Associate Director, Procurement

Job Description

Associate Director, Procurement

The Large Molecule Operations Sourcing Associate Director in Global Operations Sourcing Procurement will support the sourcing and contracting of large molecules from commercialization through post–New Drug Application launch. The selected candidate will be responsible for supplier sourcing, contract negotiations, and commercial management of contract manufacturers for the large molecule biologics and vaccines category for the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, they will develop and implement procurement strategy, global category management, contract management, risk management, stakeholder management, and supplier value management within this category. The incumbent will develop and maintain strong relationships with key leaders and stakeholders, including Commercialization, External Manufacturing, Quality/Regulatory, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Shared Business Services, and other corporate functions.

Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

• Leadership - As supplier and sourcing lead, the candidate will be accountable for the development and implementation of robust sourcing strategies that link to core business deliverables while leveraging the marketplace and supplier community. The candidate will deliver exemplary results in the right way and partner with stakeholders outside Procurement to ensure alignment.
• Category scope - The candidate will have direct responsibility for supplier relationships in the Asia-Pacific region and will serve as the key point of contact for numerous contract manufacturing suppliers.
• Sourcing Management - Utilize and drive sourcing management as a structured process, including obtaining sponsorship and creating and leading cross-functional teams.  Upon receiving approval for sourcing strategies, oversee and execute sourcing levers, including but not limited to requests for information (RFI), requests for proposal (RFP), requests for quotation (RFQ), negotiations, and contracting activities, to ensure appropriate sourcing rigor. 
• Strategy Development/Implementation - Create breakthrough strategies that deliver quick wins, generate measurable business value, and drive innovation.
• Contract negotiations - The selected candidate will be responsible for leading complex contract negotiations and must be able to partner with Legal and business stakeholders to ensure fit-for-purpose commercial supply agreements that meet business needs.
• Continuous Improvement - Ensure that every supplier relationship is established with the intent to drive future continuous improvement. The selected candidate will lead and manage the measurement and review process to ensure delivery against expectations.
• Stakeholder Management - Work in a way that positively engages business colleagues through problem solving, transparency, and proactive communication.
• Diversity - Actively support diversity within our company and expand relationships and spend with diverse suppliers.
• Business requirements/cost management focus - Demonstrate keen insight into business requirements over a one-, three-, and five-year horizon.  The selected candidate will partner with procurement colleagues and business stakeholders to drive cost reductions. They will implement Supplier Value Management with key suppliers in this category to foster innovation, manage supplier performance, establish an appropriate governance model, and ensure continuous improvement.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:  

• Required: Undergraduate degree required. 
• Preferred: Technical/scientific degree such as chemical engineering, chemistry, or biology; Master of Business Administration also preferred.

Required Experience and Skills**: 1) Minimum of five years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry; 2) minimum of three years’ experience in direct materials procurement or a related field such as supply chain, external manufacturing, or finance.

Preferred Experience and Skills: 1) Understanding of the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing environment, various technologies, costing, supply chain, and operational management; 2) negotiation, stakeholder management, and financial acumen; 3) direct experience in a GMP manufacturing environment and deep understanding of technology complexity versus cost.

 

Required Skills:

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), Adaptability, Contract Negotiations, Cost Structures, Decision Making, Financial Acumen, Inventory Control Management, Logistics Management, Packaging Procurement, Procurement, Procurement Management, Procurement Negotiations, Procurement Strategies, Production Planning, Relationship Building, Request for Quotation (RFQ), Risk Management, Sourcing and Procurement, Sourcing Management, Sourcing Strategies, Spend Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking, Strategy Development {+ 6 more}

Preferred Skills:

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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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

10/10/2026

*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.