Associate Director, Finance Planning and Analysis - Development Sciences & Clinical Supply (Hybrid – NJ)

Job Description

Our Company's mission is to be the world’s premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company.  Our Company's Research Laboratories drive break-through science through drug discovery, development and clinical evaluation to address significant unmet medical need.  Finance is a trusted business partner, playing a critical role in ensuring effective resource utilization to achieve this mission. This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure and contribute to the R&D engine that drives our Company's biopharmaceutical business.

This position operates under the guidance of one of the Finance Directors supporting Development Sciences & Clinical Supply (DSCS), with a specific focus on the consolidation and synthesis of plans, reporting and analysis for all of DSCS, ensuring alignment of the driver-based DSCS forecasts and budgets with our Research & Development division governance bodies' decisions: DTRC, DCRC and LDRC. The position will also be relied on to support various initiatives and ad hoc projects. 

The incumbent is expected to develop a deep understanding of the functions within DSCS and the role they play in the R&D value chain.  While scientific knowledge or background is not essential, a successful candidate will have intrinsic curiosity about R&D, a passion for learning, and the ability to effectively communicate a financial picture to scientific leadership.  The position requires an enterprise mindset, and the ability to navigate across a broad set of networks.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing strong relationships across DSCS Finance, GPAM/CIPM and with other key our Research & Development division, our Manufacturing division and Corporate Finance colleagues to enable an active role as a supporting business partner

• Consolidating DSCS expense & capital budgets, quarterly forecasts, and long-range operating plans that align with broader organizational objectives

• Coordinating alignment of the driver-based DSCS budget and forecasts with the governance bodies (DTRC, DCRC, LDRC) through a strong partnership with CIPM

• Coordinating DSCS deliverables and requirements for Finance stakeholders, including inputs for pipeline and capital governance, integrated R&D reporting, alliance management and business development

• Leveraging financial data to drive analyses of business growth drivers and highlight trends and issues

• Developing management views and dashboards to support effective resource management with a specific focus on internal headcount, external sourcing and pilot plant capacity management

• Developing sub-divisional presentations for our Research & Development division and DSCS senior management

• Performing monthly close tasks, including reviewing actual results, consolidating variance commentary, analyzing spending trends, and proposing any corrective actions as necessary

• Developing ad hoc analyses, processes, and tools in support of change initiatives and other business needs

• Manage continuous improvement projects within the DSCS Finance scope

In this role, the candidate should expect to:

• Gain end-to-end exposure to the drug development process and the Research & Development pipeline

• Gain experience influencing clients with impactful reporting and analyses that illuminate key trends, facilitate active resource management, and support decision-making

• Further develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills

• Gain experience in change management and project management

• Increase personal network through engagement with numerous key stakeholder groups

Qualifications

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Minimum: B.A./B.S., preferably in Business, Finance, Science or Engineering

• Preferred: MBA/CPA or other M.A./M.S./Doctorate in Business, Finance, Science or Engineering

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years in Operations or Finance

• Strong computer skills, especially working with Power BI, SAP, BPC, Excel and PowerPoint

• Strong financial acumen

• High learning agility

• Proactive approach to problem-solving

• Sound and balanced judgment, with the ability to assess and handle risk

• Results and process-driven orientation

• Passion and intellectual curiosity with respect to research & development

• Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a challenging and complex environment.

• Demonstrated ability to influence, build and maintain client and peer relationships

• Excellent communication skills

• Project management skills/experience

• Data analytics experience preferred.

#eligibleforerp

Required Skills:

Corporate Finance, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning, Planning Budgeting And Forecasting (PBF), Preparation of Financial Reports

Preferred 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 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

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

06/29/2026

*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.