Job Description:
Reporting to the Regulatory Innovation & Information Management (RIIM) Department Lead, this strategic leadership position oversees the end-to-end operations and management of an assigned sub-unit. As an active member of the RIIM Leadership Team, the role collaborates closely with department leadership to define, execute, and govern a harmonized Regulatory digital strategy. The incumbent leads a cross-functional workforce of internal employees, contractors, and external vendors to drive day-to-day business systems, operational processes, and innovative capabilities while ensuring strict regulatory compliance, quality governance, and proactive risk mitigation. Additionally, this leader maintains full operational accountability for subunit financial management—including vendor contracts, purchase orders, and budget administration—as well as talent acquisition and workforce planning.
Responsibilities:- Regulatory Platform Operations & Optimization
- Act as a horizontal platform integrator across RIIM business systems, driving consistency and interoperability
- Drive platform lifecycle management, including releases, enhancements, and cross-system coordination
- Maintain governance frameworks to ensure consistency, compliance, and performance
- Partner with RIIM Business System Owners (BSOs), business stakeholders, IT and external vendors (e.g., Veeva) to shape platform roadmap, AI capabilities, and innovation priorities
- Ensure platforms are optimized for scalability, usability, and regulatory compliance
- Ensure integration and alignment across systems, data, and processes
- Accountable for Regulatory systems Business Continuity Plans (BCP), including annual readiness, scenario planning, and incident coordination
- Lead a centralized capability for systems adoption, user analytics, and insights generation
- Define and monitor KPIs for systems usage, adoption, and value delivery
- Use analytics to: Identify adoption gaps and drive targeted interventions, Quantify ROI from digital initiatives, Inform prioritization of enhancements and investments
- Enable data-driven continuous improvement, leveraging automation and AI where applicable
- As applicable provide Business System Ownership (BSO) for cross-cutting RIIM tools and capabilities (e.g., IPV Dashboard, Veeva AI solutions)GRACS Digital Strategy Execution & System Communications
- Help translate GRACS Digital Strategy into execution
- Lead coordinated system communications, release readiness, and change enablement
- Ensure consistent stakeholder engagement and alignment across functions and regions
- Help drive a cohesive, user experience across regulatory platformsGRACS Process–System Integration
- Ensure system capabilities and constraints support the designed process
- Support the Global Process Owner model
- EducationBA or BS in Scientific, Business Operations, or Information Technology related degrees; minimum MS or equivalent
Required Experience and Skills 10+ years working within a Regulatory operations role 5+ years of leading teams and a hybrid organization of employees, contractors, and vendors.
Significant experience in Veeva RIM operations
Experience with innovation strategy, implementation, and operations of digital solutions in a regulated environment
Expertise in regulatory capabilities, operations, and business processes
Strong experience in working closely with Functional Business area users, IT, Finance, HR, and vendors
Ability to drive Corrective Action and Preventive Actions (CAPAs)/Non-Compliance Investigation Report (NCIRs) resolutions, Partner audits and Health Authority Inspections
Ability to represent the organization at internal and external forums on RIM related topics
Executive presence (writing and oral presentation)
Demonstrated collaborative skills and ability to work in cross-functional and international environments
Solid knowledge of regulatory processes, with a technology-process optimization mindset
Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and develop staff, to motivate others and drive continuous improvement
Flexibility to operate in a matrix-managed environment and to support staff in that same environment
Strategic Execution – Translates strategy into scalable, measurable outcomes
Operational Excellence – Ensures disciplined, efficient, and compliant system operations
Value Realization – Demonstrates measurable impact from technology investments
Drives Transformation – Leads large-scale change through digital, data, and innovation
Required Skills:
Business Alignment, Business Process Design, Contingency Plan, Decision Making, Executive Presence, Governance Framework, Interpersonal Relationships, Investments Analysis, Legal Compliance, Negotiation, People Leadership, Project Appraisals, Project Development, Project Planning, Regulatory Affairs Management, Regulatory Communications, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Experience, Regulatory Processes, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Strategy DeploymentUS and Puerto Rico Residents OnlyOur 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. San Francisco Residents OnlyWe will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance Los Angeles Residents OnlyWe 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 Employee Status RegularRelocationNo relocationVISA Sponsorship NoTravel Requirements 25%Flexible Work Arrangements HybridShiftNot Indicated Valid Driving License NoHazardous Material(s)n/aJob Posting End Date 10/13/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date. The salary range for this role is$173,200.00 - $272,600.00 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefitsWe 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. 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: EEOC Know Your RightsEEOC GINA Supplement Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
