Senior Specialist, IT Procurement

Senior Specialist, IT Procurement at Merck

The Senior Specialist, Technology Procurement – Software is responsible for supporting and executing software sourcing and procurement activities within an assigned category of spend. This role provides end‑to‑end sourcing support for IT software initiatives, including contract negotiation support, pricing and financial analysis, supplier engagement, and compliance with global procurement strategies. The position partners closely with global IT and business stakeholders to deliver measurable business value, manage supplier performance, and ensure consistent adoption of procurement processes and ways of working.

Key Responsibilities

Category & Sourcing Execution

• Act as a key individual contributor within the software category, supporting the execution of sourcing strategies aligned with global procurement objectives, compliance requirements, and business performance goals.
• Provide sourcing support for the Software IT team, including contract negotiation support, pricing and financial analysis, contract administration, and competitive bidding activities.
• Support enterprise and strategic sourcing initiatives under category leadership guidance.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with global IT and business stakeholders, tailored to their business needs and aligned with global procurement strategy.
• Serve as a trusted procurement partner for assigned stakeholders by providing responsive, value‑focused sourcing support.
• Collaborate effectively in a global, matrixed environment across regions and functions.

Global Procurement Alignment

• Support adoption of the company’s global procurement strategy, global category management approach, and standard ways of working across regions.
• Ensure sourcing activities comply with global policies, processes, and governance requirements.

Supplier Value & Performance Management

• Support supplier value management activities with key suppliers in the software category, including performance tracking, issue resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to supplier governance models and encourage supplier‑led innovation aligned with business and technology needs.
• Support implementation of supplier performance reviews and improvement actions as required.

Responsible Sourcing

• Actively support inclusion objectives by growing relationships and spend with Suppliers where applicable.
• Promote responsible sourcing practices in alignment with company values and procurement standards.

Financial Tracking & Reporting

• Record, track, and report cost savings, value creation, and project progress for IT sourcing initiatives within Procurement’s Savings Database.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting to support audits, governance, and performance measurement.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Information Technology, Finance, or a related technical field.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in IT, IT procurement, sourcing, or vendor management.
• Experience supporting negotiation of commercial and legal contract terms and conditions.
• Experience supporting procurement processes and vendor management activities.
• Experience conducting financial and pricing analysis.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong customer service and stakeholder‑focused mindset.
• Ability to bring creativity and innovation to problem solving.
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, global, matrixed environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Cultural awareness and ability to work effectively with international teams, often remotely.
• Proven track record of stakeholder engagement and cross‑functional collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of software procurement and software licensing models.
• Experience using Ariba and/or SAP procurement systems.
• Experience supporting negotiations of enterprise agreements with strategic suppliers.
• Experience supporting IT project management and software implementation initiatives.

Key skills/competency

• IT Procurement
• Software Sourcing
• Contract Negotiation
• Vendor Management
• Financial Analysis
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Global Procurement
• Compliance
• Risk Management
• Procurement Systems