Job Detail

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Description

Summary of job scope:

Reporting directly to the MER Human Health IT (HHIT) Director and accountable to the subsidiary/country Managing Director, he/she ensures that technology & data solutions and services meet the strategic and operational goals of the human health commercial (HH) activities in the Balkans cluster.

market.  The IT leader will closely partner with senior market leadership to shape/influence local business strategy and develop/maintain a corresponding enabling IT strategy including Information technology, analytics and digital capabilities & services.

The IT Country Leader leads the realization of technology value through:

• a deep understanding of the business strategy


• a continuous translation into a corresponding integrated business/technology & analytics strategy.


• identification, implementation and realization of appropriate and right-sized technology and data solutions for the local market, either based on standard our Company capabilities, local/regional technology and healthcare partnerships, or a combination of both.
  Where IT improvements and innovations to be realized will be a combination of internal and external capabilities, he/she will always maintain an enterprise value view.

This leader will develop and manage the IT portfolio tied to and based on a continuous measurement of the business realization goals.

It’s critical that this leader closely collaborates with regional capability leads and value team organizations in order to drive a global education of the market business dynamics and needs along with articulation of the optimal capability evolution in support of business strategy.  He/she will model the OneIT behavior and work closely with all partner IT organizations to meet both the business needs of the local market as well as enterprise standards.

The IT Country leader is an important sponsor of the local agile marketing teams and will actively contribute to the success of these teams by driving an understanding of technology and/or data related impediments and the resolution of these. This both on the level of personal development of the Agile Developer(s), as well as through active advocating and (as applicable) driving broader organisational improvements.

He/she will lead the local agile developer(s) (direct reporting) with focus on development as well as influencing priorities for the local market Application Management (AMS) and Infrastructure (GIO) representatives (dotted line reports).

The IT Country Leader represents the full OneIT organization on market-level and regional governance bodies, actively identify cross-divisional synergies as well as orchestrating cross-divisional efforts / projects – all in partnership and communication with in-market IT leaders.  This leader will actively work across other market divisions and IT colleagues to drive collaboration, efficiencies and reusability.

The IT country lead will assure full and continuous compliancy with regulatory and company requirements.

Main responsibilities

• Strategic partnering with senior market business leadership functions to proactively develop and evolve an integrated and-multi-year business/technology & analytics strategy in support of the business ambition.
  Lead all efforts relating to strategic IT planning, IT delivery, IT services and IT budget and spending for the local market commercial operation, integrated with the market Digital Transformation agenda and global IT strategy.  Proactively identify business needs and associated IT solutions and needs. Contribute to the local governance structure to facilitate the prioritization and project selection process, and drive alignment on selection of optimal IT investments, tied to business realization goals.


• Model the OneIT behavior and partner closely with all appropriate IT organizations to ensure an enabling IT infrastructure and IT Operations (including right sized service level agreement) which meet both the market business needs and enterprise standards.


• Build, promote and develop a strong and highly engaged IT team that has the flexible skills in line with the fast-evolving business strategy. Proactively seek ways to improve team functioning, cohesiveness and effectiveness while assuring an optimal agile culture setting.


• Be a leader in the corresponding IT leadership communities, with the goal to maximize sharing of learnings across market as well as optimal re-use of any created technical capabilities.


• Be a key sponsor of the local agile marketing teams, by identification and resolution of technology (including data) related impediments.


• Drive and maintain an in-depth understanding of the external local market technology innovation ecosystem and support implementation of potential partnerships (e.g. in partnership with the hubs) on both local and global level as applicable in support of the digital and IT strategy realisations.


• Drive and maintain an in-depth understanding of the external local market technology skillsets relevant to our business strategy and build (in partnership with HR) corresponding early talent engagement models.


• Partner with local business to ensure the mapping and understanding of the external local healthcare ecosystem (including local standards as well as key data sources and data flows) and ecosystem stakeholders as an enabler for implementation of integrated healthcare and/or data insights solutions. Drive corresponding key partnerships from an technology and data angle.


• Provide guidance to others on implementing corporate practices while tailoring them to the country/divisions (including but not limited to cybersecurity best practices).

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Science or Business is required


• A demonstrated track record of success as an information technology leader (min 5-10y experience) working with business leadership teams in a highly digital enabled industry (e.g. FMCG, Pharma, …) with an intense focus on driving technology and data strategy in a commercial environment.  Demonstrated ability to prioritize, align and simplify.


• The candidate should understand go-to-market strategies, and have a working experience of Agile methodologies (Agile marketing preferred)


• Good understanding of the role of data and analytics in current business strategy along with understanding of key enabling data & analytics technologies.


• Knowledge/experience of technology development and deployment of innovative solutions in any business domain from conceptualization through delivery.
  Knowledge/experience in Systems Development Life Cycles


• The candidate must possess exceptionally well-developed interpersonal skills. Communication skills will be critical to this leader’s ability to interact, negotiate and effectively influence the local leaders. 


• Demonstrated people leadership skills, as well as skills that emphasize collaboration in a highly matrixed organization.
  The ability to manage cross-divisional projects, coordinate projects and services across boundaries, and build effective cross-functional teams is essential.  


• A digital and technology thought leader with strong external networking in order to self-educate in the art-of-the-possible related to technology/data enabled business growth.


• A strategic thinker with strong operational and delivery skills.


• A team player who places great emphasis on collective achievement within her/his team.
  Ability to thinking cross-divisionally and working across boundaries


• Strong personal and professional ethical values, impeccable integrity, and the energy level required to meet the demands of the position.


• Fluency in English is required; strong preference for fluency in German.

Extent of Travel

• As required to execute the role – will be less than 20%.

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Kenilworth, 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:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Work Week

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

Yes

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Number of Openings:

1

Requisition ID:R52521