Associate Director - Creative Procurement Job at Merck in Rahway

Associate Director - Creative Procurement

This role is responsible for regional category management and sourcing leadership of Creative, Digital Production & Publishing, and Medical Education within Marketing Procurement, focused on a global mindset through collaboration with Human Health business partners as well as regional and local sourcing professionals in a matrix organization.

The candidate will work with regional and local teams to support development and implementation of a sourcing strategy at a global level, leveraging a Supply Strategy Council framework, while leading key initiatives.

In addition, the candidate will be responsible for establishing and leading cross‑functional teams through the sourcing process and to provide strategy oversight for regional and local components of the category. Day‑to‑day responsibilities include identifying and managing key priorities: value creation, service delivery, foster innovation & digitalisation & corporate social environmental responsibility. This individual requires a service mindset.

In addition, this role is responsible and accountable for sustaining existing and developing new cooperation frameworks across three stakeholder groups:

• With Procurement Colleagues: Participates/leads teams of global, regional & local representatives to develop and implement strategic source plans as well as to ensure alignment on key initiatives and priorities for broader Marketing services categories. Act as a member of the team willing to carry out the mission and ensure that input from all members is taken into consideration.
• With Business Partners: Identifies and engages with critical stakeholders and partners to define and meet or exceed business requirements and identify and manage profit plan savings targets. Understands strategic business requirements at 1, 3 & 5 year horizon. Acts as a trusted advisor to a wide range of business partners in the Marketing organization with a keen ear for needs and wants, and the ability to influence and guide strategic decision making, but also the courage to appropriately challenge the status quo.
• With Suppliers: Responsible for building relationships with Global, International and Enterprise suppliers and managing key supplier performance against business requirements using proven processes; ensures adequate inclusion of diversity suppliers in RFPs and contracts as applicable. Supports major regional supplier relationships. Acts as a representative of the Corporation with a relentless drive to ensure our Company is using Supplier’s core competencies, provides a fair opportunity for sustainable growth, and optimises the spend.

Key Activities

Strategy Creation

Target: Definition and planning of high‑level objectives targeted to long‑term results that will impact the way our Company views and purchases this category. This is the "big picture" creation and it entails active engagement with senior stakeholders as well as critical members of the business in the category during the course of Sourcing Management Process.

Typical Activities: Meetings with stakeholders to discuss Sourcing Management Process strategic tools; participation in workshops and meetings during Sourcing Management Process; dialogue and meetings with Global Procurement in connection with Target; participation in Market Intelligence activities in connection with Target; data gathering and analysis in connection with Target; other activities that contribute to fundamentally change or effect the status quo in pursuit of a long‑term competitive advantage for our Company.

Strategy Execution

Target: Implementation of tactical plans or projects directly linked to a strategy created during the course of Sourcing.

Typical Activities: Development, rollout and execution of RFIs/RFPs pursuant to supplier selection aligned with strategic goals; process re‑engineering in cooperation with the business pursuant to modify or create processes in connection with strategic goals; dialogue and meetings with Global Procurement in connection with execution of strategic goals; other activities directly linked with execution of strategic goals.

Operations

Target: Drive ongoing procurement activities pursuant to transactions and projects not in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategy creation/​execution. This is the "keep the lights on" and is normally driven by daily/weekly requests from the business and procurement.

Typical Activities: Contract review/negotiations; PO issue resolution; creation of new vendors; supplier issue resolution; technology/process execution; dialogues and meetings with Global Procurement in connection with supplier and stakeholder resolution; data gathering and analysis leading to short/medium term insights not in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategy creation/​execution; all transactions not in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategy creation/​execution which ensure sustainability of the procurement function.

Supplier Relationship Management

Target: Design, planning and implementation of actions and projects in connection with Sourcing Management Process or strategic goals to develop, improve, sustain or reposition our Company’s relationship with critical/strategic suppliers.

Typical Activities: Development/participation in supplier forums, congresses or market organizations; dialogues and meetings with business partners and suppliers in connection with Target; review, analysis and negotiation of contracts pursuant to Target; data gathering/analysis pursuant to generation of insights in connection with Target.

Our Company’s Leadership Standards Applicable To The Role

• Make Rapid, Disciplined Decisions - Make timely decisions at the right level with the right data and support them once made.
• Act with Courage & Candor - Speak openly, honestly and with conviction: have the courage to take appropriate risks and make difficult decisions.
• Demonstrate Ethics & Integrity - Adhere to the highest standards of trustworthy and ethical behaviour in all interactions and hold others to the same standards; comply with all laws, policies, and regulations; identify and address ethical issues without hesitation.
• Foster Collaboration - Actively listen and seek to understand differing perspectives; work together to achieve the common goals of our Company.
• Drive Results - Set clear performance standards; overcome obstacles; hold we and others accountable for achieving results.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, procurement, business administration.

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 5 years in strategic procurement, creative agency procurement, marketing or related role.
• Must have strong experience in digital production and publication working with various operational and commercial models.
• Strong analytical skills.
• In‑depth subject‑matter expertise in the creative and production agencies or sourcing field and current in industry trends and best practices.
• Proven success in developing and executing global or regional creative sourcing strategies.
• Strong communications and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Proven ability to collaborate with a wide variety of individuals, including senior management, stakeholders, team members, other departments and suppliers.
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Negotiating with creative/digital/marketing agencies of record.
• Advanced Microsoft Office suite experience.
• Knowledge of Decideware.
• Knowledge of procurement sourcing tools.
• Knowledge of analytic dashboards.

Required Skills (Job Skills)

Business Decisions, Business Decisions, Clinical Supply Chain Management, Commercial Contract Negotiations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Cost Reduction, Creative Sourcing, Driving Continuous Improvement, Ethical Practices, Global Mindset, Inventory Control Management, Logistics, Logistics Management, Management Process, Manufacturing Sourcing, Negotiation, Operational Procurement, People Leadership, Procurement, Production Planning, Project Procurement Management, Strategic Procurement, Strategic Procurement Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Improvement {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Job Posting Open

We are committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. 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. 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, and Learn more under California, Colorado and other U.S. State Acts.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $126,500.00 - $199,100.00.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including 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.

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, with Friday designated as a remote‑working day, unless business critical tasks require an on‑site presence.

Location Specific Requirements

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.

Job Posting End Date

Job Posting End Date: 11/11/2025.