Director, Engineering - Capital Projects

Job Description

Our Engineers support internal and external manufacturing operations remain operational, continuously improve and innovate. With our extensive range of facilities and environments, our Engineers have opportunities across many diverse areas including Biological, Chemical, Automation, Capital Projects, Maintenance, Safety, Process Development, Technical Services, Utilities and Validation.   Our Global Engineering Solutions (GES) team executes a wide variety of capital and expense projects to ensure that our company has the capabilities and facilities to meet our goal to provide World Class Supply of Medicines. The Global Engineering Services (GES) group is seeking a Project Delivery Director of Engineering to manage an individual large capital project (>$250M) or a portfolio of projects of similar value related to manufacturing, research and facilities/utility infrastructure.  Furthermore, the Director will develop, coach and retain a high-performance project delivery organization that promotes employee development, leadership, learning, continuous improvement, and delivers customer value with a zero-harm safety culture.  

 

Primary activities include, but are not limited to: 

1.        Project leadership and team management

• Lead integrated project teams to deliver critical assets on time and within budget.

• Forecast and allocate internal and external resources to meet project workload.

• Manage, mentor and provide ongoing feedback to direct reports including mid-year and annual reviews.

• Develop close working relationships with Plant Managers, key staff, and stakeholders to align projects with business objectives and optimize value.

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2.        Project planning and execution

• Approve and lead development of project execution plans and schedules that meet customer needs and reflect project risks.

• Verify scopes provide least-cost, fit-for-purpose business solutions.

• Manage project processes through effective design, execution strategies, and construction management oversight.

• Implement and approve procurement strategies, contract administration, and project close-out activities.

3.        Cost, schedule and performance control

• Understand, set, and manage project cost budgeting, forecasting and control including approving spending forecasts using Target Value Delivery and Earned Value where applicable.

• Manage schedule development and control to meet milestones and delivery targets.

• Use lean construction, quality, safety, cost and delivery techniques to drive project performance and mentor project managers in these methods.

4.        Risk, change and governance

• Identify and rank project and process risks; develop and implement mitigation plans.

• Implement change management and control processes.

• Lead Tier Governance and key partner relationship management meetings.

5.        Safety and incident management

• Act as a visible safety leader through project safety walks and peer safety reviews, promoting a zero-harm culture.

• Approve construction and process safety incident investigations, challenge root causes, and confirm effective corrective and preventive actions.

6.        Commissioning, qualification and close-out

• Manage and/or implement commissioning, qualification, and project close-out activities to ensure readiness for operation and contractual completion.

7.        Communications and reporting

• Manage project communications requirements, providing effective reporting and distribution of information to stakeholders.

The Director of Engineering will strive to develop good relationships with cross-functional areas consisting of all aspects of the business including Operations, Quality, Technology, Maintenance, and Safety.  This position and initial assignment is located in West Point, PA.  In the future, this position will also support projects in Rahway, NJ and Wilmington, DE and may require travel to support other projects in the U.S. and may require the candidate to be available to travel 50% of their time in order to support projects within the America's and internationally at the various plant sites.

 

Education Minimum Requirement:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

 

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience executing and delivering a variety of capital and operating (expense) projects.

• Experience managing integrated project teams to deliver critical assets on time and within budget.

• Strong cost, schedule and risk management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and controls.

• Proven ability to develop and execute project plans, manage change, and align teams to achieve objectives.

• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills; able to deliver concise, organized project status and funding updates to stakeholders.

• Outstanding decision‑making, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills; able to work effectively with business partners and cross‑functional teams.

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, including international travel where required.

 

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 15 years’ experience executing/delivering capital and/or operating projects (include only where the role requires a higher seniority threshold).

• At least 5 years leading large cross‑functional projects or portfolios (recommended threshold: projects > $50M total installed cost) with proven project management excellence across multiple assignments.

• Demonstrated experience in contracting, procurement strategy, and contract administration.

• Experience managing commissioning, qualification, and project close‑out activities.

• Proven leadership in safety culture, including experience conducting or approving incident investigations and implementing corrective/preventive actions.

• Experience mentoring project managers and leading governance or cross‑functional alignment meetings.

• Experience with Lean Project Delivery methodologies (for example: Target Value Design/Delivery, off‑site fabrication/modular construction, pull‑planning and related scheduling tools).

• Demonstrated experience driving organizational improvement using a continuous‑improvement mindset.

• Knowledge of engineering best practices and current industry trends.

• Demonstrated expertise in stage‑gate capital management processes.

• Experience or knowledge of pharmaceutical product development labs, manufacturing facilities, plant operations, and maintenance.

• Demonstrated leadership in building and maintaining high‑performing technical teams, including people management, development, and mentoring.

• Proven ability to interface effectively with all levels of the organization and to influence stakeholders.

• Demonstrated capability to recognize excellent performance and address poor performance constructively.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Capital Management, Change Management, Communication, Construction Management, Construction Planning, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Cross-Functional Leadership, Decision Making, GMP Compliance, Innovation, Leadership, Process Improvements, Project Delivery, Project Management, Project Planning, Project Risks, Results-Oriented, Sterile Filling, Strategic Thinking

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:

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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

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

$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 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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/14/2026

*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.