Job Description
Description
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled global category manager to join our HR Services Procurement team as an Associate Director. As a member of Corporate Site Services Procurement, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the sourcing strategy for our US Employee Benefits programs. You will be part of a collaborative team dedicated to ensuring the effective acquisition of critical HR services that support our company's mission to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines worldwide.
You will work in a cross-functional team and work closely with HR Compensation & Benefits, HR Operations, and business leaders to source, manage and contract key supplier relationships such as our employee health and wellness suppliers, disability, occupational health, benefits consultants and benefits programs that share synergies with global programs. Your expertise will help drive cost efficiencies, mitigate risks, and foster innovation through strategic sourcing and supplier management.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence HR procurement practices, while working with a diverse team of procurement professionals across multiple countries. If you thrive in a complex, global setting and are passionate about making a meaningful impact through strategic procurement, this is the role for you.
Responsibilities
Lead Category Strategy: Develop multi-year plans leveraging market trends and business needs to drive innovation and value.
Manage Sourcing Process: Guide cross-functional teams through sourcing events, vendor selection, negotiation, and contracting.
Negotiate & Manage Contracts: Lead complex negotiations and manage agreements to reduce risk and maximize value.
Supplier Relationship Management: Build strong partnerships with suppliers, track performance, and foster innovation.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or related field.
7+ years in global procurement, strategic sourcing, or related business management roles.
Proven success in developing strategies that deliver cost savings and operational improvements.
Experience managing supplier relationships and governance across multiple stakeholders.
Skills
Expertise in indirect procurement and global category management, preferably in HR or professional services.
Customer-focused service: Prioritizes customers' needs and delivers service that satisfies both the customer and the organization.
Business awareness: Understands company operations, finance, and the industry to improve team and organizational results.
Collaboration & relationship building: Builds and leverages cross-team relationships to achieve shared goals.
Proactive execution: Acts quickly, meets compliance standards, and goes beyond basic requirements to get results.
Required Skills:
Adaptability, Adaptability, Business Functions, Category Strategy, Client-Centric, Commercial Contract Negotiations, Data Analytics, Driving Continuous Improvement, Establishing Contacts, Event Sourcing, Inventory Control Management, Logistics, Logistics Management, Market Trends, Negotiation, Outsourcing Management, Procurement, Production Planning, Relationship Building, Risk Management, Stakeholder Negotiations, Strategic Procurement, Strategic Procurement Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Strategic Thinking {+ 4 more}
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$6687.htmld)
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$4020.htmld)
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 (https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL) 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 (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\EEOC\KnowYourRights\10\20.pdf)
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 (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/)
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
$126,500.00 - $199,100.00
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 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:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
10/18/2025
*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: R369071
