Associate Director, Global Engineering Solutions

Job Description

The Global Engineering Solutions (GES) Technology Associate Director will support/drive the successful execution of multiple capital projects within our West Point, PA portfolio.  This role will require strong process engineering skills, field execution expertise, project management, and exemplary communication and collaboration skills with our site teams, GES partners, and engineering firms.

Reporting to the GES West Point Technology Center Lead, the Associate Director (AD) will be part of a high performing team accountable for implementation of a large capital project ($300M) and supporting the low-segment portfolio of work.  The AD may own a suite team as a part of the larger capital project as well as drive the critical run-the-business improvement projects at the site, requiring keen chemical engineering skills and strong shop floor/field execution skills. The role is responsible for collaborating with design and construction partners, and driving equipment/process selection, design, startup and C&Q through all phases of the project.

The Associate Director participates in project activities ranging from business case development through the implementation of the business solution using the Capital Management stage gate process with varying degrees of responsibility and will exhibit sound leadership and strong partnership, communication, and vendor management skills.  They are expected to develop and maintain advanced technical knowledge in their respective area(s) of expertise.  They use experience and foresight to identify potential issues and keep the project on track to avoid problems.

The Associate Director 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 the planning, design, and implementation of capital projects including scope generation, process & facility design, equipment selection, vendor interaction, factory acceptance testing, technology transfer, construction support, equipment qualification, facility start-up and process demonstrations.

Travel Commitment:

The candidate may be willing to travel up to 25% of the time to account for vendor visits, collaboration with design partners, FATs, etc.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

This position will function as the technical/engineering process lead engineer with prior experience supporting Biologics, Vaccine and/or Sterile Projects:

• Guide or assist project design efforts, providing innovative solutions that meet business goals. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional suite teams in the evaluation of alternative solutions and the development of project scope

• Provide technical guidance during project implementation, assure viability of technology in proposed configuration. 

• Provide support as needed for projects across the global network to drive sharing of lessons learned and drive efficiency in execution of project deliverables. 

• Lead or participate in Engineering Design review sessions. 

• Ensure that deliverables conform to our Company's standards and practices and are technically sound. 

• Liaise with other technical functions to ensure successful technology transfers of new and existing products. 

• Work with contractors, suppliers, and other team members in the execution of the work. 

• Ensure project is progressing with compliance to our company's Capital Project Roadmap and approved C&Q strategy.

• Leads project design efforts, providing innovative solutions that meet business objective.

• The position may have technical oversight to junior engineers and resources from an engineering firm and GES-Contractors.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• B.S. degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical) or Science is required. 

• Minimum fifteen (15) years of experience in a functional area, such as Process-Equipment Engineering Design or Operational Maintenance.

Required Experience and Skills:

• At least 15 years of experience in Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry in engineering or manufacturing.

• 10+ years engineering or operations experience related to vaccines or biologics

• Experience with an equipment life cycle approach including specification, selection, testing & commissioning, troubleshooting and qualification.

• Understanding of hygienic design and unit operations specific to vaccine/biologic manufacturing and aseptic processing

• Experience with capital projects that followed a stage gate capital management process

• Excellent collaboration and engagement as a team player with dependable interpersonal and communication skills

• Analytical and problem-solving skills that involve leading teams to correct answers via coaching.

• Ability to drive and motivate a team of professionals through all phases of the project.

• Project/time management skills which deliver on time and quality work

• Core knowledge should include specification of unit operations, P&ID development, Hazard Analysis, equipment operation, commissioning & qualification

• Familiar and experience with chemical handling, biosafety, and containment approaches in terms of solution development

• Work independently and meet timelines in a fast-paced team-based environment.

• Strong self-motivation; proactive, high-energy, "can do" work ethic; ability to handle potentially stressful situations with strong leadership principles.

• Provide prompt escalations and report outs to leadership within the GES organization

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Automation Systems, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Business Case Development, Business Visions, Capital Project Management, Change Management, Chemical Engineering, Clinical Manufacturing, Communication, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Drug Product Manufacturing, Identifying Problems, Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Motivation Management, Project Management, Projects Design, Regulatory Compliance {+ 5 more}

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”.

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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/10/2026

*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.