Senior Specialist, External Quality

Job Description

Position Overview

Individual contributor role responsible for ensuring that all products managed by External Quality Assurance (EQA) are manufactured, packaged, analyzed, released, stored, and distributed in conformance with all applicable regulatory requirements, regulatory filings and company policies.  

Role has primary batch release responsibility and ensures that effective and robust Quality systems are in place to comply with required regulations, policies and guidelines governing the External Party manufacture and release of API intermediates, API, non-sterile pharmaceuticals, sterile pharmaceuticals.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities (Includes, but are not limited to)

The Sr Specialist, External Quality, is responsible for:

 

Primary functions and responsibilities of the role:

• Act as Qualified Person (QP), where applicable, to certify the batches of Finished Good products to be released in the EU Market under requirements of European Laws & applicable regulations

• Support New Product Introduction and other process transfer/validation activities at partner sites, where required

• Act as delegate for EQA Associate Director roles, when required

• Evaluate and/or release products with the assurance that the goods were produced in conformance to all applicable policies/procedures and compliance with all governing regulations

• Manage/coordinate internal and external partner deviations and complaints as required, assist in the coordination of significant investigations including Fact Findings and RCA, risk assessment support on critical issues to prevent disruption to supply

• Review and approve changes to master batch records

• Act as owner for change controls and change tasks, as required

• Support collection and compilation of documentation needed for regulatory filings/submissions, when required

• Operate in a safe and efficient manner and in compliance with the Safety and Health Policy

The  Sr. Specialist, External Quality is also responsible for:

• Initiate & lead quality improvement projects, new Quality Systems introduction and other assignments, as per business needs

• Provide training and coaching, as required

• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, EQA Compliance Team and other ExN Platforms as part of cross-organizational engagement approach

• Participating in external partner site visits and GEMBA, as required, as part of ongoing EQA oversight activities

• Serves as Quality SME for EQA; Maintains and provides expertise on EQA quality and/or business systems, tools, data, and processes on an ongoing basis

•  Amount of Travel Required: <10% travel

Qualification and and Skills Requirements  (Includes but are not limited to)

Education and experience required for the job:

• Education: Minimum four year degree in Science, Engineering or other relevant technical discipline (e.g. BS/MS Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or equivalent preferred).

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience in the pharmaceutical industry and/or biotechnology industry with a thorough knowledge of Quality Systems, Quality Assurance and Quality Control including solid knowledge of global GMP and regulatory requirements

Essential skills and competencies for this role:

• Ability to work on own initiative within minimum direction, as well as lead/participate in cross-functional/matrixed teams and adapt to evolving business needs

• Ability to effectively collaborate and influence outcomes, in line with business priorities

• Ability to problem solve, solution and respond to complex problems/requests with minimum guidance and direction

• Demonstrates active listening skills, as well as ability to compile and communicate information clearly

• Ability to work across boundaries, demonstrates interpersonal, relationship building and leadership skills

• Communicates in English, both verbally and in writing,

• Proficient with digital systems such as  Veeva applications, SAP COMET, CLUE, MS Teams

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Applied Engineering, Biotechnology, Business Systems, Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Data Analysis, Deviation Management, External Manufacturing, Finished Products, Immunochemistry, Interpersonal Relationships, Manufacturing Quality Control, Metrics Reporting, Microbiology, New Product Introduction (NPI), Pharmaceutical Management, Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Product Quality Complaints, Product Quality Control, Quality Improvement Programs, Regulatory Compliance, Regulatory Submissions, Relationship Building {+ 2 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:

Remote

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

05/15/2026

*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.