Job Description
The Director, Business Information Risk Officer (BIRO) is a critical leadership role responsible for aligning cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance strategies with business objectives. This individual will act as a trusted advisor to the business leaders in the Enterprise IT (EIT) that supports our company’s Global Support Functions (GSF), such as Finance, HR, Legal, and Procurement, among others, ensuring that information security and compliance risks are proactively identified, assessed, and managed while enabling business innovation and growth.This role provides risk governance for all IT systems managed by the EIT organization, whether they are hosted internally or in the cloud, fostering a secure, compliant, and risk-aware culture. Additionally, the BIRO maintains a continuous feedback loop with the Information Technology Risk Management & Security (ITRMS) team to enhance and align the risk management processes to the business goals.The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise and working knowledge of industry standard platforms such as SAP S/4, Workday, etc., a strong understanding of business operations (particularly Finance, HR, Legal, and Procurement), and excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills. S/he must be able to translate complex Cybersecurity concepts into business language and influence stakeholders to drive a risk-aware culture across the EIT organization and any newly acquired businesses.Primary Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership
- Serve as the primary cybersecurity and risk advisor to EIT, aligning security strategies with the business priorities.
- Provide executive-level risk insights and recommendations to EIT leadership.
- Ensure security and risk management practices are embedded in business processes, digital transformation initiatives, and operational decision-making.
- Act as a bridge between ITRMS and EIT, translating technical risks into business impact.
Risk Management & Governance
- Drive compliance with applicable global regulations and internal security policies by tailoring the requirements to EIT’s operational and regulatory context.
- Identify, design, and help implement risk-based security solutions that are practical, effective, and aligned with EIT business priorities.
- Provide security and risk leadership for strategic IT programs, such as SAP S/4HANA implementation, ensuring integration of security and compliance throughout the program lifecycle.
- Stay updated on new and emerging technologies (e.g., AI and Quantum) and new laws and regulations, and understand their impacts on the business.
Technical Expertise & Cyber Resilience
- Work in unison with EIT IT Value Teams to establish secure design, implementation, and monitoring of IT systems, applications, and cloud environments.
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve the cyber resilience capabilities of EIT systems.
- Support the Cyber Fusion Center in handling Cyber incidents related to EIT
- Understand emerging cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors, and establish proactive risk mitigation strategies.
Leadership, Influence & Culture Building
- Influence EIT stakeholders to foster a security-conscious culture without impeding business agility.
- Drive security awareness programs that resonate with business functions.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing risk and security team
- Demonstrates high emotional intelligence (EQ) and executive presence (EP), effectively engaging with senior executives and key stakeholders.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in one or more of the following fields: information technology, cyber security, computer science, business administration, communications, or related field.
- Knowledge of industry standard platforms such as SAP S/4, Workday, etc.
- 10+ years’ experience working in one or more of the following fields: cybersecurity, IT risk management, IT compliance, Information Technology, or a related field.
- 5+ years’ experience leading global teams in a management or leadership role, particularly in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment preferred.
- Prior experience in the healthcare industry, with an understanding of the unique challenges in securing systems that support Finance, HR, and Legal areas prferred.
- Risk or security certification credentials (CISSP, GSEC, CISA, CISM, etc.) preferred.
Key Competencies
- Technical Depth & Business Acumen – Ability to blend security knowledge with business understanding.
- Problem-Solving Mindset – Proactive, strategic, and solutions-oriented approach.
- Change Management – Experience driving security transformation across the supported organization.
- Influence & Executive Presence (EP) – Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills.
- High Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – Ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
Required Skills:
Business Acumen, Cybersecurity, Data Management, Digital Transformation, Emotional Intelligence, Executive Presence, Information Security, Information Technology (IT) Risk Management, IT Compliance Management, IT Governance, IT Risk Assessments, IT Risk Governance, IT Risk Response and Reporting, Knowledge of regulations and frameworks, Risk Management, Risk Management and Mitigation, Security Solutions, Stakeholder Management, Technical Advice
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:
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
08/13/2026
*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.
