Job Description

Position Overview

The position is responsible for the category management of Marketing Services categories, related to Data & Analytics, Market Research, Competitive Intelligence, Digital Platforms and other assigned marketing categories for our company, including category strategy development and implementation, supplier performance management and supplier innovation, sourcing project execution and portfolio management, global category alignment, stakeholder communication and engagement and market intelligence and risk management as well as responsible for business partnering with business and functional stakeholders. The person is accountable for all procurement KPIs, processes, tools, and activities related to the categories.

The position will work closely and collaboratively with business and functional stakeholders to co-shape and bring in best-in-class external solutions to our company. He or she is also a change agent, proactively influencing stakeholder buying behavior, managing demand, and leading the change to maximize value for the company, while also improving cost-efficiency and meeting business requirements. The position would have to collaborate and leverage extended teams like Indirect Global SSCs, Central Functions, and the BPO team in order to be successful in a matrix structure.

The position shall possess in-depth category and market knowledge, providing an effective link between global SSCs, country procurement teams, and stakeholders in sourcing activities, and also between key strategic suppliers and our company stakeholders. He or she will lead local sourcing initiatives and represent the country appropriately in global SSCs and projects, constructively helping the function in delivering positive profit and loss impact from local/regional/global sourcing solutions. In addition, he or she shall professionally represent the suppliers to our company stakeholders, driving behavior and process improvements within the company to leverage industry best practices, innovations, and supplier capabilities.

Main Responsibilities and Job Scope

Category Management – The position will lead the development and implementation of forward-looking category strategies for China with a deep understanding of business needs and market and ensure alignment with global SSCs with an enterprise view. He or she will own and manage the portfolio of category management activities, supplier performance and relationship management, and will be overall accountable for all procurement priorities, KPIs, processes, systems, tools, and activities related to the categories for China.

Sourcing Excellence – Lead and drive best-in-class sourcing strategy and execution following our company Sourcing Management Process (SMP) to deliver on business requirements and drive maximum value for the company. Strive for breakthrough sourcing strategies and results, whilst ensuring risk and compliance are appropriately managed. The position shall also leverage extended teams, such as BPO and Central Functions, to seamlessly execute sourcing projects.

Global Alignment – The position will actively and closely connect with global SSCs to understand global category strategies and drive alignment between country strategies and global strategies. Able to represent the country appropriately in global sourcing initiatives/projects and play an active role to provide local insights, inputs, and constructive feedback to bridge between the country and global and enable the successful landing of global initiatives/projects in the market.

Proactive Cost Management — Take a proactive, end-to-end approach to cost management and achieve cost reduction targets through a Total Cost of Ownership approach and demand management.

Supplier Management – Continue to evolve a robust supplier strategy that meets business requirements and brings competitive advantage to the company. Build and manage appropriate relationships at senior and working levels with suppliers. Able to drive effective supplier performance management with a structured governance model and proper stakeholder involvement. Proactively monitor and manage supply risks with robust risk mitigation.

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Management – Proactively seeks to engage business and functional stakeholders, understand their short- and long-term needs and pain points, and effectively ensure those are reflected in category and sourcing strategies to address business pain points and meet both operational and strategic needs. Business Partnership skills will play a key role in success and will be an important part of this job.

Teamwork — Have a One-Team mindset and strive for collective team success. Work with colleagues in the global procurement operating model and country teams to support global implementation activities. Share and drive best practices across the organization.

Continuous Improvement: Proactively look for continuous improvement opportunities in all work aspects to drive higher operational efficiency and performance.

Skills and Experience Required

Education – Graduate / Tertiary education. Bachelor's degree or above. Experience – 5 years of sourcing and procurement experience or above, at least 3 years’ experience in Marketing Services sourcing and category management. Working experience in an MNC pharma is a plus.

Skills – Agility, Adaptability, and Flexibility are the required attributes of the candidate. The candidate should be a self-starter, a quick learner, and able to work in a dynamic and changing environment. Able to deal with ambiguity. Flexibility and the ability to work on multiple projects or across different categories are required. The candidate must be able to work with individuals at all levels and demonstrate a level of professionalism that instills confidence and inspires trust. Ability to build trusted relationships with business partnering skills and a service mindset and to achieve goals through others by demonstrating strong influencing skills. The candidate should have good data analytical skills and leverage data to generate business insights and informed decisions. Good business acumen, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Language: The candidate should be fluent in English speaking and writing.

Required Skills:

Commercial Contract Negotiations, Distribution Management, Management Process, Negotiation, Procurement, Production Planning, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Supply Chain Metrics, Vendor Management

Preferred Skills:

Global Procurement

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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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

12/31/2025

*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.