Job Description

Regional Risk Assurance Lead, Asia Pacific

Join a global biopharma company and be part of a 130- year legacy of success backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.
Lead regional risk strategy for Asia Pacific, shaping practical, business-focused approaches that help teams manage risk while keeping day-to-day operations moving smoothly.
Partner closely across functions to boost risk visibility, strengthen controls, and build lasting capability, so the business, patients and reputation stay protected. Drive risk awareness, control improvement and audit readiness through coaching and influence.
Job Location
Singapore. No relocation assistance provided.

Role overview

We are looking for a senior leader to help our Asia Pacific teams manage risk in a practical, business‑friendly way. This role sets the regional direction and priorities for risk assurance and helps markets apply the company’s Code of Conduct, policies, and standards consistently in day‑to‑day work.
You will work closely with markets and regional partners—including International Legal & Compliance, Corporate Audit & Assurance Services, Finance, Commercial Operations, Medical, and Digital—to strengthen risk visibility, improve controls, and support sustainable execution.
This is a senior leadership role focused on risk strategy, cross‑functional influence, and capability building, with a clear focus on protecting business value, patients, and reputation.
This role supports risk awareness, control improvement, and audit readiness, and does not conduct audits, investigations or replace the responsibilities of Corporate Audit, Global Investigations or Legal & Compliance.

What will you do :

1) Set the risk direction and priorities

Define and communicate the overall AP risk assurance strategy and framework, including Now / Near / Next priorities.
Build a consistent approach to prioritizing risks across markets, programs, and operating models—based on impact, likelihood, and control maturity.
Focus attention and resources on the highest-risk activities and markets.
Stay ahead of changes in regulation, operations, data, and reputation risks, and adjust priorities when needed.
Use technology and IT tools (dashboards, analytics) to spot trends, flag exceptions, and drive timely follow‑up—within data and privacy guardrails and in partnership with Digital/IT and the Legal & Compliance organization.

2) Help markets turn enterprise standards into practical execution

Turn the enterprise Code of Conduct, policies, and standards into clear, actionable regional and market plans.
Drive consistent execution across markets while respecting local laws and operating realities.
Make practical trade-offs when needed and appropriate, based on risk exposure and business impact.

3) Improve controls in a practical, business-enabling way

Provide practical guidance on the design and strengthening of controls in regional and market programs.
Bring together key themes and learnings from market observations and reviews, and create simple tools such as regional control checklists or supporting materials.

4) Co-Lead risk-based reviews and audit-readiness checks Co-Lead periodic risk-based reviews and readiness checks to help markets: spot gaps early, strengthen controls, and support remediation closure , while staying aligned with Legal, Compliance, and Corporate Audit expectations.

5) Therapeutic area / program risk leadership

Own regional governance oversight for patient programs, ensuring strong controls, early risk visibility, and disciplined follow‑up on issues and exceptions
For assigned franchises or therapeutic areas, provide regional oversight of:

Key risk areas and control effectiveness.
Governance of high-risk initiatives and operating models.
Audit readiness, key themes from findings, and remediation progress (in partnership with markets and functions).
Ongoing risk monitoring and issue escalation when needed.

Partner across Access, Commercial Operations, Medical, Finance, Legal & Compliance, and Digital to support integrated, well-controlled execution.

6) Stakeholder and business leadership

Serve as a key AP contact for Global functions and the AP Leadership Team on risk and assurance matters.
Act as a trusted thought partner to Managing Directors and regional leaders—helping them deliver objectives while managing risk.
Connect risk decisions to business continuity, sustainability, and reputation

7) Build capability and raise the bar across the region

Support, coach and develop the regional Business Practice team so markets have stronger day‑to‑day risk and control capability
Build a strong regional talent bench and strengthen overall risk and compliance capability.
Foster a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

What should you have:

Degree in accountancy or equivalent professional qualification.
At least 10 years of experience in internal audit or accounting/controls consulting, ideally with Big 4 experience and experience in pharma or another highly regulated industry (e.g., finance, medical devices).
Good working knowledge of IIA standards and a current understanding of internal controls, risk management, and governance standards.
Senior leadership experience in risk assurance, risk management, compliance, audit, legal, financial risk, or consulting across complex, regional or multi-market environments.
Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills; able to influence senior leaders.
Strong analytical skills and good attention to detail
Practical experience using data analytics to strengthen review insights is an advantage.

Preferred

Experience working across Asia Pacific markets.
Understanding of pharmaceutical industry and the regulatory/risk environment for this industry.
Understanding of patient access / financial assistance programs, >
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
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:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
04/23/2026
*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.

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