Director, Value Chain Management Product Leader

Job Description

Value Chain Management (VCM) is the accountable organization for our company's Manufacturing Division product supply chain strategy in alignment with Global Human Health brand/franchise commercial goals.

The Small Molecule VCM Product Leader (PL) is the end-to-end (E2E) supply chain lead responsible for developing and executing product supply strategies for one or more products. The VCM Product Leader will be responsible for supply chain design, global filing and launch strategy, long-range demand vs capacity planning, integrated risk management, cost of goods projections, post approval change management and lifecycle strategies for their product(s). As a result, VCM Product Leaders have direct impact on cost, quality, customer service, and compliance which ultimately affects access, continuity of supply, and commercial outcomes.

The VCM Product Leader will lead the cross-functional Supply Chain Working Group (SCWG) for pipeline products or Value Chain Management Team (VCMT) for commercial products to develop and maintain a multi-year product strategy, prioritize key investments across the product supply chain, assure key project execution, and drive year on year attainment of brand operating metrics. The VCM PL will partner with the Product Development Team (PDT), Development and Commercialization Team (DCT), and Global Brand Team leaders to ensure collective alignment to execute on the top priorities at the enterprise level. In this context the VCM PL will ensure that value, constraints, costs, and risks are clear and appropriately factored into decision making and aligned enterprise level product lifecycle planning and manufacturing network optimization.

Additionally, the VCM PL will lead the SCWG/ VCMT to serve as a network level escalation team, to manage issues and risks escalated from sites and functions that require network level responses and communications. The VCM PL will be accountable to drive decisions in an efficient and effective way through appropriate governance channels, and represent the brand performance and agenda, priorities, and performance with senior level stakeholders for Small Molecule products across Global Pharmaceutical Operations (GPO) and the Manufacturing Organization. As the VCMT leader, the VCM PL will be responsible for setting horizontal objectives for team members, coaching, managing, and partnering with functional line.

This is a highly integrative position, and it requires strong operations, technical knowledge and leadership skills to create the vision that guides and inspires the team and stakeholders. The role also requires strong talent management and team building skills as well as exceptional strength in communications.

Position can be located in Europe or United States

Primary Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead cross functional teams for pipeline and commercial products.
• Lead supply chain design and value stream mapping.
• Gain alignment and endorsement for supply chain strategic elements through senior stakeholder management and appropriate executive governance forums.
• Develop and maintain product supply chain lifecycle strategies through Product Master Plans (PMP), and GPO Network Orchestration including: product enhancements, cross-product considerations, process and method technical changes, robustness/quality/ productivity projects.
• Manage product supply risk through Integrated Risk Management (IRM) and Business Continuity Planning (BCP), including identification & prioritization of mitigation strategies.
• Lead Global Filing and Launch (GFLS) strategy development to gain cross-divisional alignment on scope and timing.
• Develop and maintain Cost of Goods projections through the product lifecycle.
• Support network strategies driven by long term pipeline evolution, and support associated cross-functional teams implementing manufacturing network expansion.
• Manage the interface with GHH on the global long-range demand forecast and engage with VCM Operations Research COE on the development and maintenance of supply models and conducting scenario analysis in response to evolving global demand dynamics.
• Engage in resolution of global product supply disruptions where long-term strategic supply chain alternatives need to be established.

Education:

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Supply Chain Management or related field.
• Preferred: Master's degree or higher in related discipline

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience
• Strong background across manufacturing operations, technology, quality, and supply chain.
• Proven ability to lead global, cross-functional teams through complex strategy/ project development and execution.
• Knowledge of business functions including Technology, Manufacturing Operations, Finance, Regulatory, Quality, Compliance, Supply Chain and Commercial.
• Understanding of product development lifecycle and integration of CMC and clinical strategy and ability to engage to ensure product is positioned to reliably launch with appropriate robustness and quality.
• Ability to design and optimize product supply chains to deliver on necessary capacity, cost, and performance as measured by targeted KPIs (lead time, inventory, COGs etc.), preferably supported through lean six sigma certification.
• Strategic thinking and ability to assimilate highly complicated and multi-factored inputs into an integrated strategy that clearly links to business objectives and enterprise priorities.
• Horizontal and vertical leadership skills that enable maximizing both the individual contributor and cross-functional team accomplishments.
• Strong business acumen including understanding of financial product and network management as applied to key business processes such as business case/NPV analysis, product COGS interrogation, risk management and financial stewardship.
• Ability to understand product commercial strategy to inform supply strategy.
• Assertiveness and ability to persuade and influence decisions along with driving accountability through measured accomplishments
• Demonstrated ability to make timely decisions and influence direction in ambiguous situations.
• Proactive mindset and ability to look outside the assigned role with an eagerness to identify potential risks and engage in opportunities to improve value chains and related business processes.
• Proficiency in project and portfolio management tools and techniques.
• Strong data analysis skills with competence in analyzing diverse data sets and translating to drive business decision making.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to organize complex information in a concise and compelling manner, and present clear and informed recommendations to influence cross functional areas and executive leadership.

Required Skills:
Adaptability, Business Continuity, Clinical Supply Chain Management, Commercial Strategies, Communication, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Cross-Functional Communications, Customer-Focused, Data Analysis, Driving Continuous Improvement, Financial Risk Management (FRM), Inventory Control Management, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Leadership, Proactive Approach, Production Planning, Product Lifecycle, Product Risk Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking, Supply Chain Analytics, Supply Chain Metrics, Supply Change Management, Vendor Selection

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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 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:

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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

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
$169,700.00 - $267,200.00

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:
10/22/2025
*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:R368014