Associate Director, Outside Counsel & Vendor Management

Job Description

The Legal Operations Innovation & Technology teams responsibilities include financial management program law firm management legal records and information management legal technology strategy learning and development initiatives and increasing overall operational effectiveness.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Associate Director of Outside Counsel and Vendor Management to join our Legal Operations team. In this role you will be responsible for overseeing the effective management of outside counsel and legal vendors ensuring alignment with our strategic goals and optimizing performance and costs. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in legal operations vendor management and a deep understanding of legal procurement processes. This role requires excellent analytical negotiation and communication skills.

This role will report directly to the Chief of Staff to the General Counsel & Executive Director Legal Operations Innovation & Technology and will be based in Rahway NJ. This position will work closely with and oversee the companys eBilling Administrator.

Law Firm and Legal Vendor Management:

• Ensure excellence in managing legal service providers including vendor onboarding rate approvals enforcement of billing guidelines and serving as the primary contact for related inquiries.

• Administer the companys preferred law firm program leading RFP projects managing timelines preparing reports and analyzing data creating presentations and coordinating deliverables.

• Respond to inquiries from internal teams and provide training on vendor management and e-billing systems.

• Assist in firm rate negotiations matter budgeting and billing issues.

• Foster strong relationships with cross-functional partners to enhance operational effectiveness.

• Advocate for technology solutions to improve efficiency and reduce legal costs.

• Help document legal processes/procedures to keep our internal knowledge management portal updated.

• Keep abreast of market trends alternative fee arrangements and best practices.

Legal Services Spend Reporting and Analytics:

• Manage legal spend reporting and analysis including maintaining and enhancing PowerBI dashboards.

• Analyze spending patterns to identify cost-saving opportunities and assist with cost containment.

• Present findings and make recommendations as needed.

eBilling Oversight and Support:

• Oversee the eBilling function ensuring compliance with policies financial practices and SOX requirements.

• Provide support and training for legal staff and outside counsel on the eBilling system and developing resources for new users.

• Implement solutions to streamline billing practices.

• Serve as a backup to the eBilling Administrator for the TyMetrix 360 (T360) system.

Other:

• Coordinate and track Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programming including scheduling communications and logistics.

• Coordinate Comet/SAP roles for the OGC and manage end-user support and role recertification processes.

• Collaborate with the Legal Operations team on program improvements and overall department strategy.

• Assists with industry benchmarking survey responses.

• Provide support on integration activities.

Education

• Bachelors degree required

Required experience and Skills

• 7 years of experience working in a large corporate legal department focusing on e-Billing operations or law firm equivalent (pricing analytics project management etc.)

• Demonstrated track record of running and managing e-Billing systems (e.g. T360 Legal Tracker SimpleLegal etc.)

• Experience with advanced data functions (pivots vlookups etc.)

• Strong analytical skills to interpret data sets and make informed recommendations.

• Advanced proficiency in MS Word Outlook PowerPoint and SharePoint as well as eBilling/Matter management systems

• Proficiency in data analytics tools (e.g. MS Excel Power BI Tableau Cognos) and report automation preferred.

• Project management experience leading large-scale projects ideally in a legal department or firm.

• Knowledge of corporate finance and budgeting practices.

• Strong communication skills and ability to partner effectively at the executive level.

• Flexibility to navigate uncertainty and manage competing priorities.

• Self-motivated independent and resourceful.

• Strong leadership skills with a proactive approach to innovation and problem-solving.

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 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 anothers 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 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 Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors which may include but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidates relevant skills experience and education.

Expected US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility long term incentive if applicable health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family) retirement benefits paid holidays vacation and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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: