Job Description

Join a research-driven biopharmaceutical leader at the forefront of advancing human and animal health. Our Global Clinical Trial Operations team drives the execution of clinical studies that shape the future of medicine. As a Senior Administrative Assistant, you’ll be a pivotal partner to our Executive Clinical Research Director (CRD) and cluster leadership—enabling operational excellence, seamless collaboration, and timely delivery of life-changing innovations.

Please apply before 15th December 2025!

Why this role matters:

Your work will power critical clinical operations across multiple countries. You’ll streamline communication, coordinate complex schedules, ensure compliance, and keep our high-performing teams moving forward. If you thrive in a fast-paced, global environment and love turning complexity into clarity, this role offers meaningful impact, visibility, and room to grow.

What you’ll do:

• Be the CRD’s trusted organizer:
  • Own calendar management with precision, prepare materials, and ensure readiness for internal and external meetings.
  • Coordinate end-to-end travel, accommodations, and expense handling, anticipating needs and removing friction.
• Safeguard and streamline critical operations:
  • Handle confidential documents with discretion, including contracts, personnel records, and clinical trial materials.
  • Track cluster-level clinical operations deliverables and deadlines; surface risks and drive follow-through.
• Elevate communication and collaboration:
  • Draft and refine executive-level correspondence, presentations, and reports for the GCTO cluster leadership.
  • Serve as a key point of contact for internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring timely, clear communication.
• Keep our systems and budgets on track:
  • Maintain accurate records across Workday, SAP, and GCTO dashboards.
  • Support budget monitoring and vendor invoicing in partnership with leadership, helping ensure fiscal discipline.
• Orchestrate high-impact meetings:
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute leadership summits, operational reviews, and country-level governance meetings.
  • Manage logistics, agendas, briefing materials, and follow-up actions to drive outcomes.

What you’ll bring:

 Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• Proven experience supporting senior leaders in a multinational or clinical research environment.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Teams, SharePoint, and comfort with AI-based productivity tools.
• Impeccable integrity and discretion handling sensitive information.
• Exceptional organization, time management, and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with strong problem-solving skills.

Preferred

• Advanced diploma or certification in administrative management or project coordination.
• Familiarity with clinical trial operations, GCP standards, and regulatory processes.
• Experience with enterprise systems (Workday, SAP, Veeva Vault).
• Cultural awareness and ease working across diverse geographies.

What’s in it for you

• Make a direct impact on programs that improve global health.
• Gain exposure to clinical operations across multiple countries and cross-functional teams.
• Build executive-level communication, project coordination, and systems expertise.
• Join a collaborative, mission-driven culture that values initiative, learning, and continuous improvement.

Ready to help move science forward? If you’re energized by complexity, love enabling high-performing leaders, and want your work to matter, we’d love to hear from you.

Required Skills:

Communication, Document Management, Event Planning, File Management, Microsoft Office, Office Applications, Process Improvements, Project Management, Scheduling, Team Coordination, Travel Scheduling, Vendor Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

12/15/2025

*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.