Job Description

We invite you to join our team!

The Associate Director Manufacturing Automation in Digital Manufacturing Operations is responsible for management of all automation process control systems in a vaccine manufacturing facility. The Associate Director will lead a team of automation engineers providing all necessary assistance for the facility including on the floor support, deviation investigation, change management, system administration, and management of small projects. The Associate Director will be responsible for work prioritization, technical oversight, and team development.

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.

Key Functions

• Manage team to achieve Safety, Quality, and Environmental compliance excellence in all assignments.

• Manage workload and skills development for direct reports.

• Establish priorities and work schedules with stakeholders (operations, technology, quality).

• Ensure the compliance of all GMPs, safety, and environmental regulations.

• System upgrades, troubleshooting issues, identifying trends, process monitoring, system administration, documentation updates, data querying, operator training and participating in deviation investigations.

• Ensure automation documents, preventive maintenance, periodic reviews, and SOPs are in an inspection-ready state.

• Accountable for process automation inquiries during internal and external audits/inspections and must, therefore, be able to speak knowledgeably about automation, process and cGMP details of the manufacturing operations.

• Evaluate automated and information technology systems and develop strategies to optimize and ensure the quality and stability of automation systems through future expansion, replacement, or upgrade.

• Use their technical knowledge to assure the efficient operation of a variety of automated processing and information technology systems.

• Accountable for installation and qualification of new equipment into operations.

• Develop solutions for automation problems.

• Participate and contribute to investigations of automation anomalies to prevent a recurrence, which includes on-the-floor support of manufacturing activities.

• Accountable for the development of technical requirements, keeping in mind the associated technology needs, benefits, and risks.

• Analyze complex business requirements using tools and techniques and identifies internal/external solutions to meet these requirements.

• Accountable for developing control strategies and applying computerized tools that will deliver tangible improvements to overall production unit performance.

• 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.

• Familiar with lean manufacturing principles with an ability to convert business logic and requirements into detailed system requirements

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

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

Required Experience and Skills:

• Seven (7) years in process automation or equivalent

• Experience in Automation Platforms such as DCS's (DeltaV), PLCs (Allen Bradley, Siemens), SCADA, OSI PI, Batch Reporting (Informetric Info Batch)

• Demonstrated ability 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

• Proven track record of analytical skills, problem solving and attention to detail

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with Computer System Validation.

• Experience working in a cGMP environment.

• Experience leading or managing teams.

• Networking, Virtual Machines, Database management and other general Information Technology administration.

• Experience in biologics, vaccine or bulk sterile manufacturing facilities.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 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 diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

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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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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”.

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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

• 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.

Job Posting End Date:05/18/2024

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:R293408