Asso. Dir, Business Excellence PMO
MSD Animal Health · Shanghai
Job Description
Position Summary
We are seeking a high-impact Associate Director, Project Management. The role will be responsible for driving strategic planning and execution, managing BE key initiatives, overseeing budget and operations, and enabling transformation to drive Agile ways of working.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and execution of the Business Excellence department’s strategic priorities and roadmap
- Drive annual and long-term planning, including initiative prioritization
- Establish governance mechanisms to orchestrate and track strategic initiatives, ensuring delivery against timelines, milestones, and OKRs
- Act as a central coordination point across teams to drive execution excellence
- Support business case development and drive value realization for strategic programs
- Facilitate effective communication and reporting of project progress to senior leadership
- Lead departmental budgeting, financial planning, and expense tracking processes, Ensuring optimal allocation of resources to strategic priorities and initiatives
- Design and manage internal communication strategies to enhance visibility and impact of Business Excellence initiatives
- Lead planning and execution of department-level events, workshops, and leadership engagements
- Drive Agile transformation initiatives across the function, fostering modern, collaborative ways of working
- Establish governance, processes, and roles to enhance delivery effectiveness.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
Experience
- 8+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, business excellence, or transformation roles, prior experience in a top-tier consulting firm strongly preferred
- Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, or life sciences industry is a strong plus
- Proven track record of leading cross-functional, large-scale strategic or transformation initiatives
Core Competencies
- Strong strategic thinking and business acumen
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong project/program management capabilities
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across functions
- Strong communication and storytelling skills
- Experience in data analytics, digital, or AI-driven initiatives is preferred
- Familiarity with Agile methodologies and change management
Required Skills:
Business Acumen, Business Decisions, Data Analysis, Department Budgeting, Expense Tracking, Financial Management, Innovative Solutions, Knowledge Management, Project Management, Risk Management, Strategic PlanningPreferred Skills:
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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:
RegularRelocation:
No relocationVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
No Travel RequiredFlexible Work Arrangements:
Not ApplicableShift:
Not IndicatedValid Driving License:
NoHazardous Material(s):
n/aJob Posting End Date:
11/30/2026*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.