Job Description

Reporting into the Executive Director Packaging Technical Operations the Director Packaging and Assembly Platform Technical Leadership will be responsible and accountable for technical leadership, strategic planning and portfolio execution of key packaging and assembly platforms, with a focus on combination drug products such as prefilled syringes and autoinjectors.

The Packaging Technical Operations organization aims to be an industry leader in problem-solving, delivering robust and pragmatic technical solutions to accelerate the commercialization of new products, and ensuring an uninterrupted, compliant supply of commercialized products for the benefit of patients. The Director of Packaging and Assembly Platform Technical Leadership is integral to this mission. The successful candidate will possess deep technical expertise, a strong track record in problem-solving, strategic acumen, and execution, along with exceptional leadership skills to shape the technical capabilities and strategic direction for a global, cross-modality technical team.

The Director will lead a team of technical experts responsible for technical leadership of key packaging and assembly platforms. They will be responsible for executing the organization's priorities and ensuring the successful completion of projects. This includes the development and execution of robust technical plans across device assembly, packaging, and/or distribution and logistics of finished goods images, encompassing proactive risk management strategies, platform standards for standard finished goods images and packaging and assembly equipment standards, technical lifecycle management, and continuous improvement initiatives to guarantee the robustness and compliance of our company's product portfolio across the internal and external networks

The candidate is expected to build inclusive, collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, such as packaging and manufacturing sites, packaging & device development and technology teams, supply chain, operations, quality, analytical, regulatory, and project leaders. The successful candidate will demonstrate ownership and make informed cost/benefit decisions based on the analysis of inputs, outcomes, risks, and company-wide prioritization.

Essential 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 assembly and packaging platform portfolio, including interrogation of the data/ science through technical reviews and exploring alternative ways to view and solve problems to achieve results and ensure that all platforms (e.g. syringes, auto injectors, bottles, blisters) meet safety, efficacy, quality, and robust supply standards.
Drive proactive risk management activities, including risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk communication strategies.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including packaging commercialization, quality, analytical, regulatory, manufacturing, Device Development and Technology, Technical Product Leaders, and Value Chain to facilitate effective technical support and platform stewardship. This includes above site support for significant investigations, complaints monitoring and rapid response activities.
Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and improve the effectiveness of technical platform stewardship activities. Manage the total platform portfolio of work, holding the team accountable to deliver on priorities
Provide strategic leadership and direction for technical support for the platform stewardship team, including management of ongoing changes and tech transfers for the components, equipment, and processes. Deliver on the development, maintenance, and refinement of technical platform lifecycle management plans, setting and managing and optimizing platform standards.
Provide technical guidance to lifecycle changes for packaging platforms ensuring internal technical requirements are achieved and ensure filings with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards. Ensure thorough engineering, medical device and packaging science is applied to deliverables for new product introductions and tech transfers across the network inclusive of aligning the control and validation strategies.

Minimum Education Requirements and Experience:

Bachelor of Science (BS) in packaging/ mechanical/ chemical/ biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical science or chemistry or related fields with fifteen (15) years relevant experience 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 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 pharmaceutical packaging, combination product assembly and packaging, or related technical fields

Required Skills and Experience:

Subject matter expertise in medical device and combination product commercialization and tech transfer, assembly and packaging process improvement and support from early stage through launch and supply, including components, process, and equipment, as well as qualification and validation, medical device design controls and device risk management, and design verification/ validation.
Demonstrated experience in a leadership role; managing technical teams supporting packaging as well as combination product assembly & packaging.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with an ability to determine interrogate the science, identify true requirements, and detect critical flaws including the ability to determine areas of potential risk, generate gap analysis and mitigation strategies
In-depth knowledge of global regulatory requirements for medical devices and combination products and packaging.
Strong understanding of risk management principles, including ISO 14971 and other relevant standards.
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.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Change Management, Combination Products, Compliance Packaging, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Data-Driven Decision Making, Design Verification Testing, Driving Continuous Improvement, Engineering Standards, Innovation, Leadership, Leadership Project Management, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Mentorship, Packaging Engineering, Packaging Equipment, Pharmaceutical Packaging, Technical Mentoring

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

$156,900.00 - $247,000.00

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.