Job Description

The Associate Director in Digital Manufacturing Operations at West Point, PA is a lead for the manufacturing automation team supporting manufacturing of our vaccine products. This position will direct and prioritize workload activities of a professional staff of 5-10 engineers to provide process automation support to enable a reliable and compliant supply of vaccines. The responsibilities include the resolution of automation problems, implementation of process control, data collection and analysis, and troubleshooting in compliance with System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), GMP, safety, and environmental regulations.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply their passion, technical skills, and leadership skills as a member of a multidisciplinary team supporting vaccine manufacturing.

Compliance

Accountable for maintaining compliance of computerized systems in manufacturing areas through periodic review, deviation management, change control and validation.
Ensure our team and the systems are compliant to cGMP, System Development Lifecycle and the inspection-ready state.

Supply

Provide process automation (IT/OT) support to enable reliable supply of vaccine manufacturing.
Manage priorities, deliverables and schedule aligned with the production needs and stakeholders.
Manage work and resource load including internal, external and temporary resources.
Communicate daily with the business, technical, and quality representatives within the area of support through the tier process.
Provide off-site weekend/evening automation phone or on-site support on a rotational basis.

People management

Responsible for creating and sustaining a highly engaged team.
Provide coaching on professional development career paths for direct reports through mentoring, on-the-job training, as well as official training.
Provide feedback and input on performance evaluations

Financial Stewardship

Understand our impact the cost and finances of the business.
Manage small capital project budgets

Continuous improvement

Identify efficiency in our automation system
Identify future upgrade/replacement options for aging systems.
investigate automation anomalies and implement preventive actions

Position Qualifications

Education Minimum Requirement

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Information Technology or other relevant discipline.

Required Experience and Skills

Minimum ten (10) years in pharmaceutical process automation or equivalent
Ability to manage a team
Experience in Automation Platforms such as DCSs (DeltaV), PLCs (Allen Bradley, Siemens), SCADA, Data Historians (OSI PI), Batch Reporting (Informetric Info Batch)
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and to build relationships with team, peers and area leads.
Demonstrated leadership in achieving shared objectives in a matrix organization.
Strong understanding of manufacturing principles/ processes and ability to translate. manufacturing requirements into Automation/digital solution.
Strong understanding of aseptic and sterile operation.
Experience in all aspects of GMP Change Control and Computer System Validation.
Proven track record of analytical skills, problem solving and attention to detail.

Preferred Experience and Skills

Experience leading or managing teams.
Networking protocols, Virtual Machines, Database management and other general Information Technology administration.
Experience in biologics, vaccine or sterile manufacturing facilities.

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”.

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 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

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Not Applicable

Shift

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

N/A

Required Skills

Automated Manufacturing Systems, Business Process Improvements, Capital Projects, Data Collection Methods, Digital Manufacturing, GMP Compliance, Manufacturing Operations, Process Automations, Process Control, Program Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Technology Administration, Workforce Planning, Workload Management

Preferred Skills

Process Control Automation

Job Posting End Date

07/7/2025

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:R349475

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Information Technology or other relevant discipline
Minimum ten (10) years in pharmaceutical process automation or equivalent
Ability to manage a team
Experience in Automation Platforms such as DCSs (DeltaV), PLCs (Allen Bradley, Siemens), SCADA, Data Historians (OSI PI), Batch Reporting (Informetric Info Batch)
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and to build relationships with team, peers and area leads
Demonstrated leadership in achieving shared objectives in a matrix organization
Strong understanding of manufacturing principles/ processes and ability to translate
manufacturing requirements into Automation/digital solution
Experience in all aspects of GMP Change Control and Computer System Validation
Proven track record of analytical skills, problem solving and attention to detail
Automated Manufacturing Systems, Business Process Improvements, Capital Projects, Data Collection Methods, Digital Manufacturing, GMP Compliance, Manufacturing Operations, Process Automations, Process Control, Program Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Technology Administration, Workforce Planning, Workload Management
Process Control Automation

Benefits

$139,600.00 - $219,700.00
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
No relocation

Responsibilities

This position will direct and prioritize workload activities of a professional staff of 5-10 engineers to provide process automation support to enable a reliable and compliant supply of vaccines
The responsibilities include the resolution of automation problems, implementation of process control, data collection and analysis, and troubleshooting in compliance with System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), GMP, safety, and environmental regulations
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply their passion, technical skills, and leadership skills as a member of a multidisciplinary team supporting vaccine manufacturing
Accountable for maintaining compliance of computerized systems in manufacturing areas through periodic review, deviation management, change control and validation
Ensure our team and the systems are compliant to cGMP, System Development Lifecycle and the inspection-ready state
Provide process automation (IT/OT) support to enable reliable supply of vaccine manufacturing
Manage priorities, deliverables and schedule aligned with the production needs and stakeholders
Manage work and resource load including internal, external and temporary resources
Communicate daily with the business, technical, and quality representatives within the area of support through the tier process
Provide off-site weekend/evening automation phone or on-site support on a rotational basis
Responsible for creating and sustaining a highly engaged team
Provide coaching on professional development career paths for direct reports through mentoring, on-the-job training, as well as official training
Provide feedback and input on performance evaluations
Understand our impact the cost and finances of the business
Manage small capital project budgets
Continuous improvement
Identify efficiency in our automation system
Identify future upgrade/replacement options for aging systems
investigate automation anomalies and implement preventive actions
Strong understanding of aseptic and sterile operation
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

Associate Director, Technology Partnership

Job Type