Associate Director, Workplace/FM Data Science Manager

Job Description

The GWES Delivery team sits within the GSMG/GWES DS&I organization and is responsible for supporting Workplace Services and Facilities Management with advanced analytics, insights, and data-driven decision making. The team partners closely with key GWES functions including all Facilities Management operations, Integrated Facilities Management (IFM), Real Estate, finance, Workplace Experience & Smart Buildings, Asset management and sustainability.

 

We are seeking a Workplace/FM Data Science Manager to help lead the development of analytics solutions that deliver actionable insights and improved operational and business outcomes across the global workplace and facilities portfolio. Reporting to the Director, Data & Analytics – GWES, this role will work closely with GWES directors, regional leaders, and executive stakeholders to understand complex business challenges and design appropriate analytical approaches and models.

This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring strong expertise in extracting scientific and business value from data sources (operational, financial, sensor/IoT, service provider, RE data) using advanced analytics techniques including statistical modeling, optimization, simulation, and machine learning.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of GWES stakeholder needs and priorities (Workplace Services, Facilities Management, Real Estate, IFM, Smart Buildings, Sustainability …) and translate them into scalable analytics solutions aligned with business objectives.

• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with global, regional, and site-level stakeholders, acting as a trusted analytics advisor.

• Lead the definition and delivery of complex analytics initiatives, working closely with GWES business and IT teams to select the right analytical methodologies and data approaches.

• Provide periodic performance and insight reporting to GWES Leadership, Regional Leads, Site leads  and Service Owners as required.

• Act as functional lead for a team of Business Performance Analysts and Data Analysts supporting GWES initiatives.

• Maintain awareness of data science and analytics market trends, particularly as they apply to workplace services, facilities operations, Real Estate, IoT/smart buildings, and service performance analytics, and proactively identify opportunities to increase value.

• Manage and develop a team of 1-2 data scientists, ensuring high-quality delivery, continuous skill development, and career growth within our Company.

• Build and nurture a community of practice for advanced analytics within GWES/GSMG, mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to a strong, scalable analytics capability.

• Contribute to innovation and experimentation, including ideation, proof-of-concepts, pilots, and measurable value realization.

• Communicate analytics insights clearly and effectively to business audiences, helping drive organizational adoption of data-driven decision making, and supporting the evolution from descriptive to predictive and prescriptive analytics.

• Promote a culture where analytics, modeling, and data are recognized as key differentiators for operational excellence and employee experience.

• Support the GWES Data & Analytics Lead in developing standardized performance reporting, dashboards, and insights for leadership and operational reviews as needed. Collaborate on performance management frameworks, including KPI definition, SLA monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Anticipate future analytics demands related to people, technology, budget, and business strategy, and design scalable solutions to support evolving GWES priorities

 

Travel will be required (~15%)

 

Required Education:

• Bachelor Degree required. Advanced degree in data science, mathematics, statistics, or computer science or related fields preferred,

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant delivery of complex analytical projects (industrialized, validated), across data & analytics, digital platforms, or enterprise systems.

• Demonstrated experience taking AI or advanced analytics use cases from prototype to production.

• Strong background in data & analytics solutions for operational domains

•  Solid software engineering foundation (Python preferred) and API‑based system integration

• Hands‑on experience designing and delivering Generative AI solutions (beyond PoCs) : Practical knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Experience integrating GenAI with Data lakes, analytics platforms, and enterprise systems, unstructured data sources

• Familiarity with cloud‑based architectures (Azure, AWS, or equivalent)

• Working knowledge of LLMOps / MLOps concepts

• Practical understanding of AI Governance, Security & Enterprise Readiness

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with Workplace strategy, Facilities management or Real estate  business is a plus and desirable.

Soft Skills/Competencies:

• Self-motivation, proactivity and ability to work independently with minimum direction Proven knowledge of business processes and industry/market trends within the pharmaceutical space

• Excellent business acumen, with proven ability to understand business processes in detail – both at global and region/country levels – and translate these into user stories and detailed business requirements

• Proven leadership and negotiation skills, along with good analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (English – both oral and written), along with the ability to communicate appropriately and confidently with colleagues from different backgrounds and seniority levels

• Excellent organizational skills, with ability to navigate a complex matrix environment and organize/prioritize work efficiently and effectively

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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:

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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”.

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include 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. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

04/29/2026

*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.