R&D Program Manager M - F H/F - Inventing for Life

Job Description

The role is to manage several programs, from incubation to commercialization phase; End OT End.

He/she will BE in charge of technical, functional and financial lead of Identification product development but also maintenance.

He/she will BE responsible for planning, organizing and overseeing the completion of a program, ensuring IT is delivered on time, within budget and to the required standards.

He/She will manage resources, timelines, budgets and communication, working with teams to achieve program goals.

Main activities

Lead development programs and their activities towards QCT targets
- Analyze and understand programs strategic expectations with N+1
- Define with Management qualitative (Technical performance, customer satisfaction...) and quantitative (Planning, budget...) targets per program
- Foresee and analyze required means to secure target achievements
- Identify required resources and strive for their availability to lead the programs effectively
- Follow key program KPI (Quality, Cost, Time)
- Lead programs using dedicated set of tools for progress tracking and continuous improvement

Synchronize all fields of expertise involved in the project (collaboration and communication)
- Drive, with each technical function, Market, Design and Manufacturing requirements and precise functional specifications
- Lead the program and dedicated activities in line with group strategies and program objectives using process and Project Management tools
- Lead a multi-disciplinary team
- Advise and support all team members
- Manage interactions between various programs
- Plan and spread clearly missions towards technical teams
- Share required functional and technical information to appropriate fields of expertise

Identify challenges and dysfunctions and lead to problem solving
- Foresee, analyze, and manage risks and issues to allow fast and effective response
- Ensure enough understanding of all key activities to allow effective risk identification but also technical teams challenging to reach program goals.
- Escalate to Management potential required decision or team's misalignment (disagreement, prioritization, availability...)
- Optimize internal communication to ensure smooth collaboration within the team
- Host regular meetings with all project stakeholders or Management to allow progress tracking, information sharing, Gates approval...
- Secure tracking time
- Assure respect of process

Allow effective Management lead by accurate and fast reporting and escalation
- Ensure proper reporting toward all key stakeholders about project progress all along the development
- Respect project target and ensure proper reporting towards Management
- Ensure communication about Program results : Tech. innovation, New product launch...
- Share best practice with regards to his/her scope of activities
- Track Key Indicators related to development programs to allow analysis and improvement proposal
- BE key actor of continuous improvement of Program Management Office

Required skills

Know-how
- Strong ability to drive a pluridisciplinary teams
- Strong leadership & ability to build team spirit
- Lead and manage several programs
- Negotiate / Present arguments / Convince / Decide
- Understand what is at stake with regards to Program expectations
- Ease to report progress to Executive leaders

Knowledges
- Schooling : Master degree in Engineering
- Experience : 10-15 years in medium to high volume Industry; plastic injection, automation
- Knowledges : Matrix organization, planification, pluri-disciplinary team management, budget management
- Recurring knowledge : Fluent English

Current Employees apply

Current Contingent Workers apply

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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 :

VISA Sponsorship :

Travel Requirements :

Flexible Work Arrangements :
Hybrid

Shift :

Valid Driving License :

Hazardous Material(s) :

Required Skills :
Business, Customer Satisfaction, Identifying Risks, Innovation, IT Demand Management, Management Process, New Product Introduction (NPI), Prioritization, Product Commercialization, Program Management, Project Management, Risk Analysis, Risk Monitoring, Security Risk Analysis, Team Management

Preferred Skills :
Change Controls, Portfolio, Programme, and Project Support, Problem Management, Release Management, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs, Waterfall Model

Job Posting End Date :
08/28/2025
*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.