Merck & Co, Inc

Production Lead - FLEx Non-Sterile Operations (Onsite)

Merck & Co, Inc • $129K — $203K *
Rahway, NJ 07065In-Person
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Operations Management, or related discipline or 15+ years in a relevant field.
  • Minimum 8 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or manufacturing operations.
  • At least 5 years of people leadership experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in leading Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) operations.
  • Strong understanding of production planning and scheduling.

Responsibilities

  • Lead manufacturing operations across all shifts.
  • Provide oversight to Production Supervisors and technicians.
  • Ensure compliant execution of clinical manufacturing campaigns.
  • Own daily performance and operational execution metrics.
  • Establish production priorities and ensure shift alignment.
  • Drive accountability through meetings and performance management.
  • Serve as the escalation point for production challenges.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision insurance for employees and family.
  • Retirement benefits including 401(k).
  • Paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate/sick days.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Production Operations serves as the Production Lead for FLEx Non-Sterile operations and is accountable for end-to-end manufacturing readiness, production scheduling, and execution across both first and second shift operations.

This role provides direct leadership for production teams and is responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, and reliable execution of manufacturing campaigns while balancing customer demand, resource utilization, and operational efficiency. The Production Lead partners closely with Tech Ops Engineering, Process Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Program teams to ensure that manufacturing plans are executable and that production commitments are delivered on time.

This role owns daily manufacturing execution, resource readiness, shift integration, production scheduling, and operational performance.

Primary Responsibilities

Production Leadership & Manufacturing Execution

  • Lead manufacturing operations across all shift production teams.
  • Provide direction and oversight to Production Supervisors and production technicians.
  • Ensure safe, compliant, and efficient execution of all clinical manufacturing campaigns.
  • Own daily production performance, schedule attainment, and operational execution metrics.
  • Establish clear production priorities and ensure alignment across shifts.
  • Drive operational accountability through tiered meetings, production reviews, and performance management processes.
  • Serve as escalation point for manufacturing execution challenges and operational risks.


Manufacturing Readiness

  • Own production readiness processes to ensure successful campaign startup and execution.
  • Coordinate staffing, training, equipment availability, materials, and operational support requirements.
  • Lead readiness reviews with cross-functional stakeholders prior to campaign initiation.
  • Identify and proactively mitigate schedule or execution risks.
  • Ensure robust turnover and communication processes between shifts.
  • Partner with Tech Ops and Process Engineering to ensure technical readiness for new products and processes.


Production Scheduling & Planning

  • Own the granular production schedule for FLEx Non-Sterile operations.
  • Translate forecasted manufacturing demand into executable production plans.
  • Balance customer priorities, manufacturing capacity, staffing availability, and equipment utilization.
  • Chair scheduling meetings and align stakeholders on production priorities.
  • Monitor schedule adherence and implement recovery plans when disruptions occur.
  • Drive optimization of campaign sequencing, changeovers, and resource utilization.


People Leadership

  • Lead and develop a high-performing production organization.
  • Provide coaching, performance management, and talent development for supervisors and direct reports.
  • Build succession plans and organizational capabilities to support future growth.
  • Drive employee engagement and foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
  • Model leadership behaviors aligned with company values and leadership expectations.


Operational Excellence

  • Drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
  • Utilize Lean Manufacturing, MPS, and problem-solving methodologies to eliminate waste and improve operational reliability.
  • Lead initiatives that improve throughput, cycle times, schedule attainment, and labor productivity.
  • Establish operational performance dashboards and metrics.
  • Drive continuous improvement efforts focused on production execution.


Cross-Functional Partnership

  • Partner closely with:
  • Tech Ops Engineering Lead for technical support and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Process Engineering for campaign execution support and process optimization.
  • Supply Chain and Scheduling teams for production planning and prioritization.
  • Quality and Compliance teams to maintain inspection readiness and GMP compliance.
  • Facilities and Maintenance teams to ensure operational asset readiness.


Compliance & Quality Responsibilities
  • Ensure manufacturing operations comply with GMP, safety, environmental, and company requirements.
  • Maintain inspection-ready operations.
  • Support deviation investigations, CAPAs, change controls, and risk assessments.
  • Drive quality culture and right-first-time execution.
  • Ensure production personnel maintain required training and qualification status.


Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Operations Management, or related discipline or more than 15 years experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing or similar industry.
  • Minimum 8 years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or manufacturing operations experience.
  • Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience.
  • Demonstrated experience leading GMP manufacturing operations.
  • Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, and manufacturing execution.
  • Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving operational performance.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field.
  • Experience supporting clinical supply manufacturing operations.
  • Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent operational excellence experience.
  • Experience managing multi-shift operations.
  • Knowledge of scheduling systems, SAP, digital manufacturing, and manufacturing analytics.


Leadership Competencies (M2)
  • Leads through others and develops organizational capability.
  • Creates alignment across multiple functions and priorities.
  • Balances strategic thinking with operational execution.
  • Makes informed, data-driven decisions under uncertainty.
  • Builds strong partnerships and fosters a culture of accountability.
  • Champions safety, compliance, operational excellence, and employee engagement.


#eligibleforERP

MSJR

#PSCS
FLEx2026

Required Skills:
Change Management, Decision Making, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement, Manufacturing, Operations Management, People Leadership, Process Improvements, Strategic Alliances, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:
Continuous Improvement, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Manufacturing Operations

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

The salary range for this role is
$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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:
Not Applicable

Shift:
1st - Day, 2nd - Evening

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
n/a

Job Posting End Date:
08/31/2026
*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.

About Merck & Co, Inc

Schering-Plough Corporation is a major U.S.-based manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. It operates in three segments: Prescription Pharmaceuticals, Animal Health, and Consumer Health Care. Schering-Plough develops products targeting on allergy, cancer, hepatitis, cardiovascular, central nervous system, respiratory system, and more.  It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. Schering-Plough manufactured several pharmaceutical drugs, the most well-known of which were the allergy drugs Claritin and Clarinex, an anti-cholesterol drug Vytorin, and a brain tumor drug Temodar. It also developed drugs targeting on central nervous system and the respiratory system. Schering Plough also owned and operated the major foot care brand name Dr. Scholl's and the skin care line Coppertone. These also became a part of the new company. Schering-Plough was a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), a membership which is also maintained by the new Merck.

Merck & Co, Inc Careers

Join the visionary team at Merck & Co, Inc, a global leader in healthcare dedicated to advancing the world of medicine. As part of our professional community, you'll find dynamic job opportunities that foster innovation and leadership across various fields. Merck & Co, Inc is not just a company; it's a place where you can make a difference.

Work You’ll Do

At Merck & Co, Inc, we are committed to improving global health through groundbreaking research and innovative healthcare solutions. Our team is at the forefront of developing new therapies and vaccines that significantly impact public health worldwide. By joining us, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry, using your skills to contribute to projects that save and improve lives around the globe.

Explore Career Paths

Whether you're seeking an internship, a graduate opportunity, or a professional position, Merck & Co, Inc offers a range of career paths in environments that promote rapid professional growth and development. Explore job opportunities in research, digital transformation, manufacturing, and more, all while benefiting from a culture that supports diversity and inclusion.

Innovate and Lead

Merck & Co, Inc is an ideal environment for those who lead with curiosity and the drive to innovate. Our leadership is committed to fostering a culture where inventive thinking and collaboration are encouraged, making it a perfect place for professionals who seek to make an impact through their work.

Develop Your Skills

With Merck & Co, Inc, you are not just getting a job; you're gaining access to unparalleled career development opportunities. Enhance your skills through diverse training programs, workshops, and continuous learning courses designed to help you grow at every stage of your career.

Benefits and Culture

We understand that our employees are our greatest asset, which is why we offer competitive benefits designed to support the health and well-being of you and your family. From comprehensive health care coverage and retirement plans to flexible working conditions and wellness programs, our benefits package is designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members.

Join Our Team

Ready to advance your career at Merck & Co, Inc? Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that's dedicated to making a difference.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Engage with us through our careers blog and by participating in networking events and employment fairs. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and the latest news tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Merck & Co, Inc. Join us in our mission to improve health and wellness around the world.
Learn more about Merck & Co, Inc
Size
68,000 employees
Market Cap
$282.6 billion
Industry
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Net Income
$7 billion
Founded
1668
5 Year Trend
+4.1%
Revenue
$47.9 billion
NASDAQ
MRK
* Ladders Estimates

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