Senior Director, Clinical Operations - Portfolio & Resource Operations (Hybrid)

Job Description

Brief Description of Position 

The Senior Director, Portfolio & Resource Operations (PROS) reports to the Head of Global Data Management and Standards (GDMS) Business Operations and serves as the lead responsible for the development and maintenance of the GDMS portfolio and resource management processes. Proactively engages across all GDMS functional areas and key business partners to align and coordinate demand and capacity; financial forecasting, budget and expense management; strategic productivity goals; and operational metrics and analytics. As a member of the Business Operations leadership team, the Senior Director directly contributes to enterprise planning, organizational efficiency, and long-range operational strategies.   

Responsibilities 
 

Strategic & Functional Leadership: 

• Provides Portfolio and Resource operations leadership and direction across the GDMS organization 

• In partnership with the GDMS functional areas, leads the definition of operational processes, governance frameworks, and forecasting methodologies 

• Monitors and provides operations oversight to ensure consistent execution, quality, and compliance with established GDMS business operations processes 

• Represents GDMS at Portfolio and Resource Operations enterprise forums (Global Clinical Trial Operations, Global Clinical Development)

• Ensures strategic alignment of GDMS Portfolio and Resource Operations with Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), Global Clinical Data Operations (GDO) and our research division's Portfolio & Resource Operations (PROS) functions 

• Leads the coordination of strategic GDMS productivity and operating model initiatives; tracks progress against established commitments; and ensures alignment with GDMS and broader organizational priorities   

• Champions organizational change strategy; drives adoption of new operating models and digital capabilities  

 

Operational Governance, Execution, & Cross-Functional Alignment: 

• Oversees capacity modeling, forecasting methodologies, and works proactively across GDMS functional areas and business partners to manage risks aligned with business, financial, and operational objectives; serves as an escalation point for issues arising within or across GDMS functional areas 

• In collaboration with Finance and GDMS functional area leadership, coordinates GDMS budget forecasting and monitors expenses against financial targets 

• Coordinates, tracks, and drives outcomes pertaining to GDMS objectives, KPIs, and KQIs in partnership with GDMS functional areas and business partners (eg., IT, Finance, and broader GCTO stakeholders)  

• In collaboration with process owners and GDMS functional area leadership, defines strategically and operationally relevant GDMS performance and quality indicators; facilitates operations reviews; and aligns GDMS metrics with broader GCTO control towers for visibility 

• Establishes and monitors compliance with change control procedures for core GDMS operational process including, but not limited to, GDMS resource algorithms, job descriptions, metrics 

 

People Management & Talent Development: 

• Aligns team in a clear direction; sets functional area priorities aligned to the broader organizational strategy  

• Actively supports performance management activities for their team, including setting individual priorities, conducting regular performance check-ins and year-end reviews 

• Coaches for performance; facilitates career development discussions; and creates growth opportunities  

• Coordinates talent strategy and hiring activities for their functional area 

• Creates a high-performance, inclusive culture that attracts, develops, and retains talent 

• Manages operating budget and optimizes spend against priorities 

Qualifications, Skills & Experience  

Technical Skills 

• Ability to conduct enterprise-level capacity modeling and operational forecasting across functional areas using analytical and forecasting tools (e.g., data standards; dashboards, modeling) to inform resourcing, planning, and operational decisions 

• Ability to apply cross-functional planning in a clinical operations setting, with end-to-end understanding of data management 

• Experience designing and leading governance forums that connect data, organizations, processes, and performance 

• Ability to apply industry benchmarks and internal baselines to set targets, measure effectiveness, and drive continuous improvement; strong understanding of clinical data management operational systems and related performance measures 

• Expertise in operational metrics and management of supportive data (definitions, source data, lineage, quality controls)  

• Strategy and consulting skills to drive operating model adoption; experience developing and utilizing value realization frameworks to drive business optimization 

• Knowledge of ICH/GCP (International Council of Harmonization - Good Clinical Practices) guidelines and how they apply to clinical data management activities. 

 

Non-technical knowledge, skills, and abilities 

• Strategic leadership with the ability to align globally diverse teams and stakeholders around shared objectives and responsibilities  

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence across seniority levels, motivating and guiding cross-functional and virtual teams without direct reporting authority 

• Ability to apply disciplined, data-driven prioritization, focusing teams on critical business needs and high-value opportunities 

• Exceptional communication, influence, and storytelling skills, including the ability to convey complex or technical information to diverse, non-technical audiences 

• Effectively integrates business, operational, and organizational factors into decision making; coordinates work and drives timely resolution of complex issues 

• Demonstrates resilience and adaptability; able to balance strategic vision with operational execution and perform effectively under pressure 

• Demonstrated ability to drive large-scale change leadership and continuous improvement initiatives  

• Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills 

 

Enterprise Leadership Skills 

• Networking & Partnerships | Builds strategic partnerships across GDMS, IT, Finance, GCTO stakeholders to align portfolio priorities, resolve cross-functional constraints, and drive transparency in performance, capacity, and funding decisions 

• Influence | Influences senior stakeholders by presenting clear, data-driven insights and trade-off scenarios, securing alignment on resourcing, funding, and operational priorities that advance shared enterprise objectives 

• Talent Development | Develops a high-performing Portfolio & Resource Operations organization by defining capability standards, building succession pipelines, coaching leaders, and aligning strategy to evolving business and regulatory demands 

 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 13 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, data management, clinical trial operations, operations, analytics, finance, or relevant field. Demonstrated deep subject matter expertise in relevant discipline and 5 years of direct-line people management experience  

OR 

• Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) with a minimum of 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, data management, clinical trial operations, operations, analytics, finance, or relevant field. Demonstrated deep subject matter expertise in relevant discipline and 5 years of direct-line people management experience 

eligibleforERP

clinicaltrialjobs

GDMS 

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Capacity Planning, Change Management, Clinical Data, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Study Protocols, Clinical Trials, Data Analysis, Data Governance, Data Management, Data Processing, Data Validation, Decision Making, Ethical Standards, Functional Leadership, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Operational Decisions, Oral Communications, Organizational Performance Management, People Leadership, Prioritization, Productivity Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Thinking {+ 1 more}

Preferred Skills:

Biopharmaceutical Industry, Influencing Without Authority, Pharmaceutical Industry, Research and Development

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.

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The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

06/30/2026

*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.