Production Technician

Job Description

Production Technician

• Permanent, full-time role with competitive remuneration and benefits

• Location: Onsite at Wellington - Upper Hutt, New Zealand

• Career growth: Expand your expertise in a growing, successful industry

• Professional development: Gain valuable experience in a dynamic, evolving role

As Production Technician you will primarily perform day-to-day operations in your assigned Integrated Production Team (IPT) areas to meet product, safety, quality, delivery and cost (PSQDC) KPIs to ensure antigen and/or vaccine are produced to required standards to meet customer demand in global markets.

You will play a critical role in supporting our Animal Health site through enabling unconstrained, compliant product supply at a cost point that meets our customers’ needs. You reliably perform routine technical activities as needed by the IPT, follow up on incidents reported in systems such as Reliance or Enablon, and manage changes from Animal Health Quality Management (AHQM) and capital projects using technical writing, execution and structured problem-solving skills.

What You Will Do

Responsibilities include, however not limited to:

Leadership and Collaboration:

• Anticipate and solve complex production and operational problems

• Challenge processes and procedures in your assigned area to identify process, quality, safety and cost improvements and lead remediation (for example, streamlining SOPs / processes)

• Engage in Tier 1 and On-Point problem solving and participate in 8-Step Problem Solving activities

• Communicate effectively to ensure alignment and collaboration within the team and with other stakeholders

Key Responsibilities:

• Manufacture antigen and/or vaccine to required standards, according to set production schedules and shift roster applicable for your area

• Operate equipment and perform tasks/processes in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Ensure best-practice cleaning, preparation and sterilisation standards are maintained and discards are minimised

• Document all tasks in batch records, worksheets or logbooks in accordance with Good Documentation Practice (GDP)

• Ensure documentation within your IPT is completed, reviewed and compliant with GDP to allow release of product

• Support Site Quality Council (SQC) targets and a zero overdue culture

• Review and collate IPT documentation for release or archiving, ensuring accuracy and completeness

• Validate manufacturing data into spreadsheets to enable reliable analysis and reporting

• Manage local documentation to ensure it is accurate and within expiry (for example SOPs, batch records, worksheets)

Projects and Improvement Activities

• Coordinate delivery of local projects by providing technical assistance and collaborating with cross-functional teams, including authoring and reviewing area documentation for new processes and equipment Implement changes to production documents and processes in accordance with agreed change proposals

• Contribute to larger cross-functional projects by assisting with data collection, analysis and implementation (for example, monitoring yields for a specific antigen)

• Identify small-scale improvement projects (for example upgrading a benchtop weigh scale or replacing vessel probes)

• Support senior IPT colleagues in larger site projects as representatives of your IPT area (for example Process Hazard Assessments)

• Own area responsibilities for safety and quality enablers in assigned areas

• Communicate clearly to provide visibility on improvement status and ensure alignment with cross-functional teams

• Proactively contribute to data assessments and analysis relevant to your area to uncover opportunities and provide recommendations (for example monitoring pH levels and their impact on antigen yields)

What You Must have

• Tertiary education in Biotechnology, Chemistry, or closely related discipline, or equivalent practical experience

• Hands-on experience in regulated manufacturing or laboratory environments (biotech, vaccine, animal health, pharmaceutical)

• Understanding and knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirements

• Computer skills, proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook; SAP preferred

• Strong team player with excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills and ability to operate in a regulated manufacturing environment

• Ability to plan work to meet deadlines

• Sound and logical approach to problem solving

What You Can Expect

• Work autonomously whilst being supported, encouraged and being part of a trusted Global Leading Animal Health organisation

• Exposure to upskill and develop in your role

• Flexibility and opening doors to other opportunities and skillsets

• Joining a collaborative team of likeminded individuals

Expected Hours of Work: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm on a 4-week shift rotation (40hr week) + (Flexibility required on occasion)

• Standard week: Monday - Friday for two consecutive weeks (Saturday - Sunday off)

• Weekend shift: Monday - Wednesday plus Saturday and Sunday (Thursday - Friday off)

• 4-day week: Tuesday - Friday (9.5-hour days) with (Monday and Saturday - Sunday off)

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, Analytical Problem Solving, Computer Literacy, Data Entry, Equipment Maintenance, GMP Documentation, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Manufacturing, Manufacturing Documentation, Manufacturing Operations, Manufacturing Quality Control, Media Preparation, Process Improvements, Regulatory Compliance, Safety Practices, Safety Procedures, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Writing, Sterilizing Equipment

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:

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.