Director, Clin. Operations Project Management Office (Hybrid)
Rahway, NJ - USA
Job Summary
Job Description
The Director Project Management Office (PMO) reports to the Head of Global Data Management & Standards (GDMS) Business Operations and is responsible for leading the governance and oversight of the GDMS portfolio of strategic projects ensuring initiatives are prioritized and planned in alignment with organizational goals and executed with discipline and transparency. The role is accountable for defining maintaining and implementing the project management office framework and associated processes including standardized planning resource management governance and performance oversight to enable high-quality project delivery. The role proactively engages with stakeholders across GDMS and Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO) to ensure aligned intake business case and resource evaluation approval leadership assignment execution oversight implementation and value realization.
Responsibilities
Strategic Alignment & Stakeholder Partnership
Proactively engages across GDMS functional areas and business stakeholders to define and implement the global PMO strategy aligned with the broader organization ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
Defines implements and maintains the PMO framework and associated processes including intake business case development prioritization project planning execution oversight status reporting risk identification and management and decision making
Govern the GDMS project and initiative book of work including prioritization and sequencing of efforts across sub-functions and active management of cross-vertical dependencies within GDMS and beyond ensuring the portfolio remains aligned to strategic priorities and resource capacity
Project Program & Portfolio Management
Provides portfolio-level oversight of all GDMS strategic projects through the use of executive dashboards and reporting capabilities
Leverages program reviews to ensure projects are executed consistent with timeline resource and quality expectations
Collaborates with initiative sponsors and leads to ensure efficient use of resources and quantifiable value realization
Establish and implement a GDMS project management framework and toolkit ensuring a standardized end-to-end approach to project delivery across all GDMS initiatives; institute governance for GDMS project oversight
Ensure projects are delivered on time within scope and on budget implementing consistent tracking reporting and escalation processes that provide leadership with visibility into delivery health
Performance Reporting & Business Continuity
Identify define track and report on GDMS-wide organizational goals and KPIs including both portfolio-level and project-specific indicators as defined in project charters
Maintain and continuously improve the GDMS Business Continuity Plan (BCP) applying a standard framework with documented processes defined ownership and a regular testing cadence
Technical Skills:
Knowledge of clinical trial operations and clinical data management processes
Proven ability to define and govern large-scale operational processes and lead cross-functional global teams
Proficiency in the development and use of portfolio and resource management tools metrics and dashboards to enable enterprise governance and transparency
Experience with facilitating governance forums; defining implementing and monitoring project health measures; and establishing value realization measurement capabilities
Demonstrated ability to direct oversee and mentor PMO and project team members to execute and deliver results consistent with established frameworks and processes
Preferred: PMP Certification
Non-technical Skills:
Demonstrated strategic leadership and ability to influence senior- level leaders and enterprise stakeholders
Exceptional communication collaboration and interpersonal skills across global and matrixed environments
Strong conceptual and analytical thinking; able to translate strategy into actionable execution
Demonstrated success driving change and alignment across complex cross-functional structures
High resilience adaptability and professional maturity in evolving business environment
Fluent in English
Enterprise Leadership Skills:
Business Savviness Uses organizational and industry insights to identify trends assesses Data Management operating practices and performance evaluates process or operating model changes and anticipates impacts on delivery resourcing and stakeholders
Strategic Planning Triages activities and assignments by business criticality and reprioritizes work as timelines risks and stakeholder needs shift
Influence Communicates the benefits of proposed changes for individuals teams and the organization; tailors the influence approach to stakeholder motivations; uses data and evidence to address likely objections; reinforces key benefits and decisions to confirm understanding.
Qualifications & experience:
Bachelors Degree with minimum of 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry data management or clinical trial operations. Demonstrates deep subject matter expertise in project and portfolio management and ability to direct and lead global cross-functional teams.
OR
Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) minimum of 8 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry data management or clinical trial operations. Demonstrates deep subject matter expertise in project and portfolio management and ability to direct and lead global cross-functional teams.
eligibleforERP
clinicaltrialjobs
GDMS
Required Skills:
Business Acumen Business Case Development Business Continuity Business Operations Clinical Data Management Clinical Study Management Clinical Trials Data Management Data Processing Data Validation Decision Making Ethical Standards Global Team Collaboration Identifying Risks Mentoring Staff Negotiation Portfolio Management Project Delivery Project Prioritization Regulatory Compliance Service Provider Management Stakeholder Management Strategic PlanningPreferred Skills:
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Metrics Management Pharmaceutical Industry Research and DevelopmentCurrent Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
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The salary range for this role is
$173200.00 - $272600.00This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employees 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 can apply for this role through (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
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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:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
N.AJob Posting End Date:
07/17/2026*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:
Director
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