Job Description

The Senior Administrative Assistant provides high-level administrative and operational support to the Exec. Director of Commercial & Launch Excellence and the broader leadership team. This role serves as a strategic partner, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, enabling effective leadership of global marketing initiatives, and acting as a coordination hub across regions, functions, and senior stakeholders. The position requires strong judgment, discretion, organizational excellence, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support
• Manage complex, global calendars including cross-time-zone meetings, recurring leadership forums, and critical project milestones.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel (flights, hotels, ground transportation, visas) and prepare detailed itineraries and travel packets.
• Prepare and process expense reports; ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.

Meeting & Event Management
• Plan, schedule, and execute internal meetings, workshops, town halls, and leadership offsites (virtual and in-person).
• Prepare agendas, collect pre-read materials, coordinate presenters, and ensure timely distribution of meeting documentation.
• Capture and track action items, ensuring follow-up and progress against deliverables.
• Coordinate logistics for global team meetings, brand reviews, launch readiness sessions, and cross-functional governance forums.

Team & Operational Coordination
• Serve as a central point of contact for the Global Marketing leadership team, regional marketers, and cross-functional partners (Finance, Legal, Procurement, Compliance, etc.).
• Support onboarding for new team members (systems access, introductions, training schedules, equipment requests).
• Maintain organizational charts, distribution lists, team sites, and shared drives; ensure accurate and up-to-date information.
• Assist with budget tracking activities such as purchase requisitions, vendor setup, and invoice processing in collaboration with Finance and Procurement.
• Support coordination of global marketing plans, timelines, and standard operating procedures (SOP) document management.

Project & Process Support
• Coordinate timelines and administrative components for key initiatives (e.g., brand strategy planning, launch preparation, lifecycle management activities, congresses, and major campaigns).
• Aid in the preparation of materials for senior leadership reviews, governance boards, and global brand team meetings.
• Help align internal stakeholders around key milestones, ensuring the right inputs are received on time for decision-making.
• Assist in compliance-related documentation and tracking related to promotional materials and external engagements, working closely with appropriate internal teams.

Leadership
• Share best practices and set standards for administrative excellence.
• Provide guidance, informal leadership, and mentorship to other administrative professionals supporting the broader organization.
• Coordinate admin workflows (e.g., coverage plans, standardized templates, filing systems, and meeting best practices) to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Support change management and communication around new tools, processes, and ways of working within the marketing team.

Education & Experience
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate's or bachelor's degree preferred.
• Typically 7+ years of administrative experience, including support of senior leaders (e.g., Director level and above); prior support of a global or regional function strongly preferred.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industry preferred; familiarity with industry regulations (e.g., promotional compliance, interactions with healthcare professionals) is a plus.

Skills & Competencies
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; proven ability to handle multiple competing priorities with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to interact effectively with senior leaders and stakeholders across functions and geographies.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and collaboration tools (SharePoint, OneDrive, etc.).
• Comfort working across time zones and cultures; able to support global teams and flexible meeting times as needed.
• Proactive, resourceful, and solution-oriented; anticipates needs and takes initiative to resolve issues before they arise.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating sound judgment and a high degree of accountability.

Behavioral Attributes
• High integrity and commitment to company values and patient-centric purpose.
• Professional, calm, and resilient under pressure; able to navigate ambiguity and frequent change.
• Strong customer-service mindset; focuses on enabling the AVP and team to operate at their highest effectiveness.
• Collaborative and inclusive, with a positive attitude and willingness to "roll up sleeves" to support the team.

#MSJR

The salary range for this role is:

$82,700 - $130,200

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.

Required Skills:
Brand Strategy, Brand Strategy, Confidential Data Handling, Data Entry, Document Management, Event Management, Event Planning, File Management, Finance, Financial Budgeting, Marketing Initiatives, Microsoft Online Services, Office Applications, Office Equipment, Organizational Charts, Process Improvements, Procurement, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance, Scheduling, Software Proficiency, Solution-Oriented, Team Coordination, Team Operations, Travel Scheduling {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Job Posting End Date:
07/24/2026
*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.