Executive Director, Technical Operations

Job Description

Our Manufacturing & Supply Division is dedicated to being the most trusted supplier of biopharmaceuticals worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, create a reliable global manufacturing network that’s devoted to delivering a high quality, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time. 

Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset striving for continuous improvement. We work in the local plant connected to our global manufacturing network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates and finished products.

The Elkton Technical Operations Leader is based in the manufacturing facility in Elkton, PA, reports to the Vice President, Vaccines Science and Technology and is also a member of the Elkton Site Leadership Team with dotted line accountability to the Plant Manager.

This individual will lead this multidisciplinary organization responsible for supporting the manufacture of critical, complex life-saving products through integrated support to site operations and quality teams. The qualified candidate will guide the organization in providing direct support and expertise to routine commercial manufacturing as well as investment in sustained process robustness and understanding through the associated process sciences laboratory capability.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Responsible for all aspects of technical process and product support including problem resolution, process improvements, technology transfers, process monitoring, and process maintenance.  This includes interaction with health authorities, both written communication and inspections. The organizational structure includes dedicated support for each of integrated process teams (IPTs) in the operations areas, a centralized validation organization, and a Process Support Laboratory with scale down model capabilities spanning a range of large molecule drug substance and drug product unit operations and characterization.

• Lead a department of greater than 150 personnel and is responsible for ensuring the required competencies, talent management and development of people and is a member of the Site Leadership Team.

• Create the environment in the group for collaboration across the interconnected, interdependent global network for the all the areas of responsibilities within scope, demonstrating a Boundary less Organization mindset (right people, place, time). This includes personal engagement, sponsorship of active participation in management of knowledge, communities of practice, virtual technical network, product stewardship, technology platforms and best practices sharing in the flow of the core work.

• Align with local and global automation, engineering, EHS, supply chain and operations leaders for maintenance of functional excellence and standard approaches.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in related Science, Engineering or other technical discipline.

Professional Requirements/ Competencies:

Experience and Technical Expertise: Minimum of 10 years of experience in a comparable role and have experience contributing to the business at a directional, strategic level, with direct experience in manufacturing, preferable Good Manufacturing Practice Setting. Safety and Plant Policies and Procedures; knowledge of regulatory/code requirements to American and International Codes, Standards and Practices; strong understanding of business and operations management models and their application; has extensive experience and expertise in vaccine development, commercialization and/or manufacturing with depth of knowledge in microbial fermentation and associated large scale operations; a demonstrated track record of applying scientific, technical knowledge and problem-solving approaches to deliver business results; in depth understanding of process engineering, equipment/process validation as well as in depth scientific process understanding.

Problem Solving/ Continuous Improvement Expertise: Gathers and analyzes data and effectively responds to new, complex, or problematic situations; creates solutions that drive value for our company and our customers, incorporating innovative approaches. Models, coaches and teaches scientific problem-solving approaches with teams and peers. Demonstrates a lean mindset and drives continuous improvement.  Demonstrated capability in establishing process stability in a challenging and complex scientific environment. Demonstrated capability in Lean Six Sigma, especially the definition and effective deployment of standard work.

Business Acumen and Financial Management: In-depth knowledge of financial systems (budgets, expenses, product standards and variances); management of a large, agile organization with resources that include full-time and temporary employees providing a pipeline of talent at the site and global levels; creates awareness of cost levers driving productivity at all levels.

Productive Communication: Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, to interface effectively with all levels of colleagues and with external customers in a team-oriented manner; communicates effectively with direct reports, extended organization, partners and stakeholders.

Drive Results: Sets clear performance standards including stretch goals for self and workgroup.  Holds self and others accountable for achieving results; works proactively to remove barriers to achieving and exceeding goals; communicates a sense of urgency, high performance bars and changes to deliverables in a timely manner with workgroup and stakeholders; strong influence and decision-making skills.

Build Talent: Builds talent within teams/organizations with capabilities necessary for future success; continuously assesses competencies vs future needs, designing plans to fill gaps;  actively coaches and develops team/ organization; demonstrated application of culture and business change methodologies (CEM, Inclusion and BCCM) when realizing site and cross functional process improvement initiatives; oversees and carries out Performance Management, Talent Management and Development activities.

Required Skills:

Biopharmaceutical Operations, Change Agility, Chemical Engineering Fundamentals, Chemical Plant Operations, Consulting, Financial Acumen, Leadership Development Training, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Organizational Design, People Analytics, People Leadership, Project Controls Management, Strategic Thinking, Technical Communication

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$231,900.00 - $365,000.00

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:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

NA

Job Posting End Date:

07/13/2026

*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.