Job Description
Role Overview
IT Risk Management & Security (ITRMS) Transformation & Product Management is seeking an experienced Product Owner to lead delivery of cybersecurity products and capabilities that reduce enterprise risk and enable secure business outcomes.
This role owns the end-to-end product lifecycle, translating security, risk, and business needs into actionable product priorities and measurable outcomes. You will partner with engineering, architecture, and stakeholders to define what is delivered and ensure alignment to enterprise security strategy, while enabling teams to determine how to deliver scalable, secure solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Product Ownership & Delivery
- Own the lifecycle of Product Security capabilities from ideation through delivery and continuous improvement
- Define product vision and roadmap aligned to ITRMS strategy and risk priorities
- Ensure delivery of outcomes that measurably improve security posture
Backlog & Prioritization
- Own and prioritize the product backlog based on: Risk reduction impact Business value and stakeholder needs Regulatory and compliance requirements
- Maintain clear, actionable user stories and ensure backlog readiness
Stakeholder Leadership
- Serve as the primary interface across cybersecurity, business, and engineering teams
- Translate complex requirements into clear product direction and priorities
- Communicate outcomes, risks, and progress to leadership in business-relevant terms
Agile Execution
- Champion Agile/SAFe practices and participate in PI Planning and team ceremonies
- Drive clarity in PI Objectives and outcome measurement (BV/ABV alignment)
- Support predictable, high-quality delivery across teams
Metrics & Continuous Improvement
- Define and track KPIs across risk reduction, delivery, and customer satisfaction
- Use data and feedback to continuously refine product strategy and prioritization
Engineering & Delivery Enablement
- Partner with engineering to ensure clear understanding of requirements and priorities
- Balance technical feasibility with risk-based and customer-centric outcomes
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 7+ years of experience in Product Owner, Product Management, or similar Agile role
- Experience delivering complex technology or cybersecurity products
- Strong ability to prioritize work based on business value and risk
- Proven stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills
- Experience working in Agile frameworks (Scrum, SAFe)
Preferred Experience
- Experience within IT Risk Management & Security (ITRMS) or cybersecurity domains
- Familiarity with Product Security capabilities (e.g., AppSec, Vulnerability Management, SIEM/SOAR, DLP, Insider Threat)
- Experience in regulated environments (GxP, SOX, PCI)
- Knowledge of secure SDLC practices and enterprise security tooling
- Financial and vendor management experience
Key Success Measures
- Risk Reduction: Measurable improvement in security posture
- Value Delivered: Delivery of high-impact outcomes aligned to stakeholder priorities
- Backlog Effectiveness: Clear, prioritized, and outcome-driven backlog
- Stakeholder Engagement: Strong alignment and satisfaction across partners
- Delivery Predictability: Consistent execution against commitments
**Required Skills: **
Agile Application Development, Agile Methodology, Asset Management, Benefits Management, Enterprise Security Operations, Information Technology (IT) Risk Management, IT Risk Assessments, Management System Development, Product Lifecycle, Product Management, Product Prioritization, Product Security, Product Strategies, Requirements Management, Security Compliance, Security Solutions, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs
**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
The salary range for this role is
$142,400.00 - $224,100.00
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):
N/a
Job Posting End Date:
06/9/2026
***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. **