Paralegal -Global Compensation & Benefits (Hybrid)
Job Description
We partner with the business to ensure we maintain our company’s values and high ethical standards, comply with the law, protect our people, and enhance our reputation. We strive to foster an environment that is inspiring, supportive, and diverse.
We are currently seeking a Paralegal II to join the Global Compensation & Benefits organization in the Office of General Counsel to provide support to attorneys who oversee the design, operation, and continuing compliance of our Company’s tax-qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and compensation arrangements, including equity compensation. The Paralegal II will advise on the full range of benefit and compensation issues, including those that arise in corporate M&A transactions; draft plan materials, including plan documents, amendments, policies and participant communications; and support the implementation of compensation and benefit program changes.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Routinely monitor statutory, regulatory and other governmental pronouncements, identify relevant developments, and assess the impact on our Company’s employee benefit and compensation plans
- Review, draft, and/or revise employee benefit and compensation plans, summary plan descriptions, and other employee communications to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirements and implement plan design changes Advise clients on how to resolve compliance issues and other technical matters that arise in the day-to-day administration of our Company's employee benefit and compensation plans and programs
- Assess impact of corporate transactions (mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, etc.) on our Company's employee benefit and compensation plans
- Prepare IRS determination letter requests and other governmental filings
- Assist/support internal benefit compliance audits of our Company's benefit plans, policies and practices
- Deliver concise legal documents and communications to internal business partners with support of attorney as appropriate
- Assist in the preparation of benefit committee presentations, including legal research and drafting meeting materials
- Independently handle legal and/or factual research as appropriate
- Support attorneys in connection with ERISA claims and litigation
- Represent team in cross-functional working groups
- Serve as team liaison with external plan vendors
- Ability to work on a hybrid schedule, with in-office presence in Rahway, NJ at least 2 days/week
Position Qualifications:
Education Minimum Requirement:
- High School degree required
- Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, or Paralegal certificate preferred.
Required Experience and Skills:
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience as a member of a benefits consulting team, client service team, law firm, or corporate setting in the employee benefits practice area; experience with both retirement and health and welfare employee benefit or executive compensation plans desired, and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) certification preferred
- Substantive knowledge of legal principles, strategies and technology, and strong legal advisory skills
- Ability to independently handle routine legal issues/documents with employees and third parties under direction of attorney as appropriate
- Ability to independently solve problems that arise within job responsibilities and expectations
- Ability to independently develop legal solutions for business issues with minimal supervision/support
- Accuracy & attention to detail in analyses and communications
- Ability to speak and write clearly and succinctly including on complex legal issues and craft effective communications that emphasize key points and ideas
- Effective time management to meet deadlines, including project management skills, prioritization, consistent delivery of commitments, and ability to organize information and build upon ideas of others
- Autonomy on routine tasks as well as projects of greater complexity and ability to recognize need for and seek further direction of attorney
- Discrete in handling sensitive and confidential information and a high level of integrity
- Advanced Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel)
Our Support Functions deliver services and make recommendations about ways to enhance our workplace and the culture of our organization. Our Support Functions include HR, Finance, Information Technology, Legal, Procurement, Administration, Facilities and Security.
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 inventing for life, 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 among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.
NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS
In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.
If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Residents of Colorado
Click here to request this role’s pay range.
Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.
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.
For more information about personal rights under Equal Employment Opportunity, visit:
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Under New York City, Washington State and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.
Expected salary range:
$80,320.00 - $126,500.00Available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. For Washington State Jobs, a summary of benefits is listed 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:
RegularRelocation:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):