Associate Specialist, Operations (Onsite)

Job Description

The Small Scale Organics (SSO) Pilot Plant is a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) manufacturing facility in the Small Molecule Process Research and Development (SM PR&D) organization. The SSO pilot plant enables gain of critical internal experience with scale-up of manufacturing GMP steps, demonstration of new manufacturing technology/processes, training opportunities for improved manufacturing process development, and seamless technology transfer to commercial sites. 

The SSO Operations Specialist will provide hands on assistance for daily production activities while ensuring compliance with Safety & Environmental (S&E) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) requirements to meet SSO objectives and customer requirements. The position is responsible for implementing actions to meet S&E and GMP requirements. This position is also responsible for ensuring facility readiness for batch processing and shares accountability for the building performance. Ultimately, this position is expected to work cooperatively with the SSO leadership team and SSO partners to drive overall success and performance of the building, and ultimately strong support for the overall SM PR&D pipeline. 

Responsibilities: 

• Under the scientific direction of a facility lead, the Operations Specialist will participate in equipment setups, raw material sampling and subdivisions, solution preparations, batch processing planning and execution at a pilot scale, process knowledge capture, and troubleshooting equipment with the aim of advancing process development, aiding technology development, and supplying Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) for clinical use and drug product development. This will involve handling of a variety of reagents, solvents, and active pharmaceutical ingredients during “wet chemistry” operations (performing chemical reactions, extractions, distillations, crystallizations, filtration, drying, etc.) as well as dry powder processing (e.g., dry milling). 
• Ensure processes are run within the capability constraints of the facility. 
• Ensure facility readiness with respect to cleaning (including documentation and execution), batch execution, building housekeeping, and consumable inventory. 
• Provide input for incident root cause analysis, reporting, and action items. 
• Facilitate and drive building improvement projects and corrective/preventative action closures. 
• Provide input on process setups. 
• Provide regular feedback to peers to promote a continuous improvement mindset. 
• Collaborate with all building staff to share and align on best practices. 
• Actively investigate problem statements and safety observation reports (SORs) to promote fast and efficient closure. 
• As needed, safely perform High Risk Work involving hazardous energy control. 
• Identify and follow through on opportunities to improve building flexibility, efficiency, compliance, and safety. 
• Author lessons learnt and summary reports to capture knowledge gained.  
• Mentor and help train rotational and new employees.  
• This position’s primary focus is executing batch production work. Additional responsibilities include coordination, planning, documentation, and other facility improvement activities. 

Position Qualifications: 

Education Minimum Requirement: 

• Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science (ideally in Process Technology), or higher degree in a relevant technical field of study with expected completion by Dec 2026 – or – 
• High School Diploma/GED plus at least four (4) years of relevant experience in Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Petrochemical or Food Processing/Manufacturing.   

Required Experience and Skills: 

• Strong communication skills to discuss technical problems and a collaborative mindset to interface with cross-functional teams. 
• A strong mechanical aptitude. 
• Proficiency in technical writing and the use of word processing, spreadsheet, graphing, and presentation software. 
• This role requires working on 8-hour shifts that rotate between 1st and 2nd shift on alternating weeks throughout the year. Onsite presence is required five days a week. Occasional overtime work may be required based on business needs. 

Preferred Experience and Skills: 

• Operations experience in pilot plant or manufacturing environment. 
• Understanding of/Experience with process scale-up of chemical processes, moving from the laboratory to the pilot scale. 
• Familiarity with the administration of cGMPs, Good Documentation Practices (GDPs), and S&E regulations as it pertains to pharmaceutical development.  
• Lean Six Sigma Training / Certification. 

#MSJR

#eligibleforERP

#PRD

Required Skills:

Assembly Operations, Chemical Processes, Document Management, Efficiency Improvements, Equipment Operations, Industrial Production, Machinery Operation, Mechanical Aptitude, Powder Handling, Process Technologies, Production Lines, Production Scheduling, Safety Protocols, Shift Work, Solids Handling

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 primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$71,900.00 - $113,200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Acetone and methanol

Job Posting End Date:

11/6/2026

*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.