Job Description

General:
The Associate Director of Technology Partnerships (Data and Foundations Lead) provides leadership, direction, and technical expertise to teams of IT business, technical, and data analysts at various stages of development. These teams support clients in both the office and production areas at the Wilson, NC, Packaging Manufacturing Site.

This position is responsible for the health and effectiveness of foundational site systems, such as MES, PI Historians, and infrastructure, as well as all activities that impact them, including the effects of new projects. The role focuses on enhancing the use of data analytics, Power BI applications, bot technology, and AI opportunities across various site functions. Additionally, this role oversees the administration and IT support for the foundational IT systems that support the Quality Operations Laboratories.

Additionally, this position oversees lifecycle management plans, disaster recovery activities, and backup methodologies for site systems and infrastructure. It also supports project work within the assigned areas of responsibility.

The Associate Director is accountable for the efficient and effective use of resources and is tasked with coaching, training and development, and performance management of the team of analysts.

Furthermore, the role includes supervising contractor personnel necessary for system support.

Lastly, the position collaborates with the DMO director to report on financial progress, including expenses and the small capital budget for the DMO department.

Functional Expertise:
This position requires knowledge and experience in the relevant discipline while also promoting the acquisition of higher-level skills and knowledge. The role involves building an understanding of the company, its processes, and its clients/customers, solving a variety of medium-complexity problems, and proposing potential solutions. It also emphasizes the importance of teamwork by encouraging effective collaboration, active listening, and the integration of diverse perspectives from across the workgroup, all of which contribute to achieving team goals.

Responsibility:

• The Associate Director (Data and Foundations Lead) is responsible for resolving significant IT-related issues and maintaining IT systems in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), Safety, and Environmental Regulations. This role includes providing coaching and guidance on IT policies and procedures, analyzing and resolving problems, and implementing preventative and corrective actions.

• Additionally, the Associate Director will develop strategies to optimize the quality and stability of IT foundational systems through future expansions, replacements, or upgrades. Collaboration with stakeholders and global support functions is essential to ensure successful system functionality. This role also involves supervising and developing a committed and responsible team of analysts who support the production site

The Associate Director, Technology Partnership (Data and Foundations Lead) is responsible for supporting the following as the discipline requires not limited to:

• Coaches IT business, technical, and data analysts while overseeing contract IT services and demonstrating our Company's Leadership Standards. Assesses employee training and development needs, evaluates team maturity, and adapts leadership style to enhance team performance.

• Provides ongoing formal and informal feedback to direct reports, addresses their performance, and inspires team members while applying consequence management as needed..

• Helps the team develop objectives and ensures alignment with site, division, and company goals..

• Offers coaching on business case analysis, functional specifications development, and risk assessments. Guides analysts in providing support for business area applications..

• Ensures IT representation in key governance processes for the business. Initiates and leads collaborative efforts with multiple site and above-site organizations to provide solutions for complex problems and requests..

• Coordinates on-site support for necessary IT-related activities. Assists in technical areas during the installation and integration of new equipment into operations. Identifies and implements process improvements.

• Drive operational efficiency optimization through the strategic application of data analytics and digital technologies, overseeing business and data analysts in identifying opportunities for process improvement and innovation through the effective deployment of digital strategies.

• Manages life cycle plans, disaster preparedness activities, and backup/recovery methods for site systems and infrastructure. Assists with risk assessments and data integrity evaluations as needed.

• Evaluate automated and information technology systems and develop strategies to optimize their quality and stability through future expansion, replacement, or upgrades.

• Understands and adheres to our Company's cybersecurity and data integrity policies and guidelines. Provides guidance to the team on appropriate procedures to ensure compliance with these policies. Reviews technical documents to verify adherence to our Company guidelines and policies.

• Ensures IT systems comply with SLC, cGMPs, safety, and environmental regulations by reviewing and approving IT documents, preventive maintenance, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guarantee adherence to GMP and safety standards.

• Develop solutions for general IT-related problems and oversee investigations of automation anomalies to prevent recurrence. This includes leading IT investigations into Atypical Production Reports (APRs) and implementing corrective actions..

• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) during both internal and external audits.

Qualifications:

• B.S., B.A, or M.S. in Information Technology, Science, Engineering, or related technical field.

• Minimum eight (8) years of experience in a production-regulated industry (part or all the eight years providing manufacturing automation services) – OR – Master’s or MBA degree with six(6) years experience – OR – PhD with five (5) years experience. Working knowledge of the regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical applications.

• Relevant work experience encompassing a working knowledge of FDA regulatory requirements

• Working knowledge of Server software/hardware, Windows operating systems, and networking infrastructure.

• Experience in computer validation and systems lifecycle development methodology.

• Experience authoring and reviewing standard operating procedures, on-the-job training, and other controlled documents.

Skills:

• Effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral) are required.

• Demonstrated ability to lead key projects across multiple site disciplines and successfully manage multiple, concurrent projects.

• Strong understanding of agile delivery models and/or lean-six-sigma approaches.

• Direct technical experience with IT Systems such as MES and PI Historians, digital infrastructure, and shop floor hardware components.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead others in a cross-functional organization.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and support others through a culture of inclusion, feedback, and empowerment.

• Strong team skills, including the ability to coach/develop work teams, motivate/empower others, and resolve conflict.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Problem Solving, and/or Right First-Time methodologies.

• Experience administering cybersecurity policies and procedures to computerized equipment.

• Data Integrity acumen.

• PMP Certification.

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/29/2025

*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.