MRL IT Investment Manager: Lab Ops and Platforms

Job Description

Role Summary

Support product lines in IT investment management and value realization. Drive financial stewardship and governance excellence while transforming complex data into clear, actionable narratives using analytics and insights. Turn strategy into measurable value by managing budgets, capital governance processes, and leveraging Apptio financial data to enable smarter, faster decisions within and across product lines. The IT investment Manager reports to the Value Team Investment Lead and works collaboratively with Product Line and Technical Leads, Product Managers, Finance, and Business Technology Partners.

Key Outcomes

• Accurate forecasts informed by trends and analysis.

• Timely, clear investment decisions based on trusted data sources.

• Transparency to total cost of ownership, business case forecasts and spend, and actionable insights to optimize spend.

Responsibilities

• Leverage Apptio data and analyze trends; turn insights into actionable recommendations.

• Steward and maintain business cases through all governance stages: concept, approval, execution, value check‑in, and closeout.

• Ensure Capital Governance readiness with complete financials, pre‑reads, and value realization checkpoints.

• Maintain forecasts, reconcile actuals, and ensure coding accuracy in multiple dependent systems.

• Investigate forecast and actual variances and drivers, incorporating learnings into more accurate forecasting practices

• Track value realization and recommend portfolio adjustments.

• Communicate clearly with stakeholders using visuals and plain language. Help educate and upskill stakeholders on investment management best practices.

Qualifications

• 5 + years of demonstrated portfolio or fiscal management experience, pharmaceutical industry preferred.

• Strong data skills (Excel, Power BI, SQL/Python a plus).

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in detail-oriented role with a sense of urgency to meet deadlines, often without oversight

• Strong financial, process improvement acumen with interest in educating organization in these concepts

• Curious, analytical, and able to simplify complex topics.

• Knowledge of SAP/Ariba, Apptio, Cloudability.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Business Relationship Management (BRM), Business Technology, Communication, Detail-Oriented, Financial Decision Making, Financial Management, Investment Management, Investment Risk Management, IT Financial Management, IT Portfolio Management, Management Process, Measurement Analysis, Portfolio, Programme, and Project Support, Process Improvements, Program Management, Project Governance, Risk Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Time Management, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

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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:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

02/28/2026

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