Specialist, Planning & Scheduling (Onsite)
MerckJob Description Job Summary: The Specialist, Operations Planning role is a P2 individual contributor role focused on reliable execution of assigned activities, support for larger programs or workstreams, clear communication of status and issues, and timely escalation with appropriate guidance. The role works independently on standard assignments and seeks guidance from the manager or senior colleagues for non-routine issues, conflicting priorities, or decisions outside assigned responsi Key Responsibilities: Assigned scope delivery and priority execution: Deliver assigned planning tasks and portions of larger programs, projects or workstreams in line with agreed priorities, timelines and procedures. Apply standard planning processes, tools, systems and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) expectations to complete routine to moderately complex assignments. Organize own activities, follow agreed priorities and keep manager or senior colleagues informed on progress, constraints and support needs. Escalate conflicts, decisions, or trade-offs early when guidance or alignment is required. Planning execution and business continuity support: Support planning execution for assigned portions of programs, processes or workstreams. Track required inputs, dependencies, constraints and open items related to own tasks. Communicate progress, missing information, workload concerns or potential continuity risks early. Performance, risk and escalation management: Monitor assigned tasks for schedule, quality, compliance, capacity or data-related issues. Flag conflicts, deviations from agreed plans, missing inputs or blockers and provide relevant facts to support resolution. Escalate risks or decisions outside own responsibility promptly and follow guidance on next actions. Stakeholder engagement and communication: Communicates status, open items, constraints and support needs within assigned scope. Collect and clarify required inputs from business and functional partners. Provide accurate updates and contribute factual input to meetings or discussions when requested. Knowledge sharing and team contribution: Share practical learnings, process updates and useful information with colleagues. Support documentation, knowledge transfer or onboarding activities when requested and within own experience. Apply team expectations, collaborate constructively, seek feedback and escalate questions early. Continuous improvement and transformation: Identify practical improvement ideas in own tasks, processes, documentation or tools and share them with manager or senior colleagues. Complete assigned actions that support approved standardization, digitalization or transformation activities. Apply new ways of working within own responsibilities and provide feedback on implementation challenges. Preferred Education, Experience and Skills: Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business Administration, Engineering, Life Sciences or a related field. Proven English proficiency is required, with the ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English. Initial relevant professional experience in supply chain, operations planning, clinical supply, manufacturing, packaging, logistics or a related business environment. Experience working with planning processes, business systems, data tracking, documentation or cross-functional coordination is preferred. Basic understanding of GMP, SOP, quality or regulated business requirements is an advantage. Experience using SAP or other ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams. Ability to manage assigned deliverables, track priorities and maintain accurate records and documentation. Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional and international team environment. Strong attention to detail, reliability and ability to follow defined processes and procedures. Interests in continuous improvement, standardization, digitalization or process optimiz…