Manufacturing Data & Analytics Strategy Senior Specialist
Prague - Czech Republic
Job Summary
Job Description
The Manufacturing Data & Analytics Strategy Senior Specialist supports the realization of business value across European Animal Health Manufacturing sites by translating Manufacturing business needs into structured analytics opportunities data requirements and insight-driven initiatives. The role partners with Manufacturing Operations Quality Supply Chain Engineering Digital Technology Data Science site leadership and global product teams to shape prioritize and enable analytics solutions that improve operational performance quality compliance efficiency reliability and continuous improvement.
This role enables the effective use of manufacturing shopfloor and operational data by developing a strong understanding of business processes operational workflows lean principles and manufacturing data flows. The role identifies and shapes high-value analytics opportunities supports demand and portfolio visibility and contributes to project execution across the EU regional site network.
Working with a degree of independence the role investigates Manufacturing business situations involving some complexity and ambiguity applies structured business analysis and requirements management practices and provides constructive challenge to stakeholders where appropriate. The role also supports modernization and capital initiatives by helping define the data required to enable future operations monitoring optimization and decision-making.
The role contributes to the responsible exploration and application of advanced analytics and AI-enabled capabilities to enhance insight generation from Manufacturing data while ensuring alignment with enterprise standards data governance compliance requirements and responsible AI principles.
You will be a member of our Global Animal Health Manufacturing IT team based at our Tech Center in Prague and will work closely with EU Animal Health Manufacturing sites global product teams local Digital Manufacturing Operations teams platform groups IT hubs business partners and vendors.
The key responsibilities of the role will include the following:
Manufacturing Business Engagement & Strategy Support
Translate Manufacturing business questions across EU AH sites into structured analytical problem statements with focus areas including performance quality throughput cost compliance reliability and operational efficiency
Build understanding of Manufacturing business processes shopfloor operations data flows and lean principles to identify high-value analytics opportunities that support continuous improvement and operational excellence
Contribute to Manufacturing analytics strategy and planning by developing insights recommendations and supporting materials for regional and site stakeholders
Support Manufacturing capital and modernization initiatives by helping define data requirements needed to enable future operations monitoring optimization performance management and decision-making
Stakeholder Relationships & Regional Collaboration
Develop and enhance relationships with Manufacturing Operations Quality Engineering Supply Chain Digital Technology Data Science site leadership vendors and global product teams
Implement stakeholder engagement and communication plans ensuring stakeholders understand analytics priorities timelines dependencies risks and decision points
Manage stakeholder issues corrective actions lessons learned and feedback to improve engagement effectiveness and ways of working
Promote cross-site collaboration reusable analytics assets best practices and alignment with regional global and One-IT objectives
Demand Project & Portfolio Management
Implement demand management analysis and planning for Manufacturing analytics opportunities across EU AH sites
Maintain visibility of business requests initiative status priorities dependencies risks issues and expected business outcomes
Work with business and technical partners to clarify demand assess value route requests appropriately and support short- and medium-term prioritization decisions
Support project and portfolio management activities by tracking scope milestones deliverables dependencies risks issues and value realization
Contribute data-driven inputs to backlog discussions prioritization forums and portfolio reviews for Manufacturing analytics initiatives
Business Analysis & Requirements Management
Investigate Manufacturing business situations involving some complexity and ambiguity applying a holistic view to identify problems root causes opportunities and improvement areas
Define and manage scoping requirements definition and prioritization activities for small-scale changes while assisting with more complex change initiatives
Elicit document review prioritize and trace requirements using agreed standards and appropriate techniques
Provide constructive challenge to stakeholders to clarify needs address gaps and ensure requirements are complete accurate feasible and aligned to business objectives
Manage authorized changes to baselined requirements in line with change management policies and processes
Manufacturing Data Analytics & AI-Enabled Insight Generation
Assess Manufacturing business problems and available datasets to determine the usefulness of analytics data science and AI-enabled approaches
Select integrate and analyze relevant Manufacturing data to support insight generation and decision-making
Apply appropriate analytics and data science techniques tools and specialized programming languages where relevant
Develop data hypotheses evaluate analytical methods or models and advise on the effectiveness of specific techniques based on findings
Contribute to the development evaluation monitoring and deployment of analytics and data science solutions
Support the responsible exploration and application of AI-enabled analytics tools including automated insights advanced analytics and natural language interfaces
Ensure responsible ethical compliant and governed use of Manufacturing data and AI in line with enterprise standards policies and governance requirements
Innovation Continuous Improvement & Solution Evaluation
Manage and support the Manufacturing analytics innovation pipeline by identifying shaping and progressing opportunities from idea through evaluation and execution
Develop and adapt tools processes and ways of working that improve the flow of analytics ideas and support innovation across Manufacturing sites
Encourage Manufacturing analytics and technology communities to share ideas lessons learned and improvement opportunities
Support evaluation of analytics tools platforms vendors and third-party solutions where required
Contribute to business cases solution assessments expected benefits evaluation criteria and sourcing/procurement inputs in collaboration with business technology and procurement stakeholders
Requirements
Bachelors degree in business analytics information systems engineering data science manufacturing or related discipline or equivalent experience
35 years of experience in analytics business analysis manufacturing operations digital manufacturing consulting project management or data-driven roles
Experience working with Manufacturing Operations Quality Supply Chain Engineering or related operational business domains
Strong understanding of business analysis requirements management stakeholder engagement demand management project/portfolio management and structured problem-solving techniques
Ability to investigate business situations with some complexity and ambiguity conduct root cause analysis and recommend improvements
Experience supporting prioritization demand planning portfolio reviews and decision-making across business and technical teams
Exposure to manufacturing data shopfloor systems operational metrics lean manufacturing continuous improvement or production performance management
Working knowledge of analytics business intelligence data science AI-enabled tools and responsible data use practices
Ability to assess data and analytics opportunities evaluate fit-for-purpose analytical approaches and communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Strong communication collaboration and influencing skills across functions sites geographies and cultures
Ability to provide constructive challenge to stakeholders while maintaining effective relationships
Understanding of data governance quality compliance privacy security and risk considerations
Nice to Haves
Experience supporting analytics initiatives across multiple manufacturing sites or regional/global manufacturing networks
Exposure to Animal Health pharmaceutical biopharmaceutical medical device or regulated manufacturing environments
Familiarity with manufacturing systems and data sources such as MES ERP LIMS automation systems historians quality systems maintenance systems or operational reporting platforms
Experience with visualization reporting analytics or project/portfolio management tools
Exposure to data science techniques machine learning AI-assisted analytics or advanced analytics in Manufacturing contexts
Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement operational excellence or production system methodologies
Experience contributing to business cases vendor evaluations solution assessments sourcing/procurement activities capital projects digital manufacturing modernization or Industry 4.0 initiatives
What We Offer
Exciting work in a great team global projects international environment
Opportunity to learn and grow professionally within the company globally
Hybrid working model flexible role pattern
Pension and health (Canadian Medical) contributions
Internal reward system plus referral program
5 weeks annual leave 5 sick days 15 days of certified sick leave paid above statutory requirements annually 40 paid hours annually for volunteering activities 12 weeks of parental contribution
Cafeteria for tax free benefits according to your choice (meal vouchers sport culture health travel etc.) Multisport card Vodafone Raiffeisen Bank and Foodora discount programs
Up-to-date laptop and iPhone parking in the garage showers refreshments
Competitive salary incentive pay and many more
Ready to take up the challenge Apply now!
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The date shown below is the earliest possible closing date for this posting. However we sometimes extend the job posting period as needed so please feel free to apply anytime you see the Apply button may also reach out to the recruiter directly via Skills:
Animal Health Care Animal Health Care Artificial Intelligence (AI) Biopharmaceutical Industry Business Intelligence (BI) Capital Projects Collaboration Communication Continuous Improvement Data Analysis Data Compliance Data Governance Data Privacy Data Reporting Data Science Data Visualization Demand Planning Digital Manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) IT Business Analysis IT Modernization IT Sourcing Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Lean Manufacturing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) 13 morePreferred Skills:
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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:
RegularRelocation:
No relocationVISA Sponsorship:
YesTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
N/AJob Posting End Date:
05/26/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more