Intern - Future Talent Program

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Global Support Functions Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of an individual like you.  We strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement and teamwork.  As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Internships generally run from June to August and last approximately 10-12 weeks.

This role is in Marketing Procurement, which is part of the Indirect Sourcing & Operations Procurement organization under the Global Supplier Management Group.  The team aims to deliver superior performance to the organization in the areas of value creation, supplier management, and supplier risk mitigation through strategic sourcing initiatives for all divisions and functions of the company.

Marketing Procurement intern positions would be in one or two of the following: Creative, Public Relations & Global Communications, Media, Market Research or Marketing Operations.

General Responsibilities:

Support strategic and operating objectives for the procurement function including product sourcing, supply risk management, supplier performance improvement, cost reduction, supplier diversity development, working capital improvement, and supplier relationship management Work with cross functional teams including Legal, Finance, Procure-to-Pay, internal stakeholders, and external suppliers Conduct detailed market analyses looking at facts and data, with the objective of providing deep and meaningful insights Implement procurement efforts and execute tactical procurement processes. Serve as a resource regarding processes, procedures and systems for procurement function. Support selection of suppliers to ensure appropriate savings and service levels. Ensure that all legal contract requirements are met. Manage relationships with external contacts to ensure optimal team performance and to take appropriate actions by implementing contract negotiation, communication with suppliers and/or or modifying procedure to ensure customer satisfaction. Enforce compliance with all Global Procurement policies and procedures by using a data driven business case approach.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Supplier and Supply Market Analysis – Conduct rigorous market intelligence and detailed supplier/supply market analyses to provide meaningful insights for Sourcing teams.

• Cost Modeling / Cost Reduction – Build detailed cost models and purchase price analyses for goods and services supplied to the company.

• Supplier Performance Management – Monitor supplier performance, investigate root causes of issues, manage supplier-related challenges, and perform risk assessments with mitigation strategies.

• Strategic Analysis – Transform findings from supplier and cost analyses into well-structured, actionable options. Examples include Portfolio Analysis, Supplier Referencing, and Day One Sourcing initiatives.

• Financial Analysis & Reporting – Prepare monthly reports on category spend, savings, compliance, and key metrics. Support the annual budget/profit planning process at the global level and maintain financial management systems (including SAP) with up-to-date data.

• Negotiation Planning – Develop detailed pre-negotiation plans, lead or participate in negotiation sessions, and ensure thorough post-negotiation debriefs and follow-up actions.

• Sourcing – Execute RFIs, RFPs, and e-Auctions, using electronic procurement processes to structure and analyze supplier information.

• Risk Assessment & Mitigation – Conduct financial solvency checks, compliance assessments (e.g., FCPA, Business Partner Code of Conduct), and implement mitigation plans aligned with the Manufacturing Division’s risk management framework.

• Category Team Membership – Actively contribute to one or more category teams by applying analyses and tools to create strategies that deliver cost-reduction targets.

• Knowledge Sharing – Produce work of world-class quality and actively share learnings and best practices with colleagues across GSMG.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Currently in sophomore or junior level curriculum, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in business (such as Finance or Management), Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing, Market Research, Communications or a Science-related discipline (Engineering, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry or Bioengineering). 

Required Experience and Skills:

• Superior interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to work successfully on cross functional teams

• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills including ability to make clear and concise presentations, sensitivity to cultural differences in communication

• Strong data collection, analysis and reporting skills

• Excellent project management skills

• Ability to work independently with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to deal with ambiguous and dynamic situations

• Quick learner and motivated to cultivate technical, business and commercial skills by applying their knowledge within our company environment

• Experience with SharePoint and Enterprise Social Media (specifically Teams, Yammer), and familiarity with principles of business communication, marketing and/or journalism.

• Proficient in Microsoft office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

• Demonstrated excellent academic achievement

Preferred Experience and Skills:  

• Prior pharmaceutical industry experience or any fortune 500 company experience

• Experience with using SharePoint or other similar collaboration websites

• Experience with TIBCO Spotfire or other data analytic/visualization tools

• Experience with using Excel to manage large data sets

Your role at our company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our company , we’re inventing for life. 

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”.

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:

Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Required Skills:

 Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

11/3/2025

*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.