Assoc. Dir., Discovery and Translational Portfolio Management (Hybrid)
MSD, Rahway, NJ, United States
Job Description
Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) sits in the R&D organization at our company's (Research Laboratories). The Project, Portfolio, and Alliance Managers in GPAM are core members of discovery, development, and alliance teams at our company. Project and Portfolio Managers drive these cross‑functional teams to deliver projects and products that improve human health and our company's business, and Alliance Managers ensure successful collaborations with our R&D alliance partners.
Position Description/Summary The Associate Director, Discovery & Translational Portfolio Management, is a core functional area member of Project and Leadership teams in Discovery and Early Development. Partnering with therapeutic area and functional area leadership, the Associate Director will help plan and execute our company's discovery, translational biomarker, early development, and in‑line portfolio efforts. Portfolio managers are seen as strategic partners to the Functional Leads and/or Therapeutic Area (TA) Leads and Governance Committee Chairs and may manage multiple cross‑functional and/or cross‑divisional committees. They are also expected to contribute to ongoing business process improvement and talent development in GPAM.
Core responsibilities
Understands, synthesizes, and aligns biomarker and translational needs across Discovery and Development portfolios, including anticipated timing, in partnership with the Translational biomarker leads and cross‑functional stakeholders
Works with Translational, Biomarker, and cross‑functional partners within a matrixed environment to ensure strategy is supported by executable plans, appropriate timelines, and realistic assumptions.
Maintains accurate portfolio data in enterprise databases.
Summarizes portfolio metrics, issues and documents/presentations for senior management/governance committees to inform decision‑making, with a focus on strategy and execution of Translational work.
Provides our company's organizational and process expertise to teams to enable navigation of discovery, development, and corporate governance and business requirements.
Collaborates effectively with functional areas, support functions, and alliance partner functions (if applicable) to facilitate project/portfolio delivery.
Manages strategic, cross‑functional or cross‑divisional management, governance, or alliance committees
Prepares for, facilitates, and documents outcomes of leadership team meetings, ensuring meetings have clear purpose and objectives and that conflict is surfaced and resolved.
Proactively identifies and helps address opportunities for process improvement in translational biomarker workflows, tools, and systems
Provides mentoring, coaching, and oversight to Specialist/Senior Specialist project/Portfolio Managers working on common projects
Actively participates and completes ongoing training and personal development activities to increase leadership competency and to gain knowledge and skill in the discipline of project/portfolio management and the business and science of pharmaceutical product discovery and development and associated translational activities.
Partners with Finance to ensure resource/budget planning and management.
Education, Experience, and Skill Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in a scientific or applied discipline strongly preferred
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in project or portfolio management or a related role required.
Demonstrated leadership and ethics; demonstrated ability to hold others accountable for delivery
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team setting, including demonstrated experience building and leading teams, committees, task forces, etc.
Strong collaboration and problem‑solving skills; able to establish effective working relationships with employees at all levels, resolve conflict and provide feedback, and to devise and implement creative solutions to problems
Strong communication skills, both oral and written; demonstrated ability to speak up appropriately and to raise issues to teams and management
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree preferred (MS, PhD, MBA)
Experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry strongly preferred, specifically in the phases of discovery, preclinical and/or early development.
Project management certification (PMP), Portfolio management certification (PMP) and/or formal coursework/training in project or portfolio management
Travel
Yes, 5‑10% of the time
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”.
Compensation The salary range for this role is
$142,400.00 - $224,100.00
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 an annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.
Benefits 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 .
How to Apply 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity 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
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
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 04/5/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59 PM 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.
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Position Description/Summary The Associate Director, Discovery & Translational Portfolio Management, is a core functional area member of Project and Leadership teams in Discovery and Early Development. Partnering with therapeutic area and functional area leadership, the Associate Director will help plan and execute our company's discovery, translational biomarker, early development, and in‑line portfolio efforts. Portfolio managers are seen as strategic partners to the Functional Leads and/or Therapeutic Area (TA) Leads and Governance Committee Chairs and may manage multiple cross‑functional and/or cross‑divisional committees. They are also expected to contribute to ongoing business process improvement and talent development in GPAM.
Core responsibilities
Understands, synthesizes, and aligns biomarker and translational needs across Discovery and Development portfolios, including anticipated timing, in partnership with the Translational biomarker leads and cross‑functional stakeholders
Works with Translational, Biomarker, and cross‑functional partners within a matrixed environment to ensure strategy is supported by executable plans, appropriate timelines, and realistic assumptions.
Maintains accurate portfolio data in enterprise databases.
Summarizes portfolio metrics, issues and documents/presentations for senior management/governance committees to inform decision‑making, with a focus on strategy and execution of Translational work.
Provides our company's organizational and process expertise to teams to enable navigation of discovery, development, and corporate governance and business requirements.
Collaborates effectively with functional areas, support functions, and alliance partner functions (if applicable) to facilitate project/portfolio delivery.
Manages strategic, cross‑functional or cross‑divisional management, governance, or alliance committees
Prepares for, facilitates, and documents outcomes of leadership team meetings, ensuring meetings have clear purpose and objectives and that conflict is surfaced and resolved.
Proactively identifies and helps address opportunities for process improvement in translational biomarker workflows, tools, and systems
Provides mentoring, coaching, and oversight to Specialist/Senior Specialist project/Portfolio Managers working on common projects
Actively participates and completes ongoing training and personal development activities to increase leadership competency and to gain knowledge and skill in the discipline of project/portfolio management and the business and science of pharmaceutical product discovery and development and associated translational activities.
Partners with Finance to ensure resource/budget planning and management.
Education, Experience, and Skill Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in a scientific or applied discipline strongly preferred
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in project or portfolio management or a related role required.
Demonstrated leadership and ethics; demonstrated ability to hold others accountable for delivery
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team setting, including demonstrated experience building and leading teams, committees, task forces, etc.
Strong collaboration and problem‑solving skills; able to establish effective working relationships with employees at all levels, resolve conflict and provide feedback, and to devise and implement creative solutions to problems
Strong communication skills, both oral and written; demonstrated ability to speak up appropriately and to raise issues to teams and management
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree preferred (MS, PhD, MBA)
Experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry strongly preferred, specifically in the phases of discovery, preclinical and/or early development.
Project management certification (PMP), Portfolio management certification (PMP) and/or formal coursework/training in project or portfolio management
Travel
Yes, 5‑10% of the time
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”.
Compensation The salary range for this role is
$142,400.00 - $224,100.00
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 an annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.
Benefits 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 .
How to Apply 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity 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
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
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 04/5/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59 PM 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr