Job Description

Director Packaging Distribution, Components and Systems Center of Excellence (COE)

We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. At our company, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We are seeking a Director for our Packaging Distribution, Components and Systems Center of Excellence (COE) who will play a pivotal role in our mission to save and improve lives around the world. This position serves as the primary leadership position overseeing all management and leadership support within this area.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of technical staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Provide subject matter expertise and ensure scientific rigor, technical problem solving, and execution excellence across the distribution, component, and systems COE portfolio.
• Drive proactive risk management activities, including risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk communication strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure that all solutions meet safety, efficacy, quality, and robust supply standards.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders to facilitate effective COE support to the portfolio.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for technical support across Centers of Excellence.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and improve the effectiveness of COE support.
• Ensure thorough engineering and packaging science is applied to deliverables.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in packaging/mechanical/chemical/biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical science or chemistry or related fields with fifteen (15) years relevant experience in pharmaceutical packaging, combination product assembly and packaging, or related technical fields; OR
• Master of Science (MS) in packaging/mechanical/chemical/biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical science or chemistry or related fields with twelve (12) years relevant experience in pharmaceutical packaging, combination product assembly and packaging, or related technical fields; OR
• PhD in packaging/mechanical/chemical/biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical science or chemistry or related fields with eight (8) years relevant experience in pharmaceutical packaging, combination product assembly and packaging, or related technical fields
• Subject matter expertise in packaging and/or medical device and combination product components as well as development and qualification of package design and/or distribution/transportation technologies for pharmaceutical products.
• Demonstrated experience in a leadership role; managing technical teams supporting packaging and/or combination product assembly and packaging.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with an ability to interrogate the science, identify true requirements, and detect critical flaws.
• In-depth knowledge of global regulatory requirements for medical devices and combination products and packaging, including Good Distribution Practices (cGDP).
• Strong understanding of risk management principles.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with a focus on driving continuous improvement and implementing best practices in technical support and product stewardship.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred

• Experience in commercialization and tech transfer, assembly and packaging process improvement and support from early stage through launch and supply.
• Experience with thermal and distribution qualification for pharmaceutical products.
• Experience in developing and maintaining documentation systems for the packaging community.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Accountability, Applied Mathematics, Client-Focused, Client Relationship Building, Combination Products, Compliance Packaging, Confidentiality, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Cross-Functional Partnerships, Cross Functional Projects, Design Team Leadership, Domestic Market, Effective Listening, Engineering Leadership, Engineering Standards, Global Logistics, Global Team Leadership, Innovation, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Leadership, Leading International Teams, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Moldings, Mold Manufacturing {+ 21 more}

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

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”.

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/4/2026

*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.