[Hiring] Associate Director, Learning & Development @Merck

Role Description

The Associate Director in Global Learning & Development is responsible for serving as a trusted business advisor to business leaders and stakeholders in the Oncology Business Unit in order to enable business goals and outcomes by accelerating the development of critical capabilities needed to drive business success through a productive and engaged workforce. S/he maintains awareness and understanding of key business priorities/processes and external best practices, partners with key divisional stakeholders to identify performance needs and gaps, and collaborates with design experts and operational support points on desired performance outcomes. This leader will build and maintain strong business relationships, build sponsorship, and collaborate as part of an integrated learning network. Success in this role depends on a candidate’s ability to translate the goals of the business into learning strategies and solutions, then oversee effective design and delivery through a network of internal and at times external colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point of contact for the Oncology Business Leaders.
• Align business leaders on the implications of short and long-term decisions, strategies, and large-scale change efforts on employee learning and development in their respective business areas, and how those implications will affect sustainable business results.
• Develop depth of business understanding to maximize relevance and impact on business outcomes.
• Determine learning strategies and plans based on identified needs and gaps to achieve business strategy.
• Align business managers around “best fit” learning strategies while collaborating within GL&D and external partners to leverage existing and/or develop learning solutions to meet unique business requirements.
• Prioritize and manage portfolio of work and overall Learner Experience at level of responsibility.
• Create line of sight for divisional clients into short-, mid-, and long-term L&D plans, existing resources and access to them.
• Provide critical input to the curriculum design and development team responsible for overall planning of learner experiences and solutions.
• Collaborate with HR business partners in business area to integrate learning solutions with other talent-related initiatives.
• Deliver training and/or support local SMEs providing training, as needed.
• Partner with the business to define business and learning outcomes.
• Measure and report impact of learning programs against set metrics.
• Ensure execution of a coherent, efficient, and strategically aligned approach to L&D planning and implementation.
• Deliver or facilitate training content.
• Coach and build capability of local L&D colleagues or global/local subject matter experts who will deliver or facilitate, as needed.
• Ensure accurate forecasts and project risk management.

Competencies

• Business Acumen: Ability to engage with mid-level business leaders around business strategy, goals, and business outcomes, and make sound business decisions.
• Leadership: Intermediate ability to partner, collaborate, and impact decisions at all levels within and outside the organization.
• Collaboration: Work with individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Creative Thinking: Intermediate skill in applying tools and techniques for grasping new concepts.
• Business Consulting: Expertise in consulting and ability to coach clients not to use learning solutions where they will not be effective.
• Oral and Written Communications: Ability to express oneself effectively and succinctly.
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Ability to use a broad range of methods, assumptions, frameworks, and perspectives when solving problems.
• Data analytics: Ability to determine business and learning outcomes, metrics and measurement strategies.
• Planning: Project planning and management experience.
• L&D Policies, Standards, and Procedures: Knowledge of and ability to use industry and organization standards relevant to staff learning and development.
• Adult Learning: Theory and Practice: Experience in applying concepts and practices of adult learning.
• Learning Needs Analysis: Experience in assessing competency gaps and identifying what people need to learn.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, or currently in pursuit of degree completion, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of related experience, with a minimum 5 years of leadership experience and a minimum 1 year of experience facilitating/delivering learning solutions.
• Minimum 1 year of experience facilitating / delivering learning solutions or relevant pharmaceutical/oncology experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Experience in the areas of learning, talent, HR, or comparable areas.

Required Skills

• Adult Learning Principles
• Attendance Tracking
• Business Data Analytics
• Business Planning
• Business Strategies
• Compliance Training
• Creative Thinking
• Critical Thinking
• Curriculum Development
• Customized Training
• Design Education
• eLearning Development
• Human Resources Consulting
• Instructional Design
• Learning Needs Analysis
• Learning Strategies
• Oral Communications
• People Leadership
• Performance Metrics
• Project Management
• Sales Training
• Strategic Thinking
• Training Delivery

Benefits

• 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.