Merck & Co, Inc

Assoc. Dir, Program Success Manager

Merck & Co, Inc$142K — $224K *
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 5+ years of relevant work experience leading complex, enterprise-level programs
  • Experience managing and developing direct reports in a matrixed environment
  • Strong understanding of enterprise value management and governance
  • Ability to synthesize complex information into executive-ready insights
  • Proven stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Ability to engage effectively with senior leadership and governance bodies

Responsibilities

  • Ensure alignment between DHH Ways of Working and BIT value management practices
  • Escalate significant issues to governance committees when necessary
  • Monitor progress of key programs using governance forums to identify risks
  • Establish common standards for planning and performance management
  • Define and track value cases, ensuring accountability from function owners
  • Synthesize insights across top programs for senior leadership discussions
  • Identify trends and risks that inform enterprise-level prioritization

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangements
  • Development and coaching opportunities for team members
  • Culture of collaboration and continuous improvement
  • Recognition initiatives that highlight program value
  • Engagement with senior leadership and key business stakeholders
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Program Success Manager is responsible for enabling the successful measurement, tracking, reporting and communicating the value across DHH programs by ensuring strong alignment between ways of working, value management frameworks, and executive decision-making. This role operates externally to program teams and partners closely with senior leadership, sponsors, business leaders, and key partners to drive transparency, integration, and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Value Alignment & Governance
  • Ensure strong connection between DHH Ways of Working (WoW) and BIT value management practices, pulling through the enterprise and BIT value frameworks to top programs.
  • Escalate issues to the S&VM lead and appropriate governance committees when there are cross-program impact or high-impact blockers requiring leadership attention.
  • Monitor progress of key programs owned by multiple teams, using governance forums and data to identify risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks early.


Program Integration & Insights
  • Establish common standards for planning, funding, prioritization, and performance management across.
  • Define and track value cases and benefits realization; ensure that accountable owners in each function commit to and deliver against agreed targets.
  • Ensure integrated reporting across all top programs, synthesizing insights and framing them for discussion and decision-making with senior leadership teams and governance bodies.
  • Identify trends, risks, and opportunities across programs and elevate insights that inform enterprise-level prioritization and action.


Continuous Improvement & Operating Model Enablement
  • Identify process improvements and operating model enhancements that further enable value delivery across priority programs.
  • Act as a catalyst for improving how programs execute, measure, and communicate value at scale.


Executive Narrative & Communication
  • Help craft compelling narratives for top programs that support and reinforce the broader DHH value story.
  • Identify and execute socialization and marketing initiatives that recognize and highlight the collective value delivered by top programs.


Stakeholder & Partner Engagement
  • Enable and support engagements with key IT, operational, and business partners to ensure the successful delivery of S&VM outcomes and deliverables.
  • Serve as a trusted connector between program teams, enterprise stakeholders, and leadership forums.


People Leadership & Team Enablement
  • Lead, coach, and develop Program Success Leads to ensure consistent execution of value management practices across programs.
  • Set clear expectations, performance objectives, and development plans for direct reports aligned to enterprise priorities.
  • Ensure consistency, quality, and integration of outputs produced by Program Success Leads across the program portfolio.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and enterprise thinking within the Program Success team.


Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree (B.S.) required
  • 5+ years of relevant work experience, including experience leading or overseeing complex, enterprise-level programs or portfolios
  • Prior experience managing and developing direct reports, preferably in a matrixed or enterprise environment
  • Strong understanding of enterprise value management, governance, and operating models
  • Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into concise, executive-ready insights and narratives
  • Proven stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Ability to operate effectively with senior leadership visibility and governance engagement


Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree preferred
  • Experience leading teams that support multiple programs or portfolios simultaneously
  • Prior exposure to enterprise governance forums, executive steering committees, or value review boards
  • Background in enterprise transformation, portfolio management, value realization, or operating model change
  • Familiarity with value management frameworks, OKRs, benefits realization, or performance measurement methodologies
  • Experience partnering closely with IT, business, and operational leaders in large, complex organizations
  • Demonstrated change leadership and ability to influence outcomes without direct authority


Core Competencies
  • Enterprise thinking and systems perspective
  • Executive communication and influence
  • Analytical synthesis and insight generation
  • Governance and escalation judgment
  • Continuous improvement mindset


Success Measures
  • Clear alignment of top programs to enterprise value frameworks
  • Timely identification and escalation of cross-program risks and blockers
  • High-quality, integrated reporting used in executive decision-making
  • Strong leadership confidence in program-level value narratives


Required Skills:
Capability Development, Change Management, Classroom Delivery, Client Counseling, Learning Design, Methodical Approach, Organizational Structures, Teaching

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:
07/8/2026
*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.

About Merck & Co, Inc

Schering-Plough Corporation is a major U.S.-based manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. It operates in three segments: Prescription Pharmaceuticals, Animal Health, and Consumer Health Care. Schering-Plough develops products targeting on allergy, cancer, hepatitis, cardiovascular, central nervous system, respiratory system, and more.  It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. Schering-Plough manufactured several pharmaceutical drugs, the most well-known of which were the allergy drugs Claritin and Clarinex, an anti-cholesterol drug Vytorin, and a brain tumor drug Temodar. It also developed drugs targeting on central nervous system and the respiratory system. Schering Plough also owned and operated the major foot care brand name Dr. Scholl's and the skin care line Coppertone. These also became a part of the new company. Schering-Plough was a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), a membership which is also maintained by the new Merck.

Merck & Co, Inc Careers

Join the visionary team at Merck & Co, Inc, a global leader in healthcare dedicated to advancing the world of medicine. As part of our professional community, you'll find dynamic job opportunities that foster innovation and leadership across various fields. Merck & Co, Inc is not just a company; it's a place where you can make a difference.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck & Co, Inc, we are committed to improving global health through groundbreaking research and innovative healthcare solutions. Our team is at the forefront of developing new therapies and vaccines that significantly impact public health worldwide. By joining us, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry, using your skills to contribute to projects that save and improve lives around the globe.

Explore Career Paths

Whether you're seeking an internship, a graduate opportunity, or a professional position, Merck & Co, Inc offers a range of career paths in environments that promote rapid professional growth and development. Explore job opportunities in research, digital transformation, manufacturing, and more, all while benefiting from a culture that supports diversity and inclusion.

Innovate and Lead

Merck & Co, Inc is an ideal environment for those who lead with curiosity and the drive to innovate. Our leadership is committed to fostering a culture where inventive thinking and collaboration are encouraged, making it a perfect place for professionals who seek to make an impact through their work.

Develop Your Skills

With Merck & Co, Inc, you are not just getting a job; you're gaining access to unparalleled career development opportunities. Enhance your skills through diverse training programs, workshops, and continuous learning courses designed to help you grow at every stage of your career.

Benefits and Culture

We understand that our employees are our greatest asset, which is why we offer competitive benefits designed to support the health and well-being of you and your family. From comprehensive health care coverage and retirement plans to flexible working conditions and wellness programs, our benefits package is designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members.

Join Our Team

Ready to advance your career at Merck & Co, Inc? Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that's dedicated to making a difference.

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Learn more about Merck & Co, Inc
Size
68,000 employees
Market Cap
$282.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$7 billion
Founded
1668
5 Year Trend
+4.1%
Revenue
$47.9 billion
NASDAQ

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