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Associate Director

Merck

Elkton · Hybrid Full-time Executive $142k – $224k/yr 1w ago

About the role

About

The Associate Director operates under the guidance of a Director in the Global Engineering Solutions team supporting Technology Center, Large Molecule Process Engineering. The individual collaborates with other Integrated Project Team (IPT) members (e.g., Project Management, Technology, Maintenance, Automation, Plant Operations and Safety), Engineering Firms and Vendors to progress deliverables.

The Associate Director would be responsible for, but not limited to:

  • Planning, design, and implementation of capital projects including scope generation
  • Process & facility design
  • Capacity Assessments
  • Equipment selection
  • Vendor management and interaction
  • Factory acceptance testing
  • Facility start-up and Commissioning
  • Construction support and/or management
  • Equipment qualification
  • Technology transfer
  • Process demonstration

Candidates possessing capital management experience or expertise are preferred for this role. Ideal candidate will possess superior communication and technical skills, a team player with the ability to work independently. We are seeking candidates with outstanding records of achievement and demonstrated leadership abilities, candidates who are analytical and inquisitive about the interrelationships of various components, and perceptive, quick learners committed to making a difference in the pursuit of manufacturing high-quality, market-leading pharmaceutical, biologic and vaccine products.

The candidate should have a strong understanding of the line of business, understand capital project and technical team management, implement standard work and be able to lead technical areas and small capital projects from an end to end perspective. Position is project-based, requiring on-site support 5 days per week, for up to 3 years. Flexibility with travel up to 50% and work location is also required based on project need.

Education Requirements

  • Bachelors Degree or higher in Mechanical, Chemical, BioChem, BioMech, or Computer/Electric Engineering or Applicable Science

Required Experience and Skills

  • Minimum of seven years post-bachelor’s degree experience in GMP manufacturing and/or technical support of GMP manufacturing operations (consideration given to advanced degrees)
  • Minimum of two years project leadership and/or management
  • Written and verbal communication, leadership and teamwork skills.
  • Experience with engineering design, equipment start-up and operation, vendor interface, risk assessment and process safety
  • Ability to travel, both domestic and international

Preferred Experience and Skills

  • Downstream, or Bioconjugation Drug Substance, and/or Drug Product Process Engineering Experience
  • Estimating and/or Project Controls experience or expertise
  • Capital Management Process Experience
  • Experience with equipment life cycle approach including specification, selection, testing & commissioning, troubleshooting and qualification
  • Construction Management Experience
  • Experience with Potent Compound manufacturing, Process Safety, and Industrial Hygiene.

Required Skills

  • Capital Project Management
  • Change Management
  • Clinical Manufacturing
  • Decision Making
  • Drug Product Manufacturing
  • Engineering Design
  • GMP Compliance
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Interpersonal Relationships
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Scale-Up
  • Oral Communications
  • Project Leadership
  • Project Management
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Risk Assessments
  • Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Team Player
  • Technical Transfer

Preferred Skills

  • Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC)

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”.

Salary and Benefits

  • Salary range: $142,400.00 - $224,100.00
  • Eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable
  • Benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, compassionate and sick days

Additional Information

  • US and Puerto Rico Residents Only
  • No visa sponsorship
  • Travel up to 50%
  • Regular employee status
  • Domestic relocation available
  • Job posting end date: 05/22/2026
  • Requisition ID: R397000

Skills

Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC)Capital Project ManagementChange ManagementClinical ManufacturingDecision MakingDrug Product ManufacturingEngineering DesignGMP ComplianceIndustrial HygieneInterpersonal RelationshipsLean ManufacturingManufacturing Scale-UpOral CommunicationsProject LeadershipProject ManagementRegulatory ComplianceRisk AssessmentsRoot Cause Analysis (RCA)Strategic ThinkingTeam PlayerTechnical Transfer

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