Merck
Operations Specialist
This individual contributor role, with moderate oversight, will have responsibility for processing the transactional activities associated with executing in vivo and in vitro studies at external CROs or collaborators and facilitating in-sourced scientific services in support of Discovery, Pre-Clinical and Translational Medicine (DPTM). This cross-functional support position will be directly accountable to the broader DPTM Operations team, and interface with Our Research & Development Division benchtop Scientists and External Scientific Leads, Finance, and Procurement to ensure that Purchase Orders (POs) are generated to initiate external work, and that invoices are reconciled for payment in a policy-compliant manner. The responsibilities of this position will extend to utilizing a suite of IT applications and financial systems to track open requisitions and monitor payments. In addition, it is expected that the successful candidate will develop sufficient expertise in these tools and processes to be able to effectively troubleshoot issues, propose solutions for workflow improvements, and document best practices, including the authorship of Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs). Taking direction from the DPTM Operations team, based on input from the broader network of scientific and business stakeholders, the Operations Specialist will perform the following activities, and exhibit the following collaborative behaviors: Transactional support to enable execution of immunology, oncology, and/or infectious disease research studies with external CROs and research activities supported by in-sourced scientific services suppliers
Ensure that project details for work done externally are appropriately captured in relevant IT systems and tracking tools (e.g. Ariba, SAP, Power BI)
Verify that contracts and agreements with outside parties are in place prior to initiating any work at external suppliers
Initiate Purchase Orders (POs) based on pre-defined scope of work and communicate to relevant stakeholders that work may proceed (e.g., Operations team, Finance, initiating scientists, and external suppliers)
Follow PO best practices through the lifecycle of each external project or scientific services agreement; maintain accurate records for all open POs, incremental invoices, monthly accruals, and close-out activities
Upon invoicing, verify project deliverables with initiating scientist or manager and document status in audit-compliant manner, prior to triggering payment approvals
Promote and adhere to corporate policies, ensuring compliance and protection of company assets, completing due diligence activities (in vivo compliance) prior to initiating purchase orders, recognizing that this position is responsible for the handling of confidential and sensitive corporate information
IT Systems/Tools Develop subject matter expertise (SME) in all tools and workflows that support the sourcing process
Assist with DPTM forecasting/financial tracking and data analytics tools to monitor and ensure data integrity
Be able to troubleshoot tool or workflow issues associated with PO generation, invoice reconciliation and partner payments, engaging a network of stakeholders and partner to monitor and resolve these issues in a timely manner
Author and update SOGs, communicate best practices as they pertain to the sourcing PO and invoicing workflows
Seek to identify opportunities to improve the future state of sourcing workflows and tools in collaboration with IT
Collaboration/Communication Develop and foster effective working relationships with DPTM Operations team members and the broader Externalization Management Group (EMG), partnering on day-to-day activities, and seeking to understand the roles and responsibilities of each team member
Get to know key contacts across the extended network of global cross-functional stakeholders involved in external project execution, knowing when to leverage their input and assistance
Take a customer service-minded approach to enabling the PO and invoicing activities, balancing the need to address emergent issues with other time-sensitive project priorities
Seek to find win-win solutions to problems, taking time to understand the underlying variables, and negotiate to a mutually agreeable action plan
Keep stakeholders informed of the status and progress of transactions, especially where processing timelines may be extended
Manage existing working relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. CROs, academic institutions, regulatory agencies, in-sourced scientific services suppliers) as defined to support scientific/research activities
Be able to collaborate with external suppliers and internal stakeholders in flexible business hours given time zone differences
Qualifications Education:
Bachelor's degree is a requirement Minimum of (2) years relevant pharmaceutical or research experience
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment with a diverse cross-functional stakeholder group
Highly organized, with excellent attention to detail and follow-through
Proven track-record of being able to manage high volume of transactional work with efficiency and accuracy
Able to prioritize work effectively and contribute to larger project deliverables and departmental objectives
Comfortable working with IT tools and applications with proficiency in Excel and data analytics
Adept at both data entry as well as tracking and reporting outputs
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with ability to craft presentations in a way that emphasizes key points and ideas
Preferred Experience: Scientifically conversant in basic in vivo and in vitro biology and pharmacology principles, with industry experience as an in vivo bench scientist, preferably with immunology, oncology, and/or infectious disease models
Working knowledge of Ariba, SAP, and other financial systems
Experience authoring Standard Operating Guidelines/Procedures (SOGs, SOPs)
Prior experience working in an environment with responsibilities for managing confidential information
Proficient in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint, PowerBI, Spotfire, and other data manipulation tools
Experience contributing to process improvement efforts aimed at streamlining operations or business workflows
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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement 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. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts The salary range for this role is $85,600.00 - $134,800.00 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
This individual contributor role, with moderate oversight, will have responsibility for processing the transactional activities associated with executing in vivo and in vitro studies at external CROs or collaborators and facilitating in-sourced scientific services in support of Discovery, Pre-Clinical and Translational Medicine (DPTM). This cross-functional support position will be directly accountable to the broader DPTM Operations team, and interface with Our Research & Development Division benchtop Scientists and External Scientific Leads, Finance, and Procurement to ensure that Purchase Orders (POs) are generated to initiate external work, and that invoices are reconciled for payment in a policy-compliant manner. The responsibilities of this position will extend to utilizing a suite of IT applications and financial systems to track open requisitions and monitor payments. In addition, it is expected that the successful candidate will develop sufficient expertise in these tools and processes to be able to effectively troubleshoot issues, propose solutions for workflow improvements, and document best practices, including the authorship of Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs). Taking direction from the DPTM Operations team, based on input from the broader network of scientific and business stakeholders, the Operations Specialist will perform the following activities, and exhibit the following collaborative behaviors: Transactional support to enable execution of immunology, oncology, and/or infectious disease research studies with external CROs and research activities supported by in-sourced scientific services suppliers
Ensure that project details for work done externally are appropriately captured in relevant IT systems and tracking tools (e.g. Ariba, SAP, Power BI)
Verify that contracts and agreements with outside parties are in place prior to initiating any work at external suppliers
Initiate Purchase Orders (POs) based on pre-defined scope of work and communicate to relevant stakeholders that work may proceed (e.g., Operations team, Finance, initiating scientists, and external suppliers)
Follow PO best practices through the lifecycle of each external project or scientific services agreement; maintain accurate records for all open POs, incremental invoices, monthly accruals, and close-out activities
Upon invoicing, verify project deliverables with initiating scientist or manager and document status in audit-compliant manner, prior to triggering payment approvals
Promote and adhere to corporate policies, ensuring compliance and protection of company assets, completing due diligence activities (in vivo compliance) prior to initiating purchase orders, recognizing that this position is responsible for the handling of confidential and sensitive corporate information
IT Systems/Tools Develop subject matter expertise (SME) in all tools and workflows that support the sourcing process
Assist with DPTM forecasting/financial tracking and data analytics tools to monitor and ensure data integrity
Be able to troubleshoot tool or workflow issues associated with PO generation, invoice reconciliation and partner payments, engaging a network of stakeholders and partner to monitor and resolve these issues in a timely manner
Author and update SOGs, communicate best practices as they pertain to the sourcing PO and invoicing workflows
Seek to identify opportunities to improve the future state of sourcing workflows and tools in collaboration with IT
Collaboration/Communication Develop and foster effective working relationships with DPTM Operations team members and the broader Externalization Management Group (EMG), partnering on day-to-day activities, and seeking to understand the roles and responsibilities of each team member
Get to know key contacts across the extended network of global cross-functional stakeholders involved in external project execution, knowing when to leverage their input and assistance
Take a customer service-minded approach to enabling the PO and invoicing activities, balancing the need to address emergent issues with other time-sensitive project priorities
Seek to find win-win solutions to problems, taking time to understand the underlying variables, and negotiate to a mutually agreeable action plan
Keep stakeholders informed of the status and progress of transactions, especially where processing timelines may be extended
Manage existing working relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. CROs, academic institutions, regulatory agencies, in-sourced scientific services suppliers) as defined to support scientific/research activities
Be able to collaborate with external suppliers and internal stakeholders in flexible business hours given time zone differences
Qualifications Education:
Bachelor's degree is a requirement Minimum of (2) years relevant pharmaceutical or research experience
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment with a diverse cross-functional stakeholder group
Highly organized, with excellent attention to detail and follow-through
Proven track-record of being able to manage high volume of transactional work with efficiency and accuracy
Able to prioritize work effectively and contribute to larger project deliverables and departmental objectives
Comfortable working with IT tools and applications with proficiency in Excel and data analytics
Adept at both data entry as well as tracking and reporting outputs
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with ability to craft presentations in a way that emphasizes key points and ideas
Preferred Experience: Scientifically conversant in basic in vivo and in vitro biology and pharmacology principles, with industry experience as an in vivo bench scientist, preferably with immunology, oncology, and/or infectious disease models
Working knowledge of Ariba, SAP, and other financial systems
Experience authoring Standard Operating Guidelines/Procedures (SOGs, SOPs)
Prior experience working in an environment with responsibilities for managing confidential information
Proficient in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint, PowerBI, Spotfire, and other data manipulation tools
Experience contributing to process improvement efforts aimed at streamlining operations or business workflows
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: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement 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. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts The salary range for this role is $85,600.00 - $134,800.00 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