Business Analyst – Automation, Analytics & AI at Merck in Rahway, NJ

Business Analyst – Automation, Analytics & AI Location: USA - New Jersey - Rahway Job Description The Business Analyst – Automation, Analytics & AI (BA – AA & AI) supports the identification, delivery, and sustainment of country-level automation, analytics, and AI solutions that enhance clinical trial operations. Working under the guidance of the Clinical Research Director (CRD) and in close collaboration with the RRO Automation Analytics & AI Lead (RAAI Lead) and Senior Business Analysts, the role assists with business case preparation, data analysis, dashboard/report building, workflow documentation, solution testing, training, and user support. The BA – AA & AI helps ensure solutions are compliant, adopted, and continuously improved and may be involved in supporting alignment and scalability for regional and global solutions. As needed, the BA – AA & AI may also support initiatives driven by Regional Operations teams, such as Global Site Agreements (GSA), Global Trial Optimization (GTO), Global Sites Budgets and Payments (GSBP) and Essential Document Management (EDM). Extent of Travel – Up to 10% of working time. Key Responsibilities: Intake & Analysis Support Assist in compiling business cases, gathering requirements, mapping processes, and documenting user stories and acceptance criteria. Conduct data exploration and prepare baseline metrics to define problem statements and expected benefits. Verify with relevant central repositories and teams if there are similar tools to avoid duplication; summarize reuse opportunities and recommendations for the Sr. BA – AA& AI and RAAI Lead. Solution Build & Testing Build and maintain country dashboards and basic automations under supervision using approved platforms. Prepare test scripts, perform user acceptance testing (UAT) coordination, and document outcomes; support validation and release documentation. Support configuration and minor enhancements; triage user feedback and escalating defects/issues as needed. Reporting & Metrics Produce routine operational reports and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) dashboards; maintain data definitions and refresh cadence. Track solution performance metrics (e.g., adoption, data quality, cycle time) and prepare updates for stakeholders. Compliance & Change Support Ensure adherence to ICH GCP, Company policies, and local regulations in documentation and solution usage. Support change management activities (training materials, user guides, quick reference content) and deliver end-user training sessions. Collaboration Collaborate with country, regional and headquarters teams, such as Sr. BA - AA & AI/ RAAI Lead, and Global Clinical Data Integration (GCDI) / Information Technology (IT) partners; share learnings and templates with peers. Required Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in life science discipline, business analytics, computing science, engineering, or related field, with 2+ years of hands-on experience in data analysis, process improvement, or technology-enabled projects (including exposure to automation platforms, analytics tools, or AI frameworks), or An associate degree or equivalent post‑secondary qualification in a life science discipline, business analytics, computing science, engineering, or related field, combined with a minimum of 4 years of relevant hands-on experience in data analysis, process improvement, or technology-enabled projects (including exposure to automation platforms, analytics tools, or AI frameworks). ​Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Business analysis skills: Ability to gather and document requirements, translate business needs into data or solution specifications, and support testing and validation activities. Data literacy: ability to analyze datasets, build reports, and visualize metrics; attention to data quality. Technical aptitude: hands-on with Excel and at least one BI tool; foundational understanding of automation platforms and AI-assisted tools, with willingness to learn approved platforms. Organization & communication: clear written/verbal English; structured documentation; effective collaboration in a matrixed setting. Compliance awareness: basic understanding of operating in regulated environments and adherence to procedures. Learning mindset: proactive, curious, and coachable; embracing feedback and continuous improvement. Preferred Experience: Exposure to clinical research operations or adjacent functions. Experience with Business Intelligence (BI) tools (e.g., Power BI/Tableau) and basic data wrangling (Excel/PowerQuery/DAX; introductory Structured Query Language (SQL)). Familiarity with workflow documentation and testing/UAT practices. Internships or project work in healthcare/life sciences/regulatory environments desirable. Required Skills: Automation Framework Design, Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Process Improvements, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), User Feedback 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: 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”. The salary range for this role is $96,200.00 - $151,400.00 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: 25% Flexible Work Arrangements: Remote Shift: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): N/A Job Posting End Date: 05/14/2026 *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.