Senior Sourcing Operations Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Sourcing Operations Specialist within the Discovery Operations group of our Company's Research & Development Division. This individual contributor, with minimal supervision, will take the lead in managing invitro biology projects with external partners for Discovery Sciences. This cross-functional position will involve working with scientific stakeholders to define project deliverables and workplans for various biology disciplines (oncology, neuroscience, dysmetabolic and immunology across large | small molecule development), developing and managing the biological partner base, collecting metrics on performance, tracking budgets, improving partner level of service as well as developing, managing, improving and troubleshooting operational issues with our external suppliers.

Primary Responsibilities

Technical

• Extensive in vitro background related to exploratory cell and in vitro sciences, biological reagent generation (cell lines, proteins/antibodies, etc.) and/or molecular biology
• Big picture working knowledge of drug discovery and development

Project Management

• Obtains quotes, drafts workplans, manages outsourcing with a project management and customer service mindset
• Actively participates in Supplier Management Process teams, in partnership with scientific stakeholders, capability leads, Finance & Research Procurement to identify external partner requirements
• Exhibits strong leadership skills to drive governance teams and align organizational needs across the functional network with partner sourcing strategies
• Identifies challenges proactively and focuses on workflow improvements to enhance our efficiency, capabilities or quality with external partners
• Facilitates troubleshooting and resolution of operational and non-technical aspects of projects, or defines and engages appropriate network resources to address issues with minimal supervision

Partner Relationship Management

• Responsible for understanding the scientific and technical capabilities available at our Company's partners across multiple disciplines, leveraging them to provide increased levels of service
• Issues purchase orders for biological services with best in class customer service; interacts with business stakeholders at vendor and in-house finance, compliance, shipping logistics, procurement, accounts payable and business contracting to manage outsourcing activities reliably
• Relies on a strong business acumen to serve as partner relationship manager to ensure success of multiple projects and programs running with the partner, while adapting, strengthening and broadening the collaboration where useful
• Ensures partner(s) understands and is prepared to meet company expectations based on project workplans and master service agreements | Coordinates meetings and communications externally to ensure all project requirements (timeline, budget and scientific) are met | Accountable for monitoring partner performance metrics
• Participates in external vendor audits and due diligence assessments

Strategic Communication

• Serves as primary point of contact for communications with a network of strategic and preferred CROs in addition to company stakeholders
• With Scientific Capability Leads/Company Scientists, creates clear and concise workplans based on scientific, operational and business requirements that accurately reflect stakeholder's needs and communicates them to vendors
• Supports capacity and new capability planning, implementation and vendor performance coaching using recurrent meetings, email communications and metrics-driven formal reviews
• Responsible for maintaining internal records on progress of projects and keeping internal stakeholders up to date on progress

Budget | Ordering Management

• Relies on a strong business acumen and maintains close collaboration with finance colleagues to ensure accurate budgeting/forecasting and actuals reporting while providing holistic outsourcing business analytics to stakeholders
• Ensures good stewardship of company resources confirming that payment is made only on goods and services that meet quality and turnaround time requirements
• Ensures quotes include appropriate payment milestones and timeline specifications

Education Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Biology or related disciplines

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum five years in a scientific research environment (with preference to industrial environment)
• Strategic and effective communication, interpersonal and computer skills
• Exploratory cell and invitro sciences (e.g. reagent production, cell generation, protein/antibody production)

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Generation of purchase orders and invoicing payment management
• Budget management/finance
• Vendor management
• Project Management Certification (PMP, CPM)
• Process improvement

We are a research-driven biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is built on the simple premise that if we “follow the science” that great medicines can make a significant impact to our world. We believe that a research-driven enterprise dedicated to world-class science can succeed by inventing medicine and vaccine innovations that make a difference for patients across the globe.

Who we are ...

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for ...

In a world of rapid innovation, we seek brave Inventors who want to make an Impact in all aspects of our business, enabling breakthroughs that will affect generations to come. We encourage you to bring your disruptive thinking, collaborative spirit and diverse perspective to our organization. Together we will continue Inventing For Life, Impacting Lives while Inspiring Your Career Growth.

Invent. Impact. Inspire.

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.

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Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Kenilworth, 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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Number of Openings:

Requisition ID:R92014