Senior IT Business Analyst

Merck & Co. Inc., established in 1891, is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first.  Join us and experience our culture first-hand — one of strong ethics & integrity, diversified experiences and a resounding passion for improving human health.  As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.  As one of the liaisons between Merck Manufacturing Division - IT (MMD-IT) and its clients, the Senior Business Analyst is responsible for identifying the business needs of clients and stakeholders to help determine technology solutions to business problems and is accountable for Quality Assurance to ensure that all requirements have been successfully tested in the resulting technology solution.  The Senior Business Analyst works with project leaders to identify and define business issues, to build business cases, and lead the development of the Functional Requirement Specification (FRS).  This role will also be responsible for leading those activities associated with the project that ensure quality of the end technology solution.  As part of this role, the Senior Business Analyst will also be engaged, as needed, in ongoing production support activities to enable timely and efficient resolution of system issues and recommend improvement opportunities. The Analyst will have regular direct interaction with Directors and other stakeholders in the Client organization. Under the management and supervision of the MMD-IT Business Architect -  Client Services, the Senior Business Analyst is responsible for activities that include the following: In partnership with the Business Architect, facilitate the concept phase for all IT-enabled initiatives:-  Document current and future state business process and information flow maps-  Perform root cause analysis to identify current state process inefficiencies-  Develop qualitative and quantitative business cases for process improvements and automation initiatives Support business assessment reviews, Kaizen events and walk-through's for Vaccines Strategic initiatives, especially in regards to operation under a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) WERUM. Develop detailed functional requirement specification from high level business concepts. Partner with the Business Architect or other Senior BA to develop solution alternatives for business requirements and ensure alignment with IT Architecture and Vaccines Business Strategy. Lead the development of Quality Assurance Plans to set quality parameters and expectations for deliverables across all phases of the Merck SLC. Lead the development of Test Plans and Test Scripts that can be traced back to functional requirement specifications and ensure that all requirements are tested satisfactorily. Support User Acceptance Test (UAT) activities to ensure quality of the end user deliverables. Coordinate end user training program development. Track realization benefits for IT investments. Gain knowledge, as it relates to client business processes and the current business environment in which they operate in, and support the ongoing development and maintenance of the Vaccines IT Strategy. Provide project management support for small and medium size local IT projects. This position is located at our growing Research Triangle Park facility in Durham, NC. Requirements: BS degree is required. Concentration in  Engineering, Computer Science, or other technical degree is preferred.  A minimum of 4 years experience in the areas of business requirements analysis and gathering, and business process engineering in a client facing role.  Project Management experience required. Excellent understanding of cGMP's, System Life Cycle methodologies and LEAN/MPS principles.  Excellent facilitation, problem solving, and decision making skills.  Demonstrated ability to analyze and define business problems, develop business cases, and identify appropriate process and technological solutions is essential.  Proven facilitation, meeting/workshop management, project management and change management skills are essential, along with excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as strong presentation skills. Preferred: MS in Computer Science or related field/MBA a plus. Experience in Vaccine Manufacturing front line supervision and/or project/automation support. Ability to understand and align IT Architecture and business strategy with business solutions. Familiarity with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and associated processes a plus. PMP certification a plus. Experience with Lean-Six Sigma methodologies. Consistently cited as a great place to work, we discover, develop, manufacture and market a wide range of vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. Each of our employees is joined by an extraordinary sense of purpose — bringing Merck’s finest achievements to people around the world. We offer an excellent salary and an industry-ranked benefits program, including tuition reimbursement, work-life balance initiatives and developmental programs at all levels.  Merck’s retirement package includes a pension plan and one of the best 401(k) plans in the nation.   To be considered for this position, please visit our career site at www.merck.com/careers to create a profile and submit your resume for requisition # INF003842. Merck is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V — proudly embracing diversity in all of its manifestations. Our work is someone’s hope.  Join us.Where patients come first — Merck Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully:   Merck is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity.  Please, no phone calls or emails.  All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Merck via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Merck.  No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Merck as a result of the referral or through other means.