AVP, Engineering

Job Description

The Associate Vice President (AVP) Drug Product Technical Operations (DP Tech Ops) provides enterprise technical leadership for drug product manufacturing across the companys commercial manufacturing network including oversight of external manufacturing partners technical operations leadership for the Singapore manufacturing facility and strategic stewardship of in-line product manufacturing across the global network.

Reporting to the Vice President Small Molecule Science & Technology (SM S&T) within the our companys Manufacturing Division this leader is accountable for ensuring robust reliable compliant supply and continuously improving drug product operations that enable uninterrupted patient supply and support the long-term success of the portfolio.

The role requires deep technical operations expertise combined with strategic leadership enterprise influence and a demonstrated ability to build organizational capability. As the senior drug product technical leader the AVP provides technical stewardship across the manufacturing network addressing complex technical operational quality and supply challenges while advancing technical excellence operational performance and transformational change.

Success in this role is defined by the ability to build and sustain a high-performing technical operations organization that consistently delivers reliable supply proactively identifies and mitigates risk develops future leaders and strengthens the long-term competitiveness of the manufacturing network through innovation operational excellence and enterprise leadership.

The AVP partners closely with senior leaders across Science & Technology Manufacturing Quality Regulatory Supply Chain and Engineering to drive strategic priorities strengthen network performance and deliver business outcomes across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide enterprise leadership for drug product manufacturing performance across internal sites external manufacturing partners and global commercial product networks ensuring reliable supply regulatory compliance and effective lifecycle stewardship.

• Serve as the senior technical authority for complex product process manufacturing and supply challenges driving science-based decisions and sustainable solutions.

• Provide strategic oversight of external drug product CMOs and technical operations leadership for Singapore manufacturing facilities ensuring strong technical stewardship operational excellence and inspection readiness.

• Advance network performance through proactive risk management lifecycle monitoring investigation excellence CAPA effectiveness and continuous improvement.

• Champion digital analytics and advanced process monitoring capabilities to strengthen technical decision-making process understanding and operational effectiveness.

• Lead transformational initiatives that enhance manufacturing reliability organizational agility and the long-term competitiveness of the drug product manufacturing network.

• Build and lead a high-performing organization recognized for technical excellence scientific rigor accountability collaboration and continuous learning.

• Develop leadership bench strength through coaching talent development succession planning and deliberate capability-building strategies.

• Foster an inclusive high-performing culture that promotes innovation engagement and operational excellence.

The successful candidate will:

• Be recognized as an enterprise technical operations leader with deep expertise in drug product manufacturing commercialization and lifecycle management.

• Anticipate and effectively manage technical operational quality and supply risks through sound scientific judgment data-driven decision-making and robust governance.

• Influence and align senior stakeholders across Manufacturing Quality Regulatory Supply Chain Engineering Science & Technology and external partner organizations to deliver business outcomes and sustainable solutions.

• Balance technical excellence operational performance compliance requirements and business priorities in a highly complex and regulated environment.

• Build enduring organizational capability through leadership development succession planning and a culture of accountability innovation and continuous improvement.

• Drive transformational change that strengthens manufacturing performance technical decision quality and the long-term effectiveness and competitiveness of the global drug product network.

Education:

• Ph.D. M.S. or B.S. in Chemistry Engineering or Analytical Sciences with a minimum of 15 years of experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Significant leadership experience spanning pharmaceutical technical operations manufacturing science CMC development commercialization and lifecycle management.

• Proven success leading global technical organizations complex manufacturing networks and strategic external partnerships in highly regulated environments.

• Demonstrated ability to influence enterprise strategy and drive alignment across Science and Technology Engineering Operations Quality Regulatory Supply Chain and commercial manufacturing organizations.

• Deep expertise in GMP manufacturing quality systems regulatory compliance inspection readiness and lifecycle product stewardship.

• Strong track record of leading organizational transformation improving operational performance and advancing technical excellence through innovative and data-driven approaches.

• Proven ability to build develop and retain high-performing teams including experience in organizational design succession planning leadership development and capability building.

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive high-performance culture characterized by accountability psychological safety continuous learning and innovation.

• Experience leading large cross-functional organizations and complex strategic initiatives requiring significant stakeholder influence and change leadership.

• Exceptional communication executive presence sound judgment and strategic decision-making capabilities.

Required Skills:

Analytical Thinking Analytical Thinking Building Capability Business Decisions Business Performance Management Business Process Improvements Business Requirements Analysis Chemical Engineering Fundamentals Chemical Plant Operations Competency Management Cross-Cultural Awareness Customer-Focused Engineering Leadership Ethical Compliance Executive Leadership Executive Presence Financial Acumen Innovation Manufacturing Scale-Up Mentoring Staff Operational Quality Organizational Leadership People Leadership People Management Performance Improvements 7 more

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 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 anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights including under California Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$282200.00 - $444200.00

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 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.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

08/19/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.