Director, Operations

Job Description

Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset striving for continuous improvement. We work in the local plant connected to our global manufacturing network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates and finished products.

Title: Director – Integrated Process Team (IPT), Operations

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Promote a Safety First, Quality Always culture that supports the mission of delivering uninterrupted, unconstrained, compliant, reliable supply through behaviors and principles that drive continuous improvement.

• Ensure that short term and long-term Integrated Process Team (IPT) objectives are achieved while reliably supplying quality product at a competitive cost consistent with our company, Regulatory Agency, and State and Local code requirements for quality, good manufacturing practices (GMP), equal employment opportunity, finances, labor, employee, environment and safety;

• Tactical and strategic motivation and direction to the cross-functional IPT management team (Quality, Technology, Maintenance, Operations, Etc…);

DUTIES

• Safety and Compliance - Responsible for creating and sustaining a Safety First, Quality Always culture that ensures that compliance is imperative for the business. Responsible for establishing a Target Zero, Right First-Time culture by reducing waste and constantly driving continuous improvement. Responsible to review and approve compliance documents, as per procedures or need.

• Supply - Lead IPT governance and Tier system. Exercise a high degree of independent judgment and decision making to ensure a quality product is reliably produced while managing cost and enabling long term growth. Ensure a reliable supply of products to both internal and external customers. Responsible for supply performance metrics (Schedule Adherence, Release on Time, Customer service performance, Product Lead Time, etc.). Provide purchasing and capital project approval (within Grant of Authority) for IPT.

• Continuous Improvement - Accountable for developing a Company Production System (MPS) and continuous improvement culture that leverages innovation, technology, and digital solutions to drive business results for the IPT. Develop strategic initiatives related to the manufacturing process, equipment, and human resources in support of long-range operating plans. Report IPT monthly metrics and any action plan to address gaps to the Site Leadership team. Accountable for the implementation of corrective actions identified in Continuous Improvements Audits. Identify, prioritize, and champion improvement projects to improve process efficiency, cycle time, and yield, reduce process variability, and eliminate waste.

• Financial Stewardship – Responsible for the development and management of the IPT operating budget as defined with the profit plan. Accountable for meeting the operating budget and continuously reducing costs. Ensure members of the IPT have high business acumen and understand how they may impact business finances.

• Talent Development – Responsible for creating and sustaining a highly engaged workforce through the utilization of our company's Leadership Behaviors and Inclusion. Provide coaching on professional development and career paths. Provide timely feedback and performance evaluations for direct reports after obtaining the relevant input and evaluation. Provide feedback and input on performance evaluations for indirect IPT reports. Team with other members of the IPT and/or Site Leadership team to plan and implement talent management plans for the IPT and End to End (E2E) staff.

In accordance with Policy 82 - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in the current position prior to applying for open positions.

QUALIFICATIONS

A. Essential:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Science, Engineering or another technical field

• Minimum (9) years’ experience in more than one functional area, such as Operations, Quality, Technical Operations, Technology, Engineering, Maintenance, and/or Supply Chain

• Concurrently, minimum (4) years of line experience, with responsibility for direct and indirect reports

B. Preferred:

• Advanced Degree

• Minimum of (4) years’ experience in relevant manufacturing or processing (aseptic/sterile, bulk, solid oral dosage, packaging, etc.)

• Minimum of (2) different management pathway roles or experiences

• Demonstrated knowledge of High Performing Organization tools and methodology, including MPS/lean processing

• Demonstrated ability to create an engaged workforce using Inclusion as the How

• Demonstrated experience of interacting with regulatory agencies via on-site inspections

• Demonstrated successes with Talent Management, reorganization and strategic initiatives

Note: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive or a limitation of the duties of the Job. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset striving for continuous improvement. We work in the local plant connected to our global manufacturing network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates and finished products.

Required Skills:

Biopharmaceutical Industry, Business Administration, Corrective Action Management, Cost Reduction, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Driving Continuous Improvement, Global Manufacturing, GMP Compliance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Improvement Projects, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Quality Control, People Leadership, Process Optimization, Production Scheduling, Regulatory Compliance, Results-Oriented, Sterile Manufacturing, Strategic Planning, Talent Development, Talent Management, Vaccine Manufacturing

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

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

08/29/2026

*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.