Description

Job Description

The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Support Function Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.

Our company's Human Health Communications team has an opportunity for a summer communications intern. This individual will collaborate across multiple teams to support internal and external communications with an opportunity to learn from business and Communications leaders at all levels. The internship role will be focused on the development and execution of communications plans and initiatives that support our company's purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

This internship will be based in Rahway, NJ, or Upper Gwynedd, PA. The selected individual will be expected to work on a hybrid schedule and come to the Rahway or Upper Gwynedd office 3 days each week. Fridays are typically remote working days.

Responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collaborate with product communications teams to support comprehensive internal and external communications around key regulatory and awareness milestones (e.g., data milestones for inline and pipeline products, U.S. National Immunization Awareness Month in August, Back to School season in August/September, etc.)
• Support development of digital and social media content for company, leader and employee channels to raise disease awareness and elevate our company's leadership and impact
• Support the planning and execution of employee engagement activities, including support for internal town halls and leader communications (potential activities to include support with agenda and slide development, leader talking points, leader emails, pre- and post-event surveys, etc.)
• Assist in media strategy and execution, such as drafting press releases, fielding and preparing responses to media inquiries, tracking news coverage and compiling and distributing reports
• Effectively partner with Corporate Communications, Enterprise Social Media and other internal cross-functional subject matter experts to obtain and incorporate input into communications materials
• Support the product communications team in day-to-day tasks and special projects

Required Education and Experience:

• Candidates must be currently in their junior year or above pursuing a college degree preferably in a related field (e.g., Business, Public Health, English, Marketing/Communications) OR have a minimum of a high school diploma and have completed at least one internship, apprenticeship, co-op or equivalent professional role in a communications-related field
• Candidates must be available to work full-time for the summer months from May 2026 through August 2026
• Candidates must have computer proficiency with Windows-based applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• SharePoint experience a plus
• Video and social media experience a plus

The Ideal Candidate:

• Understands the basic principles of communications, public relations and social media, with strong proofreading, editing and grammar skills
• Has strong project management and organizational skills
• Demonstrates creativity in addressing communication challenges and problem solving
• Possesses excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Is a strong team player with a collaborative spirit
• Has a positive attitude and thrives in a fast-paced environment
• Is a self-starter who proactively identifies needs, is resourceful and takes initiative
• Is curious, eager to learn and not afraid to ask questions
• Is inspired by our company's purpose to save and improve lives and motivated to make a difference in developing communications that can help raise awareness, trust and acceptance of medicines and vaccines

Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company.

Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD

FTP2026

HH2026

Required Skills:

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".

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:
Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:
No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

Job Posting End Date:
11/10/2025
*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:R370534