Job Description

The Legal Counsel, Real Estate and Procurement will provide legal support and counseling for a broad range of complex, global real estate matters on behalf of the Company, including acquisitions and dispositions of real property; commercial, industrial and ground leasing; development and construction; real estate financings; cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions; and real estate aspects of corporate M&A, including transfers of manufacturing sites as on ongoing operation. This role will also support procurement activities, including those related to real estate transactions and other agreements.

Responsibilities

Work closely with management in Global Real Estate Services, Facilities, and regional business units on complex real estate transactions led by the Company’s Corporate, Human Health, Manufacturing and Animal Health Divisions
Provide legal and strategic advice to business, management and executive clients on global real estate and real estate related matters
Negotiate and draft sophisticated agreements for:
Real estate acquisitions and dispositions (asset and entity-level; domestic and cross-border)
Leasing (office, industrial, warehouse; ground leases; utilities easements and rights-of-way)
Development and construction (design-build, EPC, CM-at-risk, construction management, architect/engineer, and ancillary agreements)
Easements, licenses, and rights-of-way
Real estate components of corporate M&A and site transfers, including supply and transition services agreements tied to site acquisitions or divestitures
Provide legal support to Global Real Estate Services on land use and development planning, filings and approvals
Coordinate with environmental law counsel on environmental law issues and liabilities in real estate and site transactions, including allocation of environmental risks
Supervise activities and manage the relationship with outside counsel to support ex-US transactions; coordinate with local counsel in multiple jurisdictions
Support procurement clients on:
Capital procurement and capital equipment contracts
Utilities and telecom agreements (including site utilities and network infrastructure arrangements)
Construction management procurement
Other related agreements
Partner with cross-functional teams to structure and execute sourcing initiatives with real estate and site impacts
Ensure procurement agreements align with Company policies, risk tolerance, and strategic objectives
Draft and negotiate supply agreements and related transition services tied to acquisition or divestiture of manufacturing sites as an ongoing operation
Exercise judgment to drive decisions on routine and non-routine matters within area of practice
Some domestic and international travel required
Report to Managing Counsel of Corporate Transactions Legal

Position Qualifications

Education Minimum Requirement

An Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
Graduate of an accredited U.S. law school, with admission to the Bar of New Jersey or another state

Prerequisites

Five (5) or more years of legal experience focusing on real estate transactions in a law firm or corporate setting
Experience negotiating and drafting sophisticated corporate real estate transactional documents
Excellent teamwork, communication (written and oral) and analytical skills, and a high degree of business acumen
Experience in managing a significant workload, with the ability to juggle multiple transactions simultaneously
Ability to be proactive and work independently with high level of initiative, self-motivation and intellectual curiosity
Willingness to embrace development opportunities

Preferred Experience and Skills

Experience supporting procurement functions, including capital procurement, capital equipment, utilities and telecom, and construction management procurement
Experience handling supply agreements and transition services agreements associated with acquisition or divestiture of manufacturing sites
Experience advising management on business and legal risks in real estate and procurement transactions
Experience operating in ambiguous circumstances and working collaboratively to set project plans and timelines
Experience in regulated industries and/or with industrial/manufacturing real estate portfolios

Required Skills

Business Acumen, Client-Focused, Client Service, Communication, Confidentiality, Contract Administration, Corporate Governance, Legal Documents Preparation, Legal Research, Legal Technology, Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Advisory, Negotiation, Real Estate Documentation, Real Estate Investments, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Leases, Real Estate Portfolio Management, Real Estate Portfolios, Real Estate Services, Self Motivation, Teamwork, Working in a Fast-Paced Environment, Workload Management

Preferred Skills

Procurement, Real Estate

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

$187,000.00 - $294,400.00

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

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Shift

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

None

Job Posting End Date

11/7/2025

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.

Requisition ID:R369830

Director Real Estate & Procurement, Legal

Job Type