Associate Director, Global Engineering Solutions - Project Technical Lead

Join our Global Engineering Solutions leadership team as the Associate Director, Project Technical Lead! The Associate Director will drive the successful execution of large-scale capital projects for our growing Animal Health portfolio! This role will require technical leadership, project management expertise, exemplary communication and collaboration skills with proven regulatory and quality compliance experience.

Reporting to the GES Animal Health Lead in Global Engineering Solutions (GES), the Associate Director will be part of a high performing team accountable for implementation of a major project within our Company's growing portfolio of Animal Health work. The Associate Director will serve as the Technical Lead for a large capital project (>$500MM) and be responsible for leading Suite teams, collaborating with design and construction partners, and driving equipment/process selection, design, startup and commissioning and qualification through all phases of the project.

The Associate Director participates in project activities ranging from business case development through the implementation of the business solution using the Capital Management stage gate process with varying degrees of responsibility and will exhibit sound leadership and exemplary partnership, communication, and vendor management skills. They are expected to develop and maintain advanced technical knowledge in their respective area(s) of expertise. They use experience and foresight to identify potential issues and keep the project on track to avoid problems.

The Associate Director collaborates with other Integrated Project Team (IPT) members (e.g., Project Management, Technology, Maintenance, Automation, Plant Operations, and Safety), Engineering Firms, and Vendors to progress deliverables. The Associate Director would be responsible for leading teams which own the planning, design, and implementation of capital projects including scope generation, process & facility design, equipment selection, vendor interaction, factory acceptance testing, technology transfer, construction support, equipment qualification, facility start-up and process demonstrations.

Candidates with significant experience in engineering design (Drug Product, Plant and Clean utilities), product equipment operation, vendor management, process safety and USDA industry guidance are preferred. Candidate should have demonstrated ability to lead a cross functional team through design and execution, while championing innovative solutions that meet the objectives of the business. The candidate should have a strong understanding of the line of business, understand lean design and delivery, implement standard work and be able to lead technical areas from an end-to-end perspective.

Relocation Requirement: By 2026, the candidate must be willing to permanently relocate to De Soto, Kansas. We understand that moving can be a significant decision, so we will provide relocation assistance to help facilitate this transition.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

This position will function as the technical/engineering process lead engineer with prior experience supporting Biologics, Vaccine and/or Sterile Projects

• Guide or assist project design efforts, providing innovative solutions that meet business goals.
• Lead and collaborate with cross-functional Suite teams in the evaluation of alternative solutions and the development of project scope
• Provide technical guidance during project implementation, assure viability of technology in proposed configuration.
• Provide support as needed for projects across the global network to drive sharing of lessons learned and drive efficiency in execution of project deliverables.
• Lead or participate in Engineering Design review sessions.
• Ensure that deliverables conform to our Company's standards and practices and are technically sound.
• Liaise with other technical functions to ensure successful technology transfers of new and existing products.
• Work with contractors, suppliers, and other team members in the execution of the work.
• Ensure project is progressing with compliance to our company's Capital Project Roadmap and approved commissioning and qualification strategy.
• Leads project design efforts, providing innovative solutions that meet business objective.

• The position will require technical oversight to junior engineers and resources from an engineering firm and GES-Contractors.
• The position will require direct line management of up to 5 direct reports and 3 contingent workers.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• B.S. degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical) or Science is required. An advanced degree in Engineering, Science, or Business is preferred.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in a functional area, such as Process-Equipment Engineering Design, Technical Operations, Single Use Technology and Operation Maintenance.

Required Experience and Skills:

• At least 7 of experience in Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry in engineering or manufacturing.
• 5+ years engineering or operations experience related to vaccines or biologics
• Experience with an equipment life cycle approach including specification, selection, testing & commissioning, troubleshooting and qualification.
• Understanding of hygienic design and unit operations specific to vaccine/biologic manufacturing and aseptic processing
• Experience with capital projects that followed a stage gate capital management process
• Excellent collaboration and engagement as a team player with dependable interpersonal and communication skills
• Analytical and problem-solving skills that involve leading teams to correct answers via coaching.
• Ability to drive and motivate a team of professionals through all phases of the project.
• Project/time management skills which deliver on time and quality work
• Core knowledge should include specification of unit operations, P&ID development, Hazard Analysis, equipment operation, commissioning & qualification
• Familiar and experience with chemical handling, biosafety (BSL-2) and containment approaches in terms of solution development
• Work independently and meet timelines in a fast-paced team-based environment.
• Strong self-motivation; proactive, high-energy, "can do" work ethic; ability to handle potentially stressful situations with strong leadership principles.
• Provide prompt escalations and report outs to Senior Leadership levels within GES and the Animal Health Americas organization.

#EBRG

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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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
$139,600.00 - $219,700.00

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 .

You can apply for this role through (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:
50%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
1st - Day

Valid Driving License:
Yes

Hazardous Material(s):
N/A

Required Skills:
Business Cases, Capital Project Management, Collaboration, Commissioning, Construction, Drug Product Manufacturing, Equipment Selection, Facility Design, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), Interpersonal Relationships, Leadership, Lean Design, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma Projects, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Process Design, Project Commissioning, Project Management, Project Team Leadership, Site Qualification, Team Leadership, Technical Leadership, Technology Transfer, Vendor Management

Preferred Skills:
Engineering Design, Process Safety Engineering, USDA Regulations

Job Posting End Date:
10/10/2025
*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.

Requisition ID: R352568