counsel and senior management as needed.

• Stakeholder Support - to provide appropriate guidance around budgetary and contractual impacts of decisions/actions as part of a cross-functional team. Appropriately escalate issues and concerns to procurement management and other functional areas such as legal, privacy, compliance, etc.

• Business Partnering - to work closely with scientific and operational stakeholders and to develop successful, long-term, strategic relationships that enable joint achievement of shared organizational objectives

• Supplier Performance Management - to monitor, report, manage, and continuously improve supplier performance as part of a cross-functional team.

• Supplier and Supply Market Analysis – to evaluate suppliers and supply markets based on facts, data, reports, and changes in technology with the objective of providing deep and meaningful insight to Sourcing Management teams.

• Category Team Membership – to be an active member of a category team to influence the development and optimization of ongoing supplier and sourcing strategies.

• Best Practice Sharing – to generate work of a world class quality that is shared and transferred to colleagues throughout procurement. 

Position Qualification:

Education Minimum Requirement:  

• BS/BA preferred. Certification in six sigma desirable. 

• MBA or advanced degree are desirable

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in roles such as, but not limited to, procurement, purchasing, supply chain management, finance, vendor management, operations etc

• Analytical skills in evaluating complex budgets, comparing supplier bids and internal benchmarking data.

• Ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders and suppliers in the context of a challenging clinical trial environment.

• Interpersonal and communication skills. Formal presentations are required.

• Must be adaptable in dealing with ambiguous and complex environments.

• Able to effectively lead work within diverse cross functional teams to achieve client, department, and company goals.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical industry

• Experience in managing supplier interactions in roles such as, but not limited to, business development, project management, contract management, or relationship management.

• Proficiency working in Excel and Ariba

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.

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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”.

Under New York State, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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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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