2027 Future Talent Program - Global Supplier Management Group Direct Advanced Strategy and Procurement - Co-op

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts up to 6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Global Support Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity and teamwork of an individual like you.  To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork.  As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Strategic Supplier Management is a rigorous, data-driven methodology which relies upon high-quality market intelligence for suppliers, supply markets and supply chains, as well as strategic analysis and reporting of internal business requirements, supplier performance, spend and savings data.

Co-Op positions generally last 5-6 months and will include multiple projects.

The successful candidate may support projects or programs with the following characteristics: gathers market intelligence and prepares and conducts strategic analysis; pre-negotiation planning; RFIs, RFP/Qs, e-auctions; quotation analysis and cost modeling; financial solvency analysis; risk assessments; understands FCPA verification and other compliance / due diligence assessments; supplier performance monitoring and issue resolution; budget planning process support and ongoing spend, savings, and compliance metrics reporting.  The role may also focus on digitization and data analytics.

Direct Materials Sourcing & Procurement is responsible for the development and implementation of all supplier management strategies and initiatives, CapEx programs, driving improvements in cost, supplier performance, and working capital, in support of manufacture and supply of our company products.

General Responsibilities:

• Support strategic and operating objectives for the procurement function including product sourcing, supply risk management, supplier performance improvement, cost reduction, supplier diversity development, working capital improvement, and supplier relationship management

• Work with cross functional teams including Legal, Finance, Procure-to-Pay, internal stakeholders, and external suppliers

• Conduct detailed market analyses looking at facts and data with the objective of providing deep and meaningful insights

• Implement procurement strategies and execute tactical procurement processes. Serve as a resource regarding processes, procedures and systems for procurement function.

• Support selection of suppliers to ensure appropriate savings and service levels. Ensure that all legal contract requirements are met. Manage relationships with selected external contacts to ensure optimal team performance.

• Enforce compliance with all Global Procurement policies and procedures by using a data driven business case approach.

Additional responsibilities are as follows:

• Supplier and Supply Market Analysis – To conduct rigorous market intelligence and detailed supplier and supply market analyses, to provide deep and meaningful insight to sourcing teams.

• Cost Modeling / Cost reduction – To construct detailed cost models/purchase price analysis of goods and services that are supplied to our company. At times, this will require supplier visits to create a complete understanding of the cost structure of suppliers and develop cost reduction opportunities.

• Strategic Analysis – To conduct project analysis which transforms information into insightful, well-structured breakthrough options and opportunities. Examples include Portfolio Analysis, Supplier Preferencing, and Day One Sourcing.

• Financial Analysis & Reporting – To prepare analysis and reporting of category spend, savings, compliance, and other metrics. To support the annual budget / profit planning process for the category at the global level. To maintain financial reporting and management systems (including SAP) with up-to-date data on an ongoing basis.

• Negotiation Planning – To create detailed pre-negotiation plans, to support and participate in prolonged negotiation sessions with suppliers and to conduct post negotiation debriefs and follow through plans. 

• Sourcing – To create and execute RFIs, RFPs, and e-Auctions, together with subsequent structured information analysis wherever possible using electronic procurement processes.

• Risk Assessment and Mitigation – To conduct effective risk assessment (including Financial Solvency Analysis, compliance with FCPA, Business Partner Code of Conduct, etc.) and establish appropriate risk mitigation plans within the supply-base pursuant to our company's Manufacturing Division's risk management framework. 

• Category Team Membership – To be an active member of one or more category teams using the techniques and content created in above as input in the creation of breakthrough strategies delivering cost reduction targets.

• Sharing of Learnings – The candidate will be expected to generate high quality work and to share and transfer this to colleagues throughout GSMG

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Currently in sophomore or junior level curriculum, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in business (such as Finance or Management), Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, Market Research, Communications or a Science-related discipline (Engineering, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Bioengineering). Or currently enrolled in an MBA program.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Superior interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to work successfully on cross functional teams

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills including ability to make clear and concise presentations

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills including ability to make clear and concise presentations, sensitivity to cultural differences in communication, experience with SharePoint and Enterprise Social Media (specifically Yammer), and familiarity with principles of business communication, marketing and/or journalism.

• Strong data collection, analysis and reporting skills

• Excellent project management skills

• Ability to work independently with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to deal with ambiguous and dynamic situations

• Quick learner and motivated to cultivate technical, business and commercial skills by applying their knowledge within our company’s environment

• Proficient in Microsoft office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

• Demonstrated excellent academic achievement

 

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• GPA 3.0

• Prior pharmaceutical industry experience or any fortune 500 company experience

• Ideal candidate should have completed two or more internships or co-ops

• Experience with using , MS Teams, SharePoint or other similar collaboration websites

• Experience with Power BI, Qlik or other data analytic/visualization tools

• Experience with using Excel to manage large data sets

• Ability to communicate information into presentations to share with stakeholders and colleagues

• Knowledge of data collection methods (polls, focus groups, surveys)

Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company.

Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $39,908 - $111,111 ​USD

FTP2027

GSF2027

Required Skills:

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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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:

Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

12/7/2026

*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.