Director, Development Project Management (Hybrid)

Job Description

Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) sits within the Research & Development Division (R&D). Development Project Managers in GPAM are core members of development teams, partnering with cross-functional leaders to advance programs that improve human health and deliver business impact.

  

This Director-level Project Manager role independently leads complex development programs, due diligence efforts, and business development activities across drug, vaccine, and biologics development. In addition to leading assigned programs, the Director provides enterprise leadership that helps shape development strategy, governance outcomes, and organizational effectiveness.

The role is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, seeking leadership input primarily for strategic consultation and alignment. In addition to core program leadership responsibilities, the Director may mentor and coach other Project Managers, support strategic management or governance committees, and lead major change initiatives that improve company, department, or team performance.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

  

Management of Product Development Teams (~70%)

• Independently lead complex product development programs and due diligence efforts, including programs requiring significant experience with drug, vaccine, or biologics development, company processes, and cross-functional governance expectations.

• Drive alignment, execution, and decision readiness across projects of varying phase, complexity, priority, and alliance-partner involvement. Serve as an enterprise leader, influencing decisions, priorities, and development strategies across functions, governance bodies, and development teams.

• Operate with limited day-to-day direction, engaging management primarily for strategic consultation, escalation, and alignment on significant decisions or risks. Guide teams through governance processes, organizational decision-making frameworks, and business requirements to enable timely and well-informed decisions.

• Anticipate risks, identify trade-offs, and help teams develop pragmatic mitigation strategies that enable timely, high-quality governance and development decisions. Challenge assumptions, frame strategic options, and help teams and senior leaders make informed decisions in situations of ambiguity and competing priorities.

  

Talent Development, Process Improvement, and PM Operational Support (~30%)

• Mentor and coach Project Managers on development team leadership, team dynamics, functional integration, governance processes, strategic document preparation, and core project management practices.

• Promote consistent use of project management best practices across development teams to improve execution, transparency, and decision quality.

• Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that require product development expertise and a strong understanding of procedures, policies, systems, and team operating models. These initiatives may include improving planning platforms, project management capabilities, team effectiveness, or development processes.

• Lead cross-divisional work groups and support improvements to processes, tools, and templates that strengthen product development and project management execution. Lead strategic change initiatives that enhance organizational capabilities, project management practices, and development effectiveness across teams and functions.

  

Education Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in a scientific-related discipline preferred

 

Required Experience and Skills:

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in a project management related or leadership role

• Demonstrated ability to manage resources, timelines, and budgets effectively; strong business acumen and results orientation

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence without direct authority, and drive alignment across different stakeholders

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to frame issues clearly, raise risks appropriately, and keep teams and leadership informed of project status, decisions, and trade-offs

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Advanced scientific degree (Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), PharmD, Ph.D.)

• Project Management Certification (PMP) or formal coursework/training in project management

• Demonstrated technical understanding of product development and the ability to apply project management expertise to complex development challenges

• Ability to build effective networks across functions and rapidly establish productive working relationships

• Proven ability to analyze and integrate complex information, recommend strategic options, contribute to conceptual planning, and lead implementation of strategic, process, team improvement, and change initiatives cross-functionally

• Effective at energizing others, establishing clear goals, delegating responsibility, and mentoring and coaching in a team setting

• Demonstrated situational leadership and creative problem-solving skills within departments and teams

• Ability to understand project details while maintaining a broad view of program objectives, priorities, and strategies

• Experience supporting planning and execution of strategies for drug or vaccine product registration, commercialization, or life-cycle management from an R&D, manufacturing, or commercial perspective, with demonstrated ability to translate knowledge and expertise across development teams and areas

This position may be based in either Rahway, NJ, or Upper Gwynedd, PA.

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Required Skills:

Adaptability, Clinical Trial Management, Cross-Functional Leadership, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Product Development, Project Management, Project Management Support, Project Management System, Project Schedule, Project Strategy, Results-Oriented, Strategic Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Drug Development, Drug Product Development, Leadership, Matrix Leadership, Microsoft Project

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.

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The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

08/3/2026

*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.