Job Description
Senior Manager – CSR & Sustainability (India)
Position Summary
The Senior Manager – CSR & Sustainability will lead and execute the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives in India with a strong focus on State engagements and compliance under the Companies Act, 2013, community impact, governance, and stakeholder engagement. The role requires deep knowledge of India's CSR laws, hands‑on experience in State-level engagements, mapping stakeholders, designing and implementing community programs, and strong monitoring, evaluation, and reporting capabilities. The incumbent will work closely with cross‑functional teams, NGOs, government bodies, and global sustainability teams to ensure meaningful and measurable impact.
Key Responsibilities
- State-level Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Monitor and analyse state level healthcare policy developments, regulatory changes, and public health programs relevant to the company's therapeutic areas.
- Build and maintain relationships with key policy stakeholders, including public health institutions, professional societies, government‑supported bodies, and expert groups. And with NGOs, government bodies, community organizations, and industry sustainability networks.
- Contribute to internal policy discussions, providing data‑driven insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Coordinate input into consultations, industry forums, and multi‑stakeholder platforms to represent the organization's perspective.
- Represent the organization in CSR and sustainability forums, roundtables, and working groups.
- Engage internal teams (communications, HR, business units) to promote a culture of volunteering and responsible citizenship.
- Support external communication through stories of impact, case studies, and best‑practice documentation.
- CSR Strategy & Program Management
- Compliance, Governance & Reporting
- Community Project Execution & Monitoring
- Sustainability & ESG Support
- Internal Collaboration & Capacity Building
- Manage development and execution of the India CSR strategy aligned with corporate priorities and Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.
- Design and implement CSR projects in priority areas such as public health, education, skilling, environment, or women's empowerment, ensuring high‑quality impact delivery.
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard credible NGO partners, ensuring due diligence, compliance, and alignment with company values.
- Manage the full lifecycle of CSR projects—planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, closure, and sustainability of outcomes.
- Coordinate internal CSR committees and ensure documentation meets statutory requirements.
- Ensure strict compliance with CSR regulations under the Companies Act, 2013, CSR Rules, amendments, MCA guidelines, and Board directives.
- Prepare mandatory CSR reporting sections for the Annual Report, Board updates, and disclosures.
- Maintain meticulous documentation, agreements, partner records, impact assessments, and audit‑ready files.
- Work with Legal, Finance, and Compliance teams to ensure transparent and compliant fund deployment.
- Drive third‑party impact assessments as required under Indian CSR laws for applicable thresholds.
- Conduct baseline assessments, site visits, and community consultations to understand needs and design responsive interventions.
- Develop and execute robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) frameworks, including KPIs, outcome tracking, field verification, data quality checks, and risk assessments.
- Ensure timely reporting by partners and provide support to improve program standards and operational excellence.
- Troubleshoot challenges in the field, ensuring programs are delivered ethically, safely, and efficiently.
- Support India‑specific sustainability and ESG initiatives aligned with global corporate sustainability priorities.
- Contribute to environmental stewardship efforts
- Track policy developments in ESG and sustainability at national and global levels and provide insights into business implications.
- Collaborate with global sustainability /Social Impact teams to localize frameworks, tools, and reporting processes.
- Coordinate with cross‑functional teams to ensure alignment and integrated execution of CSR and sustainability priorities.
- Conduct capacity‑building sessions for internal teams on CSR law, compliance, and sustainability themes.
- Support employee volunteering programs and internal sustainability campaigns.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree required (Social Work, Development Studies, Public Policy, Sustainability, Environmental Studies, or related fields).
- Master's degree preferred.
Experience
- 8–15 years of experience in CSR, sustainability, social impact, or development sector program management, state-level policy engagements
- Strong understanding of India's CSR legislation and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated experience in managing community development projects end‑to‑end.
- Experience working with NGOs, government agencies, and multi‑stakeholder coalitions.
- Experience in project monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment methodologies.
Capabilities & Skills
- Strong project management and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Ability to work across functions with high integrity, transparency, and attention to detail.
- Good understanding of sustainability and ESG concepts.
- Ability to manage budgets, timelines, and multiple partners simultaneously.
- Hands‑on approach with willingness to travel to project locations.
Required Skills
Charitable Organizations, Charitable Organizations, Communication Coordination, Communication Management, Content Creation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Corporate Sustainability, Corporate Sustainability Management, Data Insights, Data Quality, Due Diligence, Employee Engagement, Environmental Science, Event Management, Global Health, Media Communications, Policy Making, Policy Research, Program Management, Project Management, Project Tracking, Public Speaking, Report Writing, Risk Assessments, Socially Responsible Investment + 2 more
Preferred Skills
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
Not Applicable
Shift
Valid Driving License
Hazardous Material(s)
Job Posting End Date
05/4/2026
- 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.
Requisition ID R393343
