Associate Director, Portfolio & Resource Operations
Rahway, NJ - USA
Job Summary
Job Description
Under the direction of leadership the Associate Director Portfolio & Resource Operations supports operational excellence through data-driven portfolio and resource analytics. Responsible for maintaining accurate capacity workload and utilization data across functions the role ensures decisions are informed by robust metrics and transparent reporting. Works collaboratively with functional partners to drive standardization and improve visibility into operational performance.
Responsibilities:
Forecasting Capacity & Portfolio Management:
- Maintain headcount workload and demand models for the functional area; run allocation algorithms to help ensure the Book of Business is delivered with quality and timeliness.
- Support operating-model optimization within the functional area translate outcomes into action plans and track through implementation.
- Manage real-time workload balancing capacity and compliance-driven case allocation across geographies within the functional area to ensure balanced operations on-time delivery and business continuity through holidays resource availability and demand peaks
- Build and maintain operational dashboards; collect analyze and validate portfolio data (efficiency utilization quality); ensure standardized reporting in partnership with cross-functional peers across GDMS (Global Data Management & Standards) and enterprise standards.
- Assist in developing forecasting tools dashboards and visualizations; contribute to continuous improvement of capacity modeling and workforce analytics.
- Support long-term quality management plans; participate in strategic and tactical special projects as needed.
Operational Governance Execution & Metrics:
- Prepare inputs for Operational Reviews; ensure consistent metric definitions sources and timeframes per enterprise cadence and templates.
- Coordinate resource and financial forecasting contracting and invoicing; track variances and data integrity and publish reconciled views as required.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to maintain a unified set of metrics training and SOP/BP (Standard Operating Practice/ Best Practice) frameworks based on functional area needs.
- Monitor operational metrics postsystem release to ensure realized efficiencies are captured in forecasting models and resource planning assumptions.
Training Communication & Change Management:
- Support creation maintenance and delivery of role-specific curriculum; co-develop GDMS-wide training for the functional area; measure uptake.
- Coordinate function-specific communications and change management aligned to GDMS/GCTO (Global Clinical Trial Operations) frameworks.
- Embed Human-first Organization practices by designing adoption aids (FAQs quick guides) and incorporating user feedback into process improvements.
Technical Skills:
- Ability to interpret operational capacity and financial data; comfortable with variance analysis and trends.
- Working knowledge of capacity planning resourcing and portfolio management concepts.
- Familiarity with functional operational systems performance dashboards and workforce analytics data.
- Understanding of data integrity metric standardization and basic QC (Quality Control)/reconciliation practices.
- Proficient with Power BI/Tableau and Excel (advanced modeling) for dashboards and what-if views.
- Basic grasp of forecasting budgeting and accruals; reads plan/forecast/actuals and ties them to operational drivers.
Non-technical knowledge skills and abilities:
- Fluent in English; exceptional communication and influencing skills able to engage and align stakeholders across functions geographies and levels.
- Skilled in organizing cross-team work; coordinates milestones and deliverables; escalates risks early.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence motivating and guiding cross-functional and virtual teams without direct authority.
- Highly adaptable and resilient able to prioritize and perform effectively under pressure in fast-changing environments.
- Works independently with accountability exercising sound judgment and initiative while maintaining alignment with organizational priorities.
- Effective facilitator of decision-making coordinating the work of others and driving timely resolution of complex issues.
- Crafts concise decision-ready summaries for leadership clearly framing risks options and recommendations.
- Strong organization and prioritization managing multiple deliverables running risk/change control aligning stakeholders (including service providers) and providing status and governance updates.
- Strong stakeholder management and collaboration capabilities fostering trust and effective partnerships.
- Sound judgment and accountability with emphasis on ambiguity escalation management and consensus-building on process/technology improvements.
Enterprise Leadership Skills:
- Networking & Partnerships Builds and sustains collaborative partnerships across GDMS Finance IT and functional leaders to align forecasting assumptions standardize metrics and coordinate portfolio and resource priorities.
- Business Savviness Applies strong operational and financial acumen to interpret portfolio performance workforce capacity and variance trends guiding data-driven resource planning and efficiency decisions within the assigned scope.
- Influence Influences cross-functional stakeholders by translating complex capacity financial and performance data into clear trade-offs recommendations and aligned action plans within governance forums.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelors Degree and a minimum of 8 years of experience in a relevant field for associated job description-OR- Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) and a minimum of 4 years experience in relevant field for associated job description
Required Skills:
Change Management Clinical Data Management Clinical Data Standards Clinical Trials Collaborative Development Data Analysis Data Quality Assurance Data Reporting Data Validation Detail-Oriented Forecasting Good Clinical Data Management Practice (GCDMP) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Stakeholder EngagementPreferred Skills:
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:
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
The salary range for this role is
$142400.00 - $224100.00This 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
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:
RegularRelocation:
No relocationVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not ApplicableShift:
1st - DayValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
N /AJob Posting End Date:
08/25/2026*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