Associate Director, IT Digital Manufacturing Operations Lead

Job Description

Position Description:

Global Animal Health Manufacturing IT is dedicated to providing and supporting technology solutions that enhance the efficiency, safety, and quality of manufacturing processes within the animal health sector. The department focuses on integrating Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) to optimize production, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and facilitate data-driven decision-making. IT collaborates closely with various functions, including manufacturing, quality assurance, and supply chain, to implement digital solutions that align with business strategies, driving innovation and operational excellence in the animal health industry.

In this key position, you will be the heartbeat of our business partnering efforts. You will spearhead initiatives aimed at growing, transforming, and effectively running our operations. You will work closely with our local business leadership team to provide comprehensive oversight of both IT and OT. Your guidance will be essential in ensuring that our manufacturing site operates smoothly and efficiently.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead with Purpose : Oversee IT and OT account management, ensuring that the right support is in place for our teams to thrive.
• Drive Transformation : Take charge of capital programs, coordinating teams to successfully deliver technology assets on-time, on-budget, and in-full.
• Strategic Bridge : Translate business strategies into actionable IT strategies, making sure that everyone is aligned and informed throughout the process.
  • Collaborative Partnership : Work closely with senior business leaders to prioritize global IT and OT needs, ensuring we're meeting demands effectively.
  • Team Player : Collaborate with Value Team Leads, Strategy & Execution Lead, Digital Foundational Services Lead, and Global IT Support Functions to assess and quantify the demand for various initiatives.
  • Ensures the development and implementation of compliant digital solutions that align with business strategy.
  • Establishes policies for effective engagement with business partners, aligning IT portfolios and roadmaps, and ensuring timely and budget-compliant delivery of technology assets.
  • Leads IT/OT teams at the Millsboro, DE manufacturing site to maintain stable, compliant, and secure systems while driving continuous improvement in operational metrics.
  Assists P&L owners in optimizing CapEx/OpEx spending to meet profit targets and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Information Technology/Science, Engineering or related fields

• 5-10 years of leadership experience in Information Technology/Operational Technology, preferably in the fields of Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain, with a focus on Life Sciences

• Familiarity with Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and process data historian systems.

• Proven ability to collaborate with business stakeholders, translating business strategy into Information Technology/Operational Technology requirements, and driving adoption of delivered systems through effective change management and communication skills.

• Successful track record in technology enablement within Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain environments.

• Strong planning and organizational skills for managing large programs and building effective cross-functional teams focused on results.

• Experience in building and developing, high-performing teams within a matrix organization, successfully promoting a respectful and inclusive culture.

• Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time.

TOP SKILLS: LEADERSHIP > STRATEGIC PLANNING > PROGRAM MANAGEMENT > STAKEHOLDER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT > DEMAND MANAGEMENT > BUSINESS MANAGEMENT > BUSINESS SITUATION ANALYSIS > WORKFORCE PLANNING

FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS: AUTONOMY > INFLUENCE > COMPLEXITY > KNOWLEDGE > BUSINESS SKILLS

Required Skills:
Accountability, Account Management, Benefits Administration, Business Management, Business Partnerships, Business Process Improvements, Business Strategies, Citect SCADA, IT Governance, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Leadership, Long Term Planning, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Manufacturing Processes, Production Optimization, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Program Management, Situation Analysis, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Workforce Planning

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

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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

The salary range for this role is
$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at

You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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:
Regular

Relocation:
Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:
Yes

Travel Requirements:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

Job Posting End Date:
06/12/2026
*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.