Associate Director Packaging Engineering

MSD; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global healthcare company in Oxford is seeking an Associate Director of Packaging Engineering. This role involves leading innovative packaging solutions for health products, ensuring compliance in logistics technology, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in packaging engineering and project management, along with a strong educational background in a related field. This position offers competitive benefits including a salary, incentives, and comprehensive health care packages.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual incentive plan

35.5 days of leave

Attractive health care insurance package

Solid Pension Plan

Travel allowance for commuting

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years of experience in engineering, logistics, planning, procurement, quality, or related disciplines.
• Strong technical writing and project management capabilities.
• Experience and knowledge of the pharmaceutical environment including regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and qualification of tertiary packaging components and processes.
• Analyze complex problems using critical thinking and laboratory experiments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate processes and shipping systems.

Skills

Applied Engineering

Change Management

Packaging Engineering

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or a related field

Job description

Job Description

Unlock your potential with us! Join a dynamic team that transforms packaging solutions and leads innovations in temperature control technology.

Currently we are looking for an Associate Director Packaging Engineering.

Welcome to the team

Our Packaging Technical Operations (PTO) team is where we ensure the seamless supply support of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for our diverse portfolio of oral solid dosage and parenteral products. In this vital role, you will contribute to the assembly and distribution of innovative solutions that support our company's mission in Human Health, covering small molecules, biologics, and vaccines. Be part of a dedicated team that thrives on compliance and robustness, driving excellence in logistics technology and making a meaningful impact in the healthcare field!

Purpose of the role

Our innovative team is a key player in designing and implementing a range of exciting technical projects! This role involves leveraging your expertise in packaging, particularly in thermal protection systems and in distribution testing. We value the application of sound scientific principles and encourage creative thinking to develop effective solutions for cold chain and distribution challenges.

You will collaborate closely with experienced supervisors who provide valuable guidance while you lead projects from conception to implementation.

Primary responsibilities

• Lead the development and qualification of tertiary packaging components and processes, including environmental monitors for various human health products.
• Analyze complex problems using critical thinking and laboratory experiments to create effective shipping solutions to maintain temperature control and physical protection.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate processes and shipping systems, resolving excursion issues, and implementing corrective actions.
• Provide expert guidance and mentorship to engineers and other functions at our company.
• Develop regional strategies for temperature-controlled product movement in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Create detailed specifications for packaging components and maintain comprehensive documentation, including testing protocols and reports.
• Develop sound scientific justifications for planned material and process changes related to secondary and tertiary packaging.
• Develop working relationships with global our comapnies functions, external manufacturing and third-party distribution centers.
• Document preparation, maintenance, and review of documentation including testing protocols, testing reports, technical memos and supplier assessments

Your profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of eight years of experience in engineering, logistics, planning, procurement, quality, or related disciplines.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, aligning with our company’s Ways of Working norms.
• Excellent technical writing and project management capabilities.
• Preferred experience in packaging design and thermal protection systems, particularly in qualification of shipping systems (temperature control and protection from shock, vibration, and compression).
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with an ability to interrogate the science, identify true requirements, and detect critical flaws.
• Experience and knowledge of the pharmaceutical environment including regulatory requirements.
• Familiarity with application of Lean Six Sigma principles, as well as Risk Management tools.
• Understanding of new product introduction, commercial supply, lifecycle management, and European distribution models.
• Proven project leadership and complex problem-solving skills, with good written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proven track record of driving continuous improvement and implementing best practices in technical support.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with a focus on driving continuous improvement.
• Ability to guide key activities including development of standard work, investigations, and problem solving

What we offer

• A competitive salary.
• Annual incentive plan.
• 35,5 days of leave.
• Attractive collective health care insurance package with considerable reduction rates.
• Solid Pension Plan.
• Travel allowance for commuting.

Required Skills

• Applied Engineering
• Change Management
• Combination Products
• Compliance Packaging
• Deviation Management
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Packaging Engineering
• Risk Management

Preferred Skills

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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

12/31/2025

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.

If you have questions regarding this opportunity? Please send your question including vacancy title and number to: [e-mail]

Only application via the career portal will be considered.