Talent Acquisition Partner (Central & Southern Eastern Europe)

Job Description

Talent Acquisition Partner (Central & Southern Eastern Europe)

1 year contract

At our company, we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. As a Talent Acquisition Partner, you will play a crucial role in shaping our future talent and ensuring we attract and retain the best professionals in the industry. Join us in our mission to use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for positions across multiple business divisions, functions, and countries within the Central & Southern Eastern Europe cluster.
• Partner with hiring managers and business leaders to develop effective recruitment strategies and deliver talent solutions aligned with business needs.
• Lead recruitment intake discussions, define hiring plans, and drive recruitment processes to successful completion within agreed timelines and service levels.
• Effectively partner with our niche sourcing hub for direct sourcing support & request potential market insights, talent intelligence, and strategic recommendations to support hiring decisions when needed.
• Guide candidates and hiring teams through all stages of the recruitment process, ensuring a positive candidate and stakeholder experience.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business and collaborate effectively with HR partners and other key functions.
• Manage complex or non-standard hiring situations, applying sound judgment and a solution-oriented approach.
• Ensure accurate documentation, compliance, and data integrity throughout the recruitment process.
• Contribute to talent acquisition initiatives, and projects that enhance recruitment effectiveness and efficiency.
• Partner closely with the Regional Talent Acquisition Lead to support strategic hiring priorities across the cluster.

Required Qualifications & Experience in:

• Managing full-cycle recruitment across multiple functions, business areas, or geographies.
• Partnering with hiring managers and business leaders on recruitment strategy and hiring decisions.
• Managing multiple concurrent recruitment processes in a fast-paced environment.
• Using direct sourcing and talent attraction techniques to identify and engage talent.
• Working with Applicant Tracking Systems and recruitment technologies (Workday preferred).
• Supporting recruitment processes within a large, complex, multinational organization preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build credibility across all organizational levels.
• Ability to influence and effectively partner with diverse stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Strong consultative mindset with the confidence to challenge, and guide hiring managers when appropriate.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving capabilities when addressing complex or ambiguous hiring situations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands and manage multiple deliverables.
• Proactive, results-oriented approach with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to changing business priorities.
• Strong collaboration skills and commitment to fostering inclusive hiring practices.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to leverage talent market insights and recruitment metrics to support decision making.

This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity offering the chance to support diverse and strategic hiring initiatives across the Central & Southern Eastern Europe cluster

What we offer:

• Exciting work in a great team, global projects, international environment
• Opportunity to learn and grow professionally within the company globally
• Hybrid working model, flexible role pattern
• Pension and health insurance contributions
• Internal reward system plus referral program
• 5 weeks annual leave, 5 sick days, 15 days of certified sick leave paid above statutory requirements annually, 40 paid hours annually for volunteering activities, 12 weeks of parental contribution
• Cafeteria for tax free benefits according to your choice (meal vouchers, sport, culture, health, travel, etc.), Multisport Card
• Vodafone, Raiffeisen Bank, Foodora, and other discount programs
• Up-to-date laptop and iPhone
• Parking in the garage for drivers or showers for bikers
• Competitive salary, incentive pay, and many more

Required Skills:

Behavioral Interviews, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Job Advertising, Personnel Recruitment, Recruiting Processes, Recruitment Strategy, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Talent Acquisition, Talent Recruitment, Talent Strategy, Vendor Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

Project Temps (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

08/30/2026

*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.