Associate Director, Portfolio Management

at  Merck Sharp Dohme

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

We are seeking a highly skilled and knowledgeable professional to join our team as an Associate Director of Portfolio Management within the HHDDA (Human Health Digital, Data & Analytics) organization. In this role, you will promote the strategic planning and management of the high-level portfolio within our organization. Working closely with a broader team you will help drive portfolio optimization, resource allocation, and project prioritization to ensure successful delivery of key initiatives aligned with our business objectives.
This role will report to the Director, Portfolio Management.

Key Assignments:

• Portfolio Strategy and Planning: Be a trusted advisor in the development and implementation of the portfolio management strategy aligned with the organization’s goals, ensuring effective resource allocation, risk management, and project prioritization.
• Portfolio Governance: Promote portfolio governance processes and mechanisms to provide oversight, decision-making, and guidance on project selection, prioritization, and resource allocation.
• Project Prioritization and Resource Allocation: partner with stakeholders to evaluate and prioritize projects based on strategic alignment, resource availability, financial analysis, and risk assessment.
• Portfolio Performance Monitoring: Track key performance indicators and metrics to assess the performance and health of the portfolio, providing insights for decision-making and driving continuous improvement.
• Risk Management: Identify and assess risks and dependencies across projects within the portfolio, implementing risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans as necessary.
• Stakeholder Management: Foster strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, ensuring effective communication, partnership, and alignment on portfolio objectives and priorities.
• Resource Optimization: Work closely with functional directors to optimize resource allocation, considering capacity, skill sets, and project demands, to achieve efficient and effective project execution.
• Portfolio Reporting and Communication: Prepare regular portfolio status reports, executive updates, and presentations to convey the portfolio performance, major milestones, risks, and opportunities to senior management and key stakeholders.

MINIMUM EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in project management, portfolio management, or a related role, preferably in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Knowledge of portfolio management methodologies, processes, and tools. Proven track record of successfully managing complex portfolios of projects and programs, driving strategic objectives, and delivering results.
• Strong leadership and alliance skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts and issues clearly and effectively.
• Strong appreciation of project management best practices and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
• Ability to work collaboratively in a global and matrixed organization.
• As this role will liaise with and promote Transformation & Change Management delivery it will be important to boost Change Strategy and be able to execute Change Management within areas of this role’s influence.
• Travel requirement: Up to 25% of the time.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

25%

REQUIRED SKILLS:

Capability Development, Change Management, Classroom Delivery, Consulting, Learning Design, Methodical Approach, Organizational Structures, Teaching

PREFERRED SKILLS:

Requisition ID:R28847

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