Associate Director, Partnership Management

About the position

The Associate Director, Partnership Management at Merck Sharp & Dohme is a strategic role focused on managing internal and external partnerships within the APEX Organization. This position is responsible for developing and implementing sourcing strategies, fostering joint business plans, and ensuring financial stewardship. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and communication skills, critical thinking, and business acumen, while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. This role requires collaboration with diverse internal stakeholders and external suppliers, aiming to drive immediate business impact through data-driven tools and transparent processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a sustainable, transparent Partnership Transparency Report in partnership with Finance and Procurement.
• Create and measure agency KPIs aligned to organization objectives and key results (OKRs).
• Work with Agile/Marketing/Operations leadership to ensure Partnerships resources effectively support team needs.
• Assess, interpret, and report investment spend associated with the creative agencies model for Agile Digital Teams and Marketing.
• Develop and execute supplier/agency evaluations to optimize agency performance for core roles and creative shared services.
• Collaborate with Procurement on Agency sourcing strategies and business requirements for the US Market.
• Consult on governance model and provide objective feedback to identify areas of improvement.
• Support the Business Integration Director with APEX Communications design and implementation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (BS or BA)
• 5 or more years of professional work experience with 3 years managing suppliers and/or creative agencies
• Solid understanding of creative agency roles and structure
• Strong problem-solving skills, negotiation skills, and business acumen
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to foster collaborative relationships
• Advanced project planning and project management experience
• Prior experience working for or with Agency Partners, including Creative, Media, Data, Tech, etc.
• Strong understanding of agile ways of working

Nice-to-haves

• Professional work experience within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid work model
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Professional development opportunities