TOPS RunOps Research Application Lead

Job Description

We are seeking professionals with the following qualifications, skills and experience:

The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the end to end operations management of assigned application portfolios. Further, the candidate will drive operations excellence through aherence to enterprise and organizational standards and industry leading practices. The ideal candidate will be techno-functional and comfortable in both technical and functional operations subject matter.

Education Level:

• A bachelor's degree in IT/Computer Science, or a related field is preferred. However, candidates with proven expertise in IT operations, infrastructure management, and service delivery will also be considered without a formal degree. Industry certifications are highly valued as proof of practical knowledge and skills.

Required Experience and Skills:

• 3+ years intermediate experience in IT Operations, infrastructure management, and service delivery.
• Intermediate knowledge of SDLC processes and ITSM frameworks and practices
• Practical experience in Agile methodology and SCRUM processes
• Intermediate understanding and experience in DevSecOps, CI/CD Pipelines as well as SRE principles and practices
• Intermediate understanding of the cloud technologies, including networking, storage, database, security and integration services
• Intermediate working knowledge in cloud based DevSecOps solutions
• Intermediate knowledge of software lifecycle management patterns, practices, methods and industry common supporting technologies.
• Intermediate skills in implementing and managing automation tools and processes
• Intermediate knowledge of quality engineering and release management tools and practises
• Intermediate problem-solving skills with the ability to handle complex technical issues.
• Ability to manage and execute technology lifecycle activities, inclusive of incident and problem lifecycle management
• Relevant certifications such as ITIL, PMP, or other industry-recognized credentials are highly desirable
• Self-learner with a drive to automate and simplify IT Operations

We are seeking energetic, forward-thinking professionals to join our Information Technology group in Technology Operations and Services (TOPS). As part of that team, you will be part of the IT Technology Center, focused on developing and applying advanced capabilities in information sciences and information security. You will have the opportunity to work with global teams to identify and tackle the biggest opportunities and challenges at the intersection of healthcare, information and technology. We offer project-based rotations to help with your professional development, and a flat, collaborative environment. Overall, the IT Technology Center in Rahway, NJ or West Point, PA offers technology professionals incredible opportunities to learn from others across the globe, and to enjoy a reward that technology careers don't often bring: the satisfaction of helping to save lives.

The successful candidate will be responsible for Oversight and end to end Operations management of applications within assigned portfolio.

With Intermediate knowledge and experience, Operational Lead will independently (or with minimal oversight from Sr. Operational Lead, would lead, drive, and execute the following list of responsibilities:

• At least 3 years of experience in Research & Development Pharmaceutical domain operations, with proven expertise managing application lifecycles, compliance, and stakeholder engagement in Research & Development environments.
• Plan, organize, and manage the execution of application end-to-end lifecycle operations (e.g., monitoring, incident resolution, patching, DR, minor enhancements, archival, decommission, other) for assigned groupings of applications (portfolios); inclusive of their front-end, middleware, reporting, and Infrastructure components.
• Determine, establish, measure, and report application operational performance for relevant targets (e.g., SLA, SLO, SLI, OLA, Error Budget Policy).
• Determine, plan, organize, and managed the execution of application operations performance improvements (e.g., modernization, reliability, recoverability, FinOps, SLA/SLO/OLA/other).
• Plan, organize, and manage the ongoing adherence of assigned application groupings to Company standards (e.g., operations excellence, compliance, audit, DevXOps, security, other).
• Responsible for setting, publishing, governing, and driving operations standards and procedures across the enterprise
• Detect, surface, socialize, and action application operations insights (e.g., trending, performance, results) with stakeholders.
• Plan, organize, socialize, and implement application annual support plans (e.g., scope, estimates, resourcing, contracting, other).
• Manage the resolution of application support issues (non-Prod and Prod) and subsequent problem investigations (RCA/CAPA).
• Manage customer and stakeholder application operations service support escalations and CSAT/NPS.
• Collaborate with peers, customers, and others on common opportunities to simplify, optimize, and enhance application operations support.
• Partner with Customer Success Manager on new engagements, improvements, and escalations.

We offer:

• Competitive remuneration
• Challenging career
• Professional growth based on performance
• Innovative and flexible working environment
• Wide range of benefits

Required Skills:
Agile Methodology, Application Portfolio Management, Availability Management, Change Controls, Computer Science, Escalation Management, Incident Management, Information Technology Operations, IT Infrastructure Management, IT Operation, Management System Development, Operations Support, Problem Management, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Engineering, Release Management, Service Delivery, SLA Management, Software Configurations, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Software Lifecycle Management (SLM), Stakeholder Engagement, Testing

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".

The salary range for this role is
$104,200.00 - $163,900.00

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 ;br>
You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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

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:
No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

Job Posting End Date:
02/3/2026
*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.