Manager Data Stewardship

Job Description
R419034 Manager, Data Stewardship
The Opportunity:
Join a global biopharma company with a 130-year legacy and mission to achieve new milestones in healthcare. Be part of technology driven, data-led organization supporting a diversified portfolio of medicines, vaccines and animal health products. Work alongside passionate teams that use data, analytics and insights to drive decisions, and tackle some of the world’s greatest health threats.
Our Technology Centers are globally distributed hubs that enable our digital transformation and business outcomes across IT. They bring together diverse teams to collaborate, share best practices, and deliver solutions that save and improve lives.
This role is based at our Hyderabad Tech Center and follows a hybrid working model (3 days per week in the office and 2 days remote). Candidates are expected to reside within a commuting distance of the Hyderabad office.
Role Overview
The Manager, SCM Data Stewardship plays a key role in the creation, maintenance, accuracy, and compliant execution of master data supporting Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management operations. The role combines hands-on master data stewardship responsibilities with the leadership and development of a small team of approximately 3–8 Data Stewards.
Reporting directly to the Global Lead for Data Stewardship for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, the Manager supports day-to-day master data execution while ensuring team priorities remain aligned with global standards, business requirements, and strategic objectives.
What will you do in this role
Operational Master Data Stewardship
Execute and oversee master data creation, extension, update, and maintenance activities supporting Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management processes.
Perform and support first-time material code creation, changes, and extensions, including required pre-checks and validation activities.
Evaluate appropriate parameters and data sets to enable compliant and error-free master data changes within SAP ECC and SAP S/4.
Ensure required information, documentation, prerequisites, and approvals are available before execution.
Execute activities in accordance with global SOPs, work instructions, data standards, GxP requirements, and established controls.
Perform proactive data accuracy checks and support investigation and correction of identified issues.
Understand dependencies between master data elements and downstream business processes.
Work closely with Data Steward Leads, ISO Stewards, Supply Chain Management stakeholders, and other relevant teams to clarify requirements and ensure consistent execution.
Team Leadership
Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 3–8 Data Stewards while remaining actively involved in operational master data activities.
Manage team workload, priorities, and delivery.
Conduct performance reviews, goal-setting, feedback, and talent-development conversations.
Support onboarding, capability building, knowledge transfer, and individual development.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team environment.
Stakeholder and Priority Management
Act as an escalation point for complex or unclear master data requests.
Partner with the Global Lead for Data Stewardship for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management to align operational priorities, team capacity, risks, and strategic objectives.
Translate agreed priorities into clear actions for the team.
Collaborate with business and cross-functional stakeholders to resolve issues and dependencies.
Automation and Continuous Improvement
Identify and drive opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, and improve master data processes.
Proactively identify recurring manual activities that could be improved through automation or new technology.
Support the adoption and effective use of new digital and AI-enabled tools within Data Stewardship.
Apply tools such as Gemini to improve productivity, analysis, documentation, problem solving, and ways of working.
Contribute operational expertise to the evaluation, testing, and implementation of new Master Data Management technologies and capabilities.
What should you have
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Information Technology, Data Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
Relevant experience in master data management, data stewardship, SAP master data, Supply Chain Management, or related operational roles.
Previous experience leading or managing a small team.
Primary skills (must-have)
Strong practical knowledge of SAP master data processes, preferably SAP ECC and SAP S/4.
Strong hands-on experience in Material Master Data creation, maintenance, extension, and change activities.
Good understanding of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management processes.
Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy in operational execution.
Highly organized, with the ability to balance personal operational responsibilities and team priorities.
Proactive and solution-oriented mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong people-management, coaching, and development skills.
Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills.
Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
Strong familiarity with Gemini and the ability to use generative AI effectively in day-to-day work.
Strong interest in automation, digital tools, and new technologies and the ability to identify practical opportunities for their application.
Good understanding of GxP principles and controlled working practices.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
Secondary skills (nice to have)
Experience within the pharmaceutical, life sciences, or another regulated industry.
Experience with SAP S/4 transformation or migration activities.
Experience with DSP, Syniti, or similar master data tools.
Experience supporting automation, workflow, or process-improvement initiatives.
Familiarity with master data governance and stewardship operating models.
Who we are:
We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.
What we look for:
Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today
Required Skills:
Automation, Building Capability, Business Informatics, Business Management, Competency Development, Data Governance, Data Management, Data Management Platforms, Data Modeling, Data Operations, Data Stewardship, Data Validation, Enterprise Data Management, Process Alignment, Process Simplification, Quality Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Alignment, Strategic Objectives, Task Allocation, Team Organization, Workflow Automation
Preferred Skills:
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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
Secondary Language(s) Job Description:
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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accep