Job Description
Job Description:
Manager, HVAC:
The HVAC Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating a team that operates, optimizes, and continuously improves the HVAC and building automation systems across our Rahway, NJ campus, including commercial offices and pharmaceutical laboratories.
This role ensures HVAC systems meet strict regulatory standards (FDA, cGMP/GxP as applicable), maintain critical environmental conditions for product and research quality, and support 24/7 operations. The ideal candidate brings deep technical knowledge of HVAC and controls in a highly regulated environment, combined with hands-on leadership experience managing teams and vendors in a unionized setting.
Major Responsibilities:
Team & Operations Leadership
• Lead the HVAC operations team responsible for 24/7 operation, troubleshooting, and optimization of HVAC systems across both commercial office buildings and pharmaceutical laboratories.
• Develop and manage a team of hourly unionized staff, salary employes and contractors. Ensure all staff are trained and follow standard operating procedures.
• Coordinate daily team activities, priorities, and escalations in partnership with site leadership.
• Support staffing, scheduling, and workload balancing to ensure reliable operations.
Technical & Regulatory Excellence
• Lead the operation, monitoring, and optimization of the site Building Automation System (BAS) and HVAC control systems, using data analytics to drive performance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain HVAC operational strategies that ensure compliance with GxP (as applicable), cGMP, and other regulatory requirements.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) for HVAC system issues, deviations, and failures.
• Monitor environmental conditions and ensure HVAC system reliability, energy efficiency, and cost-effective performance.
• Escalate complex technical issues and systemic risks to senior leadership as appropriate.
Performance, Projects & Stakeholder Management
• Establish, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for HVAC reliability, energy efficiency, compliance, and service levels.
• Partner with facility owners, engineering, capital projects, and other stakeholders to provide technical HVAC input to the site utilities master plan and capital projects.
• Identify and support HVAC-related capital projects; collaborate with project teams to ensure designs meet operational and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with outsourced service providers to deliver services to agreed service levelagreements (SLAs) and KPI targets.
• Contribute to project scope discussions, priorities, and execution plans, with oversight from senior management.
• Provide routine status updates and performance reporting to management.
Financial & Compliance Oversight
• Develop and manage operating expense budgets for HVAC operations; identify and deliver cost savings and energy optimization opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant Safety, Health, Environmental, GxP (as applicable), DOT, Labor, HR, and company policies and procedures.
• Prepare and present status updates, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives to site management.
• Support budget tracking, forecasting, and variance explanations for HVAC operations.
Continuous Improvement & Industry Awareness
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes in HVAC and controls, particularly in pharmaceutical and lab environments.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation in HVAC operations, maintenance strategies, and automation.
Education Minimum Requirement:
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field
OR
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Maintenance, Engineering, Facilities, Utilities leadership or Comparable Military experience,
Required Experience and Skills:
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Maintenance, Engineering, Facilities, or Utilities leadership, preferably in complex, multi-building campuses.
• Strong technical knowledge of HVAC system design, operation, and maintenance in laboratories; experience with BAS/BMS systems.
• Experience leading teams, including managing and developing staff and working with external service providers.
• Working knowledge of EHS principles and regulatory compliance in a technical operations environment; familiarity with cGxP or other regulated environments.
• Proven ability to lead through competing priorities, influence across a large organization, and drive results in a matrixed or enterprise environment.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills; able to use data and analytics to make decisions.
• Ability to manage day-to-day operational issues while escalating broader strategic matters as needed.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
• Advanced Engineering degree or related graduate degree.
• Direct HVAC/BAS operations experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other highly regulated environments (e.g., cGMP, GxP).
• Experience working with collective bargaining units and administering Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
• Experience with core maintenance functions, reliability programs, and CMMS systems.
• Project management experience, including supporting capital projects and system upgrades.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering energy efficiency and sustainability improvements.
VETJOBS
MSJR
Required Skills:
Capital Projects, cGMP Compliance, Decision Making, Energy Efficiency, Facility Operations, HVAC Engineering, HVAC Systems, Maintenance Management, People Leadership, Project Management, Risk Assessments, Team Management
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
The salary range for this role is
$106,200.00 - $167,200.00
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:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
n/a
Job Posting End Date:
06/12/2026
*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.
