Packaging Technical Lead (Associate Director)

Job Description

At our company, we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. We are seeking an Associate Director, Packaging, to join our team and lead the definition and execution of overall packaging strategies that meet global network needs.

The Associate Director will be accountable for the definition and execution of overall packaging strategies that meet global network needs. Responsibilities include ensuring packaging system designs are robust, packaging processes are efficient, and control strategies are integrated with both upstream and downstream needs. They will ensure activities supporting these program deliverables are executed with technical rigor and drive risk understanding and reduction prior to product launch. The Packaging Technical lead will be accountable for technical risk assessments, packaging specifications, and qualification activities, while ensuring compliance with all regulatory standards and sustainability goals. Individuals in this role will lead with ownership and accountability for representing, communicating, and balancing the interests of stakeholders. They will have an ability to effectively drive the right risk posture that balances technical probability, cost and resources, and trade-offs across various groups. The role requires strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to navigate complex situations in a fast-paced environment, all while aligning packaging with product and patient needs. 

The successful candidate will bring expertise in the design of primary, secondary and tertiary pharmaceutical packaging systems, including blow-fill-seal technologies. They will collaborate with stakeholders across the end-to-end continuum of CMC areas and require both an understanding of packaging components and processes, as well as prior experience developing and commercializing new products on cross-functional teams. 

Responsibilities

• Ensure packaging system designs are robust, packaging processes are efficient, and control strategies are integrated with both upstream and downstream needs.
• Drive risk understanding and reduction prior to product launch.
• Conduct technical risk assessments, develop packaging specifications, and oversee qualification activities.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory standards and sustainability goals.
• Represent, communicate, and balance the interests of stakeholders.
• Drive the right risk posture that balances technical probability, cost, resources, and trade-offs across various groups.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the end-to-end continuum of CMC areas.
• Develop and commercialize new products on cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Mechanical Engineering, or similar field with ten (10) years of relevant pharmaceutical development experience; OR MS/PhD with 8 years
• Demonstrated understanding of pharmaceutical development process and ability to design, develop, and test primary and secondary packaging components.
• Demonstrated understanding of the use of Risk Assessment tools.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a larger team.
• Experience in leading cross-functional groups both internally and externally.
• Experience with blow-fill-seal technologies for sterile pharmaceutical packaging systems.
• Project management experience and ability to provide technical leadership for complex projects while managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent technical written and oral communication skills that support presentation of information clearly and concisely for all levels of the organization.
• Knowledge of current US and global Regulations, ICH guidance, ISO standards, and quality system regulations for pharmaceutical packaging.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence senior leaders.
• Ability to manage complex programs and support multiple activities/projects.
• Willingness to grow and learn all areas of Pharmaceutical new product development.

Preferred

• Medical Device and Combination Product Packaging development experience.
• Quality Risk Management, Risk-Based Decision Making, and Quality by Design (QbD) experience.
• Experience in defining standard work processes and documents.
• Experience specifying, processing, and characterizing packaging materials including rigid and flexible barriers, pulp/paperboard, and recyclables.

 

Required Skills:

Ability to Coordinate, Ability to Coordinate, Change Management, Collaborative Leadership, Combination Products, Competency Management, Compliance Packaging, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Detail-Oriented, Deviation Management, Engineering Standards, Global Coordination, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Group Processes, ISO Compliance, Legal Compliance, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Mentorship, Packaging Engineering, Procedure Writing, Process Definition, Process Optimization, Project Leadership, Project Management Leadership, Project Team Management {+ 10 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:

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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.

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The salary range for this role is

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

10/21/2026

*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.