This is one of the most strategically significant roles in the new CREM structure — and in many respects the strategic right hand of the Head of CREM. As Head of Strategy & Real Estate, you will build and lead the capability that connects Merck's business direction to its global real estate portfolio: translating corporate strategy into actionable portfolio plans, owning the business partnering relationships with sector leadership, and overseeing the execution of transactions across EMEA, AMER and APAC.
This is a newly created function. Portfolio strategy, proactive planning and workplace strategy do not currently exist in a mature form within Merck's real estate organisation — you will establish them. Transactions capability exists and is largely retained; your mandate is to elevate it from reactive execution to strategically-led delivery.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Portfolio Strategy: Lead the development and annual refresh of CREM's Real Estate Plan of Record — translating business growth, consolidation and transformation requirements into a multi-year portfolio strategy with clear priorities, scenarios and business cases. Own portfolio optimisation as the function's primary strategic output.
- Business Partnering: Serve as a senior strategic partner to business sector leads across Healthcare, Life Science and Electronics — embedding CRE into business planning cycles before decisions are made, not after. Build trusted relationships that position CREM as a value-creating partner.
- M&A Support – Lead on all aspects of Real Estate and FM due diligence to support Merck M&A activity, managing cross-border due diligence and master planning to capture portfolio synergies, mitigate risk, and prepare portfolio integration plan. Once M&A transaction is signed then lead the implementation of all portfolio and service delivery integration activities.
- Workplace & Occupancy Strategy: Own workplace and occupancy planning strategy at a global level — setting standards, guiding space utilisation principles and ensuring portfolio decisions reflect both business needs and efficiency targets.
- Market Intelligence: Oversee the function's market intelligence capability — leveraging external partners and broker relationships to ensure portfolio decisions are backed by real market insight, proactive lease expiry management and benchmarked market data.
- Transaction Oversight: Provide strategic direction and oversight to the regional Transaction Managers across EMEA, AMER and APAC — ensuring all transactions are strategy-led, governed consistently and executed to a high standard. Maintain sufficient transaction expertise to provide cover and resource flexibility where needed.
- Portfolio Management Oversight: Direct the regional Portfolio Managers in building and maintaining portfolio performance visibility, opportunity identification and Plan of Record delivery across all geographies.
- Governance & Process: Champion the adoption of CREM's transaction and strategy governance frameworks — ensuring compliance with playbooks, approval processes and decision rights across the team. Responsible for approving all global real estate transactions above approved thresholds
- Stakeholder Engagement: Represent CREM in cross-functional forums alongside the Head of CREM — including OLC engagement, sector strategy sessions and M&A workstreams where real estate input is required.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 12+ years in corporate real estate, with a strong track record in portfolio strategy, location strategy or strategic business partnering at a senior level within a large multinational
- Demonstrated experience developing and owning portfolio strategy — scenario planning, multi-year planning, lease expiry management, location strategy
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to build and present compelling business cases to C-suite audiences
- Deep understanding of transaction management across leasehold and freehold assets; sufficient execution expertise to provide leadership continuity across the regional transaction teams
- Experience working in a matrixed, multi-sector corporate environment; comfortable navigating complex stakeholder landscapes
- Exceptional relationship builder — able to operate credibly at senior business and executive level
- Exposure to workplace strategy and occupancy planning advantageous
- Master's degree in Real Estate, Business Administration, Finance or a related field
- Fluency in English required; additional languages advantageous given global remit
Location: Damrstadt, Germany
Role Level: Manager 5
Department:EF-TR-E Group Real Estate & Facility Management
