Merck & Co.

Job Description

The Maurice R. Hilleman Center for Vaccine Manufacturing is located in Durham, NC. Due to the importance of this facility in our Company Vaccine Manufacturing network, the facility has seen rapid growth in production volumes and new employees over the last several years; currently Durham employs 1,000+ people.

This role as a Manager, Operations will be an energetic, leader with strong interpersonal, leadership, and collaboration skills responsible for supporting Operational Readiness projects to support biological processes for a new manufacturing facility or currently established manufacturing facility. This role will contribute to the performance and results of a E2E drug substance/product department and provide technical guidance. Off-shift and weekend coverage will be required based on business unit needs during start up and operations, and specific assignments.

This position is in direct support of our Upstream Fermentation manufacturing process for Bulk Drug Substance. Focused areas of responsibility include but are not limited to activities of: Media Preparation, Fermentation, Tangential Flow Filtration, Process Monitoring, Sampling, and area cleaning.

Accountability

• First line operations supervisor with a team of individual contributor production direct reports including safety, quality, and daily operations;
• Ensure that Shift(s) objectives are achieved while reliably supplying quality product at a competitive cost consistent with our Company, Regulatory Agency, and State and Local code requirements for quality, good manufacturing practices (GMP), equal employment opportunity, finances, labor, employee, environment and safety
• Tactical and strategic Shift(s) management, including collaboration with indirect staff;
• Promote the behaviors and principles that drive continuous improvement.

Duties

• Coordinates and supervises the daily activities of hourly personnel (Operations Technicians)
• Sets priorities for the team to ensure task completion; coordinates work activities with other supervisors
• Decisions are guided by policies, procedures and business plan; receives guidance and oversight from Operations Associate Director and Director;
• Interprets client and/or customer needs and assesses requirements;
• Applies supervisory skills to improve efficiency and accomplish operational objectives within own unit;
• Identifies and resolves standard day-to-day technical and operational problems within own unit and collaborates with peers in other areas and functions;
• Sets priorities for unit to meet daily deadlines; develops plans to meet short-term objectives;
• Works within budgetary/ financial objectives set by Director;
• Makes decisions – guided by policies and standard operating procedures – that impact the efficiency and effectiveness of own unit;
• Compliance - Responsible for creating and sustaining a culture that ensures that compliance (Safety, Environment, cGMP, etc.) are imperatives for the business. Responsible for establishing a Right First Time culture by reducing waste and constantly driving continuous improvement. Responsible to review and approve compliance documents, as per procedures or need.
• Supply – Support Tier. Exercise judgment and decision making to ensure quality product is reliably produced while managing cost. Responsible for Shift(s) supply performance metrics (Schedule Adherence, Release on Time, Customer service performance, Product Lead Time, etc.).
• Continuous Improvement - Accountable for developing our Company Production System (MPS) and continuous improvement culture while achieving MPS Targets and business results for the Shift(s). Develop strategic initiatives related to the manufacturing process, equipment and human resources in support of long range operating plans. Report Shift(s) monthly metrics and any action plans to address gaps to the Associate Director and/or Director. Identify, prioritize, and champion improvement initiatives to improve process efficiency, cycle time, and yield, reduce process variability, and eliminate waste.
• Financial Stewardship – Accountable for meeting the Shift(s) operating budget and continuously reducing cost. Ensure members of the Shift(s) have business acumen and understand how they may impact business finances.
• People Management – Responsible for creating and sustaining a highly engaged workforce through utilization of our Company Leadership Behaviors and Inclusion. Provide coaching on professional development and career paths. Provide timely feedback and performance evaluations for direct reports after obtaining the relevant input and evaluation. Provide feedback and input on performance evaluations for indirect staff. Support Talent Management.
• Direct, coordinate, provide guidance and counseling to group leaders to assure optimum quality and quantity of finished products.
• Keep all team members informed on current policies and procedures, and all other plant communications.
• Enforce all prescribed safety rules and regulations, and take prompt corrective action concerning potential safety hazards
• Provide leadership in establishing and maintaining a high efficiency and productivity level from the team members, while maintaining a focus on Safety First and Quality Always.
• Identify root causes of manufacturing issues and implement corrective action to minimize downtime with a focus on Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost, in that order.
• Actively develop members to obtain maximum potential.
• Support and lead/participate in the Hoshin process and advocate for, and continually strive to achieve, our Vision
• Ability to work a 12 hour shift (7am-7pm) on a 2-2-3 schedule

Education Minimum Requirement:

• High School Diploma AND at least Six (6) years in a manufacturing, technical, support, or Military role. OR
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field AND at least Four (4) years in a manufacturing, technical, support, or Military role.
• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of experience in a direct GMP, biotechnology, manufacturing setting.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team (i.e. experience leading directly as a supervisor/coach or indirectly as part of a project or through routine process execution).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate people/resources to meet a production schedule.
• Strategic and effective interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge of MPS/Lean
• Upstream / Fermentation Drug Substance/Product start-up experience
• Demonstrated experience of interacting with site, divisional or regulatory audits

Core Skillsets

• Ability to develop and lead others
• Ability to be flexible and understand risk
• Continuous improvement
• Conflict resolution
• Leadership style – adaptive; high performance coaching; servant leader

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to support the organization.

#MSJR VETJOBS #EBRG TechnicianDurham

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

$94,300.00 - $148,500.00

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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Required Skills:

Adaptability, cGMP Compliance, Communication, Data Analysis, Employee Performance Standards, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Interpersonal Relationships, Inventory Management, Management Process, Manufacturing Processes, Manufacturing Quality Control, Operational Excellence, People Management, Process Improvements, Production Scheduling, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Strategic Initiative, Talent Management

Preferred Skills:

Decision Making, Leadership, Performance Metrics, Process Implementations, Strategic Objectives, Training and Development

Job Posting End Date:

06/27/2025

• 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.

Read Full Description