Manufacturing Network Supply Planning Lead

Job Description

Our company is launching a high‑impact global Supply Planning Transformation and seeking a Manufacturing Network Supply Planning Lead with a strong pharmaceutical or drug development manufacturing background to help shape how we plan and supply across a multi‑site network. In this role, you will lead the process and solution design of an enterprise‑wide Advanced Planning System (APS), identifying and closing gaps in current supply planning practices, harmonizing ways of working across sites, and building scalable, future‑ready planning models. You will work end‑to‑end—from design through deployment and hyper‑care—driving change adoption, elevating planning capabilities, and partnering with cross‑functional and global teams to deliver a step‑change in service, agility, and reliability for our global manufacturing network.

This role is for a builder—someone who thrives in ambiguity, moves with speed, and brings the intensity required to reshape how we plan, operate, and deliver. If you bring bold ideas, an entrepreneurial mindset, and relentless curiosity, this is where you can make a significant mark.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead Process & Solution Design

• Own the end‑to‑end Process & Solution Design workstream for the Supply Planning Transformation program.
• Ensure the solution design reflects the specific needs of pharmaceutical manufacturing and multi‑site supply networks.

Manage Complexity, Scope, and Risk

• Proactively manage scope, risks, issues, and key dependencies across business and IT.
• Escalate decisively to keep the program on track and maintain delivery momentum.
• Anticipate and neutralize program risks, ensuring solution resilience across the transformation journey.

Identify Gaps & Drive Continuous Improvement

• Continuously identify and challenge inconsistencies, gaps, and inefficiencies in existing supply planning practices across sites.
• Develop and prioritize a transformation backlog aligned with business strategy, future growth, and network constraints.
• Implement standardized, scalable improvements that raise planning maturity across the global network.

Design Scalable Operating Models

• Fuse business strategy, process design, data, and technology into robust operating models for supply planning.
• Integrate planning processes across demand, supply, inventory, and S&OP/IBP to support end‑to‑end network optimization.
• Ensure solution and process design support both strategic and tactical planning needs (e.g., scenario planning, capacity balancing, risk mitigation).

Champion Change & Capability Build

• Lead onboarding and change adoption efforts with clarity, energy, and empathy.
• Define training strategies and support the development of training content and documentation to accelerate capability building across manufacturing sites.
• Serve as a visible champion for new ways of working, helping planners and stakeholders see the “why” and “how” behind the transformation.

Build Cross‑Functional Connectivity

• Create strong connectivity across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and IT to align on process, data, and system changes.
• Integrate supply chain initiatives and align the planning transformation with other digital and operational excellence programs.
• Navigate diverse cultures and working styles, driving alignment in a multinational environment.

Operate with Agility and Resilience

• Embrace ambiguity and evolving requirements, turning changes into opportunities for smarter design.
• Maintain speed and momentum while protecting solution quality and long‑term scalability.
• Model an innovative, learning‑oriented mindset that encourages experimentation and continuous improvement.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master’s degree and/or APICS certifications (e.g., CPIM, CSCP) preferred.

Required Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain planning (preferably within pharmaceutical, biotech, or drug development manufacturing) and/or Advanced Planning System (APS) solution design, implementation, or related consulting roles.

Advanced Planning Systems (APS) Expertise

• Hands‑on experience with at least one leading APS platform (e.g., OMP, Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, or similar).
• Demonstrated capability to translate business requirements into APS design, configuration, and planning parameter strategies.
• Experience designing or supporting APS deployments across global or multi‑site networks.

Supply Chain Planning Fundamentals

• Strong command of demand planning and statistical forecasting.
• Strong command of supply and constraint‑based planning.
• Strong command of inventory optimization and policy design.
• Strong command of S&OP / IBP processes and integration with planning systems.

Multi‑Site / Global Network Experience

• Demonstrated success leading end‑to‑end process and solution design for global or multi‑site implementations.
• Ability to recognize site‑specific nuances while driving standardization and global design principles.

Stakeholder & Change Leadership

• Exceptional engagement, facilitation, and communication skills across both business and IT stakeholders.
• Proven experience in project and change management, with the intensity and resilience needed for large‑scale transformation.
• Proven ability to collaborate across diverse cultures, time zones, and functions, demonstrating cultural agility and respect.

Mindset & Leadership Attributes

• Forward‑thinking, innovative, and comfortable challenging traditional assumptions.
• Entrepreneurial in approach—able to envision new possibilities, build consensus, and move initiatives from concept to execution.
• Models a learning mindset—asks insightful questions, seeks new tools and knowledge, and elevates team capability.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS), Change Management, Critical Thinking, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operations, Manufacturing Supply Chain, Planning Systems, Solution-Oriented, Supply Network Planning (SNP), Supply Planning

About the company

We are one company, but we operate under two different corporate brand names. We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as MSD everywhere else.