Lead Technician - (Fermentation SME)

Job Description

Lead Technician - Fermentation SME

• Based in Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand

• Play a critical role in supporting Animal Health site operations

• Join a collaborative GMP manufacturing environment focused on quality, safety and continuous improvement

• Contribute to unconstrained, compliant antigen supply that meets customer needs

As an IPT Lead Technician / Area Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will support frontline team execution and take ownership of technical area performance. You will lead by example, coach others, solve complex operational problems and help drive improvements across production, quality, safety and cost.

What You Will Do

Responsibilities include, however not limited to:

Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver technical area targets

• Anticipate and solve complex production and operational problems

• Challenge processes and procedures to identify quality, safety, process and cost improvements

• Take a leading role in remediation activities and problem solving

• Lead and coach Tier 1, On-Point and 8-Step Problem Solving activities

• Communicate effectively to ensure alignment and collaboration across cross-functional teams

• Coordinate and prioritise technician activities in your assigned area as needed

Projects and Continuous Improvement

• Lead projects in your assigned area with cross-functional input

• Support larger IPT and site projects as a representative of production

• Contribute SME input to site projects, including capital projects and Process Hazard Assessments

• Support site-wide safety and quality enablers relevant to your technical area

• Provide clear visibility on system and project status to stakeholders

• Analyse data and identify opportunities for improvement, providing practical recommendations

Production and Technical Execution

• Execute make-test-release activities as needed during peak periods and as backup

• Perform routine technical work outside of make-test-release protocols

• Create and optimise procedures to support make-test-release processes

• Own deviations, CAPAs, changes and Enablons within your assigned area

• Train and coach production staff on production tasks and related work

• Monitor POI and document flow to support timely batch release and process improvement

What You Must have

• Strong team player with excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work in a GMP manufacturing environment

• Demonstrated Clostridial vaccine knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated experience in quality and EHS systems, problem solving, continuous improvement and project management

• Prior individual leadership experience in a GMP-regulated biological or pharmaceutical manufacturing environment

• working and thinking level in Biotechnology, Chemistry or equivalent

What You Can Expect

• The opportunity to make a real impact in a critical Animal Health manufacturing environment

• A role with leadership, technical depth and continuous improvement at its core

• A collaborative team culture with opportunities to grow your expertise and influence site performance

• Joining a collaborative team of likeminded individuals

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing talented and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive workplace.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Adaptability, Analytical Thinking, Autoclaving, Business Decisions, Cell Culture Process Development, Customer Support, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Equipment Designing, Filtering Equipment, Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Influencing Skills, Liquid Chromatography (LC), Manufacturing Documentation, Manufacturing Quality Control, Media Preparation, Multidisciplinary Teamwork, Process Control, Product Development, Production Scheduling, Product Testing, Root Cause Identification {+ 3 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

10/3/2026

*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.