Sr. Specialist, R&D Procurement

Job Description

The Sr. Specialist, R&D Procurement, will play a key role in supporting indirect procurement activities across Animal Health Research & Development, Manufacturing and Commercial Operations globally. Working in close partnership with global cross-functional stakeholders, the role will support procurement initiatives across business critical categories, including Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Laboratory Supplies, Equipment and Services.

The role will serve as a key liaison between internal business partners and external suppliers, helping to drive value, mitigate risk, improve supplier performance, and ensure procurement alignment with business objectives.

The ideal candidate will have experience in indirect procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and stakeholder engagement preferably within regulated industries such as Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Food or related sectors. Alternatively, candidates with experience in Quality or Research and Development within a regulated environment will also be considered. Strong analytical, negotiation, project management, and relationship-building skills are essential, along with the ability to operate effectively in a dynamic global organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with global stakeholders across R&D, Quality, Operations, and other business functions to understand business requirements, identify sourcing opportunities and projects, and deliver procurement solutions aligned with organizational objectives.
• Develop and sustain strong Supplier Relationship Management Programs, to monitor, report, manage and continuously improve supplier performance, including supplier visits, regular business review meetings, and developing key performance indicators.
• Conduct detailed market intelligence, supplier analysis, due diligence, and competitive sourcing events.
• Negotiate and manage contracts, including preparation of negotiation plans, execution support, and post-award implementation.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand needs, resolve issues, and support cross-functional procurement projects.
• Perform operational procurement activities and support procure-to-pay processes as needed to ensure business continuity and compliance.
• Conduct supplier risk assessments, compliance reviews, and create and implement mitigation actions.
• Support cost reduction and value creation initiatives through sourcing, negotiations, and process improvements.
• Analyze procurement category data and support reporting, performance tracking, and decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to develop new suppliers and improve supply continuity.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in business, supply chain, science, engineering, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category procurement, supplier management, contract negotiation/execution within Pharmaceutical or other similarly regulated industries, OR;
• 3-5 years of relevant experience within Quality, R&D environment with procurement project, or stakeholder-management exposure.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple simultaneous complex procurement projects and cross-functional stakeholders across global teams and different time zones.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with procurement systems such as SAP and Ariba preferred, experience with Aera would be advantageous.
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Excellent English skills; additional language skills would be advantageous.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting indirect procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier performance management, or procurement project execution.
• Background working within regulated environments such as Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, or Food industries.
• Ability to influence stakeholders, navigate ambiguity, and manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced global environment.
• Experience with procurement systems, sourcing and compliance tools, spend analytics and supplier performance management programs preferred.

Required Skills:

Contract Negotiations, Indirect Sourcing, Procurement, Research and Development, Sourcing and Procurement, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, Supplier Relationship Management

Preferred Skills:

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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

$96,200.00 - $151,400.00

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:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

08/21/2026

*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.