Sr. Specialist, U.S. Benefits & Well-being

Job Description

The Senior Specialist, U.S. Benefits & Well-being supports the strategy, design, and ongoing optimization of the Company’s U.S. benefits and well-being portfolio. This role uses data to provide strategic insights and recommendations, together with program oversight, to strengthen employee experience, supplier effectiveness, financial stewardship, and overall program value. The position partners across Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Communications, and business stakeholders to support benefits programs that are competitive, compliant, financially disciplined, and operationally effective.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the strategy, design, and ongoing optimization of the U.S. benefits and well-being portfolio through strategic insights, data-driven recommendations, and program oversight.

• Analyze internal and external data to identify risks, opportunities, and trends that inform decisions, priorities, and program improvements.

• Support the development and ongoing maintenance of dashboards, reporting, and performance metrics related to program financials, engagement, utilization, supplier effectiveness, and operational trends.

• Translate data into actionable recommendations related to program design, governance, communications, and portfolio optimization.

• Support benchmarking, financial analysis, and diligence for program enhancements, new opportunities, and strategic priorities.

• Provide program oversight support, including monitoring performance, supporting issue resolution, and identifying improvement opportunities.

• Assess supplier performance and support actions to improve accountability, service, and overall program outcomes.

• Evaluate employee engagement and experience and identify opportunities to improve awareness, participation, and effectiveness.

• Assist with the development of business cases, white papers, presentations, and other materials to support leadership discussions and decision-making.

• Support cross-functional initiatives, ensuring strong coordination, project management, and execution.

• Build effective relationships across HR and the business and provide support on program performance and improvement opportunities.

• Contribute data-driven input and recommendations to support decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Payroll, Procurement, Communications, HR Operations, and external suppliers to support governance, policy administration, and service delivery.

• Monitor portfolio performance and identify opportunities to improve employee experience, operational efficiency, and long-term value.

Education

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree, or currently in pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in human resources, consulting, finance, or a related field, including required experience in benefits, well-being or total rewards; a combination of relevant experience and advanced education will also be considered.

• Demonstrated ability to translate data into recommendations and support cross-functional work in a matrixed environment

• Proven ability to work independently and collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment

• Strong organizational, project coordination, and communication skills

• Demonstrated experience in analytics, reporting, and insight-development capabilities

• Proficiency with AI-enabled tools and technology, with the ability to apply them effectively to analytics, reporting, strategic insight development, and decision support

• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and reporting or analytics tools

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience in a large, complex organization

• Experience with supplier performance, financial analysis, and program metrics

• Familiarity with U.S. benefits and well-being programs, policy governance, and employee communications

MSJR

Required Skills:

Benefits Administration, Benefits Management, Benefits Strategy, Employee Benefits Program Design, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Pension Administration, Performance Metrics, Policy Development, Presentation Preparations, Vendor Management

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:

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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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$106,200.00 - $167,200.00

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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

08/20/2026

*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.