Associate Director, Global Merck Production Systems (MPS)

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines vaccines and animal health products. Today we are building a new kind of healthcare companyone that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us.

Our company Production Systems (MPS) is an integrated production system for how we design manage and continuously improve our operations and supporting business processes enabled through the development of our people. The Manufacturing Division MPS Team is responsible for driving MPS throughout the organization to enable change in the operating systems management systems and mindsets behaviors and capabilities of our people to produce product at the highest quality for the lowest cost and in the shortest lead time.

Under the direction of the Site Support USA MPS Director you would work with manufacturing site leaders and operational/functional areas in USA Manufacturing sites.

Approximately 50% of the time will be spent on the floor providing direct hands-on support of activities while 25% will be spent coaching leaders.

Due to the nature of the work and diversity of sites expected travel will be 50-75%.

Manufacturing Division MPS Associate Director Key Activities:

• Partner with and consult functional leaders plant managers and their leadership teams to develop plans and execute performance improvement activities in line with site and divisional priorities
• Develop Lean management and people development processes and plans
• Utilize various Lean tools techniques and apply GMPS standards to diagnose analyze and improve business processes
• Provide teaching and coaching to effectively transfer Lean skills into the organization for the development of Lean Leaders
• Manage projects and teams to mitigate risk allocate resources and drive on time completion of initiatives and deliver intended results.
• Develop visual controls and framework to make problems visible and respond with urgency to effectively break down complex problems lead root cause analysis and develop effective countermeasures.
• Build trust and develop new relationships with internal and external clients and effectively coach senior leaders and E2E/IP Managers to collaborate and achieve successful outcomes at site/regional/global levels.

Minimum Education Requirement and Experience:

• Bachelors Degree in a related field with eight (8) years experience in analyzing complex end-to-end supply chains and driving process improvement project management and deep experience with application of lean tools and techniques (pharmaceutical/biotech experience preferred). OR
• Masters Degree in a related field with six (6) years experience in analyzing complex end-to-end supply chains and driving process improvement project management and deep experience with application of lean tools and techniques (pharmaceutical/biotech experience preferred). OR
• PhD in a related field with three (3) years experience in analyzing complex end-to-end supply chains and driving process improvement project management and deep experience with application of lean tools and techniques (pharmaceutical/biotech experience preferred).

Required Experience and Skills:

• Lean Leadership experience
• Experience analyzing complex end-to-end supply chains and driving process improvement
• Hands-on application of Lean tools and techniques: standardized work scientific problem solving value stream mapping mistake proofing SMED 5S-Visual Factory
• Experience applying consultative skills: ability to influence decision making ability to interact with all levels of the business (senior leaders to shop floor working teams).
• Project management skills (demonstrated experience in managing large project teams).
• Coaching / Teaching: Proven experience in coaching and equipping others to apply lean methods and tools. Changing mindsets and behaviors to achieve a continuous improvement philosophy.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Solid business acumen proven team building skills exceptionally good listening skills results oriented strong analytical skills and prior process improvement experience
• Experience in operations management manufacturing or related disciplines.
• Experience in a Vaccines or Sterile pharmaceutical environment.
• Secondary degree in supply chain or business administration
• Extensive Lean application experience deep understanding and successful application of TPS.
• Excellent skills using IT applications to organize and analyze date (MS-Access MS-Excel Minitab).

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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 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

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 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

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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.

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