Job Description

The Business Practices and Privacy Officer leads the strategy behind the implementation of Compliance and Privacy frameworks across the Puerto Rico, Central America & Caribbean Cluster by partnering with Global, Regional, and Local stakeholders while supporting markets strategy and providing cluster-level compliance guidance to drive consistency and execution on cluster priorities with operational excellence. This role ensures that business practices align with internal policies, external regulations, and ethical standards while facilitating commercial success.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Managing Director of the Cluster role will focus on driving the pillar, Fostering Innovation, Simplification & Risk Evaluation, to continue reinforcing our strong Culture of Compliance & Collaboration.

This is an exciting time to join the team and play a key role in advancing strategic initiatives and cluster projects that support our strategy execution and enable the business to impact our patients in the Cluster.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Promote awareness among all cluster stakeholders to create a high level of understanding of our Company’s Values and Standards, Corporate Policies, Compliance Policies, Privacy policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and related processes.

• Continuously advocate and promote a strong Business Practices network and community by participating, giving feedback/opinion, sharing, and learning best practices to ensure alignment & standardization of processes across the cluster towards the cluster evolution of our compliance standards.

• Closely support business initiatives and guide on compliance matters to ensure appropriate development aligned with our highest standards of ethics and integrity.

• Plan and execute the flawless implementation of new and evolving company compliance frameworks across the cluster in collaboration with Regional Business Practices Lead, Regional Council, and Global Team by developing comprehensive action plans with key stakeholders towards execution.

• Lead cluster critical Business Practices Initiatives (e.g., Risk Assessments, Compliance Committees, Enterprise Risk Management).

• Work on ensuring consistent and effective compliance standards in the cluster.

• Provide advice for proper implementation and operation of tracking/monitoring systems (e.g., EMPOWERbi, GoVerify, Aravo, Aggregate Spend).

• Actively participate and support control changes, review sessions with stakeholders, communicate & train on policies, processes, and procedures, with proper documentation.

• Actively support Cluster Audits as needed (Preparation, execution, and action plan post-visit).

• Effectively track and monitor cluster Human Health Compliance Priorities, Privacy Program, and cluster initiatives.

• Participate in cluster projects and initiatives to ensure alignment with the company’s expectations regarding Compliance and Business Practices (Pricing, Access, Digital, Events, etc.)

• Identify and address potential compliance risks while defining, developing, and monitoring appropriate controls aimed to mitigate those risks.

• Work closely with the Regional Business Practices Lead and Regional Team to build/execute strategies to reinforce and enhance our cluster compliance framework and culture.

• Develop in-depth understanding and expertise for all markets within the cluster, which will serve effectively to solve complex problems while allowing innovation and simplification.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Law or related is required.

• Two (2) or more years of experience in the legal or business practices area and/or five (5) or more years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Proficiency in English and Spanish, in oral and written.

• Willing to travel up to 30% of the time.

• Experience in the life sciences industry in compliance-related aspects, including laws, regulations, procedures, policies, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); awareness of international guidelines and rules. Familiarity with both United States (US Policies) and ex-US (Ex US Policies) regulations is expected, alongside up-to-date knowledge of data protection legislation and global compliance frameworks.

• High ethical standards, being a role model of business compliance and integrity.

• Strong negotiation, communication, and change management skills: demonstrated ability to influence senior management/stakeholders.

• Ability to work in cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively within all levels of the organization while effectively managing and completing projects and timelines (sense of urgency, efficiency, and attention to detail).

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-task environment that demands initiative and responsiveness through continuously developing long-term cooperative professional relationships on all levels of the organization.

• Ability to independently develop/lead strategies that foster innovation and simplification, working across boundaries, teams, functions (e.g., Legal, Finance, Commercial, Medical), and possibly divisions, geographies, external stakeholders, and customers.

• Excellent Communication (written and oral), presentation, and organization skills.

Required Skills:

Business Initiatives, Business Practices, Communication, Compliance Strategies, Ethical Standards, Global Team Collaboration, Policy Implementation, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

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.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

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

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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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

Yes

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

03/19/2026

*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.