Manager, Manufacturing Automation

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Manufacturing Automation Manager of Lab Digital Support Operations is responsible for leading a team of FTEs and contractors delivering high-quality IT support for lab operations at our company. This role oversees team development performance management and strategic goal setting ensuring alignment with both site and corporate objectives. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with strong leadership and communication skills fostering a culture of continuous improvement diversity and inclusion within the Lab IT team.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management:

  • Lead mentor and develop a team of FTEs and contractors fostering a culture prioritizing diversity inclusion safety quality and compliance.

  • Build strong collaborative relationships between Lab IT and other departments including QC and Manufacturing.

  • Provide clear direction establish high standards and assess team performance to deliver top-tier Lab IT support.

  • Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to team members.

• Strategic Planning & Goal Setting:

  • Establish goals and KPIs for the Lab IT team ensuring alignment with QC manufacturing site and corporate objectives.

  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the Lab IT landscape to achieve year-on-year productivity gains.

  • Identify opportunities for process improvements and lead initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.

  • Collaborate with off-site Value Teams (VTs) to prioritize and deploy initiatives that improve digital maturity in lab operations.

• Operational Excellence & Issue Resolution:

  • Monitor key metrics and ensure timely closure of safety quality and compliance actions including QNs CAPAs and Change Controls.

  • Ensure audit readiness for lab IT systems particularly in areas related to quality metrics.

  • Develop and manage budgets maintaining operational efficiency.

• Technology Integration & Reliability:

  • Collaborate with the business to ensure all lab equipment purchases align with IT standards and integrate seamlessly with our company infrastructure.

  • Maintain Lab IT systems reliability enhancing efficiency through technology.

  • Oversee Lab system validation and ensure all changes including security patches are properly assessed for software compatibility.

  • Stay current with Lab IT trends and technologies recommending new solutions and improvements.

• Collaboration & Standardization:

  • Coordinate with regional and global teams to standardize processes and procedures across lab IT systems.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve automation-related issues promptly.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management:

  • Manage vendor relationships ensuring their services meet quality and contractual obligations.

  • Lead stakeholder engagement to manage IT change initiatives effectively and communicate priorities clearly.

  • Strategically influence cross-functional teams and senior leadership to advance Lab IT goals.

Education Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in engineering information technology or a related field.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in digital systems within a manufacturing environment with at least 3 years in a leadership/team lead role.

• Experience supporting digital laboratory systems and applications in a GMP regulated environment (R&D QC Analytical or Development labs).

• Handson experience with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) Chromatography Data Systems (CDS) and laboratory instrument integration platforms (e.g. Empower LabWare LabX or equivalent)

• Strong knowledge of digital technologies systems and best practices.

• Deep practical knowledge of COTS laboratory equipment and analytical instrumentation (HPLC UV FTIRs spectrophotometers titrators balances etc.) and their vendor software/applications

• Familiar with integrating lab instruments and applications with enterprise systems (e.g. LIMS ELN data historians SDC Scitara Biovia MES or reporting platforms).

• Indepth understanding of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for regulated systems including requirements design/configuration testing validation release/change control and maintenance.

• Working knowledge of IT/OT standards cybersecurity and infrastructure considerations for lab environments (PCbased and nonPC instruments).

• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively.

• Demonstrated project management and delivery skills for digital lab initiatives (system implementations upgrades instrument integrations migrations)

• Proficiency in budget management and financial analysis. Including costeffective sourcing standardized onboarding and spendtracking of FixedTerm Contractors (FTCs) for the site.

This role provides a unique opportunity to shape the digital transformation of lab operations at our company driving innovation and operational excellence.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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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 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 anothers 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 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

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 employees 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 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

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.

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