Associate Director, External Manufacturing

Job Overview The Global Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) invites passionate individuals to join our dynamic team. GPO is a diverse, global organization committed to delivering a reliable, compliant, and affordable supply of life‑saving medicines. Our organization manufactures and supplies all pharmaceutical products, packages a comprehensive Human Health portfolio, and commercializes a small‑molecule new product pipeline serving more than 175 markets worldwide. Primary Responsibilities Dispute resolution with appropriate escalation Balancing the company’s delivery requirements with the contract manufacturer’s production plan (materials management: ERP transactions, logistics) Oversight of shop‑floor production (determining when an ExM functional representative should be deployed to the contract manufacturer’s facility) Continuous improvement activities Partner with Procurement for identification/selection of new contract manufacturers and negotiation/termination of supply agreements as needed Facilitate the collection of contract manufacturer capacity information (e.g., stated, firm, and future capacity plans, lead times, comments) and present to Supply Chain Management to recommend capacity expansion Ensure alignment of Supply and Quality agreements Execute ERP transactions for receipt and movement of company‑owned inventory, reconciling physical inventory with book records, and document destruction of company‑owned inventory Ensure contract terms in purchase orders, forecasts, deliveries, and invoice payments comply with the Supply Agreement Partner with ExM Company Production System experts and other functions supporting ExM to identify continuous improvement opportunities at contract manufacturers Provide project management support to the DP NA regional team to coordinate ongoing projects within the region Travel up to 50% Education Minimum Requirement Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Medicine, Science, Business, or related field Required Experience and Skills Minimum eight (8) years of combined commercial/business and manufacturing experience in pharmaceutical, chemical, or related industry (or equivalent education/experience) Knowledge of drug substance manufacturing, including common unit operations and shop‑floor activities Excellent interpersonal, communication, project management, collaboration, negotiation, analytical, and influencing skills Strong leadership in a teamwork environment with strong coordination abilities Cultural awareness and sensitivity Fluency in English, both verbal and written Preferred Experience and Skills Recent ExM Operations or site operations experience Familiarity with domestic and foreign regulations and compendia governing manufacturing operations Lean project implementation experience Travel Requirements Up to 50% travel Salary Range $129,000.00 – $203,100.00 Benefits We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and other health insurance; 401(k) retirement benefits; paid holidays; vacation and compassionate/sick days. More information is available at Equal Employment Opportunity We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We 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 U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit EEOC Know Your Rights and EEOC GINA Supplement. We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of diverse experiences and inclusive environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr Merck & Co.