Senior Packaging Technician, Operations (m/f/d)

Job Description

The Senior Packaging Technician is responsible for independently executing clinical packaging activities in compliance with internal specifications, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), batch records and applicable Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)/ Good Documentation Practice (GDP) and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) requirements. This role performs primary and secondary packaging, operates packaging and labelling systems, supports documentation and SAP transactions, coordinates routine technical tasks within assigned studies and serves as an experienced technical point of contact for day-to-day packaging activities.  

 Key Responsibilities:

1. Clinical Packaging Operations 

• Performs primary packaging of clinical studies according to internal specifications, SOPs and batch records. 
• Performs secondary packaging of clinical studies according to internal specifications, SOPs and batch records. 
• Supplies ordered study material to the corresponding packaging rooms and prepares materials in accordance with the relevant SOPs. 
• Operates packaging and labelling systems in support of clinical packaging activities. 

2. Technical Coordination 

• Trains and supports new technicians during onboarding and routine operations. 
• Performs administrative work related to packaging orders and clinical packaging activities. 
• Escalates problems directly to the supervisor or manager as required. 
• Coordinates the execution of bottle filling, labelling and packaging activities for clinical studies. 
• Oversees compliance-related aspects of packaging orders and serves as a technical point of contact for technicians assigned to individual studies. 
• Performs cleaning verification for equipment and rooms and completes final cleaning verification at study closeout. 
• Executes SAP transactions related to packaging activities. 
• Prepares GMP documentation, including required photographs, and creates batch notes or comments as applicable. 
• Reviews and coordinates Packaging Technicians’ activities within the assigned area. 
• Supports the transfer of cold materials as required during daily operations.  
• Ensures study completion and hands over completed studies to the supervisor. 

3. Routine Operational Tasks 

• Performs or coordinates routine tasks such as scale adjustments, deionized water flushes, and replenishment of consumables to support operational readiness.  
• Provides day-to-day operational support to ensure readiness of packaging rooms, equipment and materials. 
• Supports the Packaging Compliance Support team with batch pre- and post-execution reviews.  

4. Documentation & Systems 

• Assists in document preparation, control and process improvement for packaging activities. 
• Uses SAP, Word and Excel for documentation and operational support, including the accurate completion of electronic logs. 
• Ensures accurate and compliant use of SAP for clinical packaging processes. 

5. Compliance & EHS 

• Performs all activities in compliance with applicable SOPs, company policies, and GMP/GDP/EHS requirements. 
• Documents activities in accordance with internal GDP requirements. 
• Conducts blinding checks in accordance with SOP requirements.  

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

Aseptic Operations, Aseptic Operations, Biological Sciences, Cleanroom Gowning, Computer Literacy, GMP Compliance, GMP Documentation, GMP Training, Language Assessments, Legal Document Preparation, Life Science, Master Batch Records, Operations Support, Packaging Management, Packaging Processes, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Process Improvements, Production Scheduling, Safety Compliance, SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), SAP Governance Risk and Compliance (SAP GRC), SAP Quality Management (QM), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Writing, Teamwork, Union Experience {+ 1 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Secondary Language(s) Job Description:

Your Profile:

• Completed apprenticeship, preferably in a life sciences-related field. 
• At least 3 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, clinical packaging, or a comparable GMP-regulated environment.  
• Good understanding of GMP, GDP and EHS requirements relevant to packaging operations. 
• German language at native or fluent level
• English language proficiency at B1/ B2 level or above. 
• Hands-on experience with packaging and labelling equipment and routine operational support activities. 
• Experience with documentation practices, batch records and accurate recording of operational activities. 
• Proficiency in SAP and Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel. 
• Ability to train and support other technicians and to serve as a technical point of contact for assigned studies.  
• Reliable, detail-oriented and able to work independently while following procedures and compliance requirements. 
• Demonstrates strong ethics, compliance and quality mindset. 
• Strong team player with a collaborative mindset.  
• Demonstrates a continuous improvement mindset in day-to-day operations and supports the implementation of procedural changes. 

THE COMPANY

Our Company is a leading biopharmaceutical company employing over 1,000 people in Switzerland at three sites. The company’s headquarters are in Lucerne. At the site in Zurich, the company operates a global innovation and development hub. In addition, we manufacture medicines for global clinical trials and operate a forensic laboratory in Schachen (Canton Lucerne). We conduct around 40 clinical trials annually in Switzerland. The main therapeutic areas include oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases. We also have a broad portfolio of vaccines for the prevention of diseases in children, adolescents, and adults and we are one of the leading companies in veterinary medicine. Furthermore, we take our responsibility to the local community seriously and have been involved for many years in initiatives such as the «Trendtage Gesundheit Luzern» and the «Alliance Health Competence». 

We are proud to be certified as a “Top Employer Switzerland” and “Top Employer Europe” showing the company’s commitment to our employees and the community around us.

Our Werthenstein BioPharma site in Schachen is where we conduct cutting-edge research, develop and analyze new biological agents and supply clinical trial products for global clinical studies. The site is also home to one of our global forensic laboratories where we carefully monitor our products through the supply chain to ensure security and safety for our patients.

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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

Yes

Job Posting End Date:

11/14/2026

*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.