Director, Global Clinical Supply Continuous Improvement (Onsite)

Job Description

Position Overview -Basic Functions & Responsibility:

The Global Clinical Supply (GCS) organization is within our Research & Development Division and is accountable for managing the 'end-to-end' integrated clinical supply chain across our Research & Development Division's portfolio to enable the execution of any clinical trial using our Company asset. GCS supports more than 300 Phase I-IV clinical trials run in-house, 400+ outsourced or run by partners as well as our Company's ISS clinical trials (300+). GCS is accountable for the planning, sourcing, labeling, packaging and delivery of clinical supplies to clinical sites across more than 60+ countries, all in accordance with US and WW regulations, company policies and Standard Operating Procedures.

The Director, Continuous Improvement, will lead Continuous Improvement activities across the organization supporting a CI culture.  The role will oversee both strategic and tactical improvement initiatives, kaizen workshops, and cultural activities and will support the roll out of significant metrics as key performance indicators (KPIs), contributing to the overall governance of the performance oversight in GCS. The role will ensure the education of the organization in continuous improvement and lean methodology, project management, change management, knowledge management, quality by design, and appropriate risk management in our processes through coaching and mentoring belt candidates and trainees for the community of practice.

The leader will play a key role in talent development within his/her team but also the overall GCS organization.

Primary Activities:

The Director, GCS Continuous Improvement, will be accountable for identification, prioritization, and execution of continuous improvement activities in GCS and across our partner organizations, including, but not limited to, process improvement, change management efforts, and After-Action Reviews (AARs).

Additionally, the incumbent will engage a client group within GCS and be responsible for the implementation of continuous improvement culture, tools, and education across the organization. The Head, CI will closely collaborate across GCS, Global Clinical Trial Operations (GCTO), Global development Quality (GDQ), Preclinical Development Sciences and Clinical Supply (PSCS), Procurement, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Data Management, Translational Medicine, and our Research & Development Division (including our Research & Development Division's Quality Assurance/QA and our Research & Development Division IT). 

Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

• Actively create a culture in which Continuous Improvement becomes the organizational norm.
• Process design/improvement projects/strategic initiatives across the organization.
• Continuously identifies opportunities to improve, simplify, standardize, and optimize processes in collaboration with functional areas.
• Analytics & Metrics - Develops and maintains performance, quality, and compliance related analytics and metrics (reports, dashboards, Key Performance Indicators/KPIs).
• Seeks ways to innovate and/or further automate the use of data and new capabilities.
• Identify, train and coach in lean concepts.
• Continuously evaluate opportunities for creating additional connectivity, and share learnings, between partner organizations.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• A graduate degree in scientific discipline would be beneficial.
• A LSS black belt certification or equivalent experience is required.
• Extensive experience in facilitating kaizen workshops and leading complex projects.
• Understanding of Clinical supply chain and clinical trials understanding including GCP & GMP.

Skills Include but not limited to:

• A dedication to solving complex and challenging problems with a creative mind and imaginative strategies.
• Strong Influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead, create future state, and deliver results.
• Over five years in the implementation of a variety of lean six sigma tools to evaluate and improve business processes with at least five years coaching and leading process improvement teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong, trust based, collaborative relationships to drive change and execute on priorities with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and independent decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, effectively and tactfully to interact with different global professional levels and external stakeholders.
• Proven track record of successful deployment of continuous improvement projects, across different modalities and business units.
• Must have strong understanding of GMP, GCP, and data integrity expectations from regulatory agencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

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Required Skills:

Business Process Improvements, Continuous Improvement, Continuous Improvement Activities, Data Analysis, Data Gathering Analysis (Inactive), Lean Methodologies, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Lean Six Sigma Continuous Improvement, Lean Six Sigma Management, Statistical Data Analysis

Preferred Skills:

Continuous Improvement Projects, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Process Optimization

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 primary location for this posting is:

USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

11/2/2026

*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.