Associate Director, Global Investigations

Job Description

The Associate Director, Investigator will report to the Director of U.S. Investigations, Global Investigations (GI) in the Offices of the General Counsel.  The successful candidate will be responsible for investigating potential policy violations and other alleged misconduct involving our employees in the United States, with a focus on the Human Health sales and marketing organization. The scope of the role includes investigation of alleged violations of business-related compliance policies as well as alleged workplace misconduct such as discrimination or harassment. The successful candidate must be able to analyze data and draw reasonable conclusions, possess strong listening, communication and writing skills, be able to thrive in a fast paced and dynamic environment, and be able to work effectively with stakeholders at various levels of the organization.  As the position requires working across various functions (e.g. Legal, Compliance, Security, Human Resources), demonstrated networking and influencing skills are required.  The successful candidate will also complete other projects as needed to support GI priorities and objectives.

Activities and Responsibilities

The Associate Director will be responsible for leading or supporting the activities below.  This list is not all- inclusive, and the Associate Director may be required to take on additional related GI activities.

• Plans and conducts confidential investigations of potential corporate policy violations; identifies and conducts interviews with all relevant involved parties; gathers and reviews relevant documentation; analyzes all evidence and draws factual findings and conclusions

• Supports triaging of allegations, including assessing allegations at intake to determine whether a potential policy violation exists and/or directing the reporting person to appropriate party (such as HR or management) for follow-up

• Makes recommendations on discipline for individuals and on potential corrective and preventive actions for the organization, and manages the remediation process with stakeholders in Legal, Human Resources, Compliance, and Management

• Drafts detailed case reports summarizing the investigation, factual findings, and remediation

• Assists the Director in identifying and reporting investigation trends to senior leadership

• Works with stakeholders across the organization and geographic locations when required

• Works closely with divisional Compliance to investigate potential compliance-specific policy violations

• Supports divisional Compliance with the identification of investigation trends and with drafting various reports, including but not limited to the Audit Committee Report.

• Attends and participates in divisional Compliance meetings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree

• Minimum 5 years' experience in compliance, human resources, problem resolution, conducting investigations or conducting audits

• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills

• Advanced oral and written communication skills

• Ability to listen carefully and build rapport with an interviewee without losing objectivity

• Excellent presentation, networking and influencing skills

• Extensive experience working across organizational and geographical boundaries

• Experience responding to employee concerns and providing guidance, such as in a Human Resources role

• Demonstrated ability to manage and appropriately prioritize multiple cases simultaneously

• Ability to apply knowledge of Company policies and business practices to a variety of situations

• Sophisticated understanding of compliance regulations and business ethics

• Ability to assess the impact of an investigation on the organization and initiate action as needed

• Experience and comfort working with senior managers and individuals within the Offices of the General Counsel

Preferred:

• Compliance, Legal, Quality, HR or Audit investigation experience

• Knowledge of and investigation experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry, particularly in U.S. sales and marketing

• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and compliance expectations for U.S. pharmaceutical sales or marketing organizations.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Administrative Policies, Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC), Audits Compliance, Communication, Compliance Analytics, Compliance Program Development, Compliance Reporting, Compliance Support, Confidentiality, Corporate Ethics, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Ethical Compliance, Ethics, Fast-Paced Environments, Financial Compliance, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Human Resource Management, Insurance, Marketing Compliance, Pharmaceutical Management, Regulatory Communications, Regulatory Compliance Consulting { 5 more}

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/a

Job Posting End Date:

02/26/2026

*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.

Requisition ID:R385560

Salary : $129,000 - $203,100