Manufacturing Operations Director - Carlow

Merck; Ireland; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Operations Director to lead a high-potency, multi-product sterile manufacturing facility in Carlow. You will oversee ~50 staff and drive safety, quality, delivery and people initiatives in a dynamic environment.

The role focuses on introducing new products, achieving regulatory milestones, and shaping the operation's development with autonomy and strategic direction across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within sterile drug product manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading large manufacturing or technical teams.
• Experience guiding organisations through regulatory inspections and milestones.
• Experience supporting new product introduction and regulatory readiness.
• Strong technical understanding of sterile manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large, cross-functional manufacturing organisation, driving performance across safety, quality, delivery and people priorities.
• Lead the introduction and commercialisation of multiple new products within a sterile manufacturing environment.
• Drive operational and technical excellence with robust and reliable manufacturing performance.
• Lead regulatory and inspection readiness activities across the manufacturing organisation.
• Develop and execute integrated plans to deliver key product, manufacturing and regulatory milestones.
• Identify and mitigate risks to ensure timely decision-making and escalation.
• Drive continuous improvement across the high-potency manufacturing operation.
• Provide strategic direction and alignment across Operations, Quality, Engineering and Technical teams.
• Build, coach and develop a high-performing team with accountability and agility.

Skills

Sterile manufacturing

Leadership

Regulatory readiness

Risk management

Operational excellence

Process optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making

Agile leadership

Strategic planning

People development

Quality systems

Investment in safety

Change management

Vaccine manufacturing

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Tools

Manufacturing systems

Regulatory compliance frameworks

Job description

Job Description

About the Role and Site

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Operations Director to lead a strategically important, high-potency, multi-product manufacturing facility at our Carlow site.

Leading a team of approximately 50 people, you will have responsibility for a growing sterile drug product operation supporting new products and significant upcoming commercial and regulatory milestones. This is a high-impact leadership role offering significant autonomy to shape how the operation develops, drive operational and technical excellence, and build a high-performing team within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large, cross-functional manufacturing organisation, driving performance across safety, quality, delivery and people priorities
• Lead the successful introduction and commercialisation of multiple new products within a sterile manufacturing environment
• Drive operational and technical excellence, ensuring robust and reliable manufacturing performance
• Lead regulatory and inspection readiness activities across the manufacturing organisation
• Develop and execute integrated plans to deliver key product, manufacturing and regulatory milestones
• Identify and mitigate operational, technical and quality risks, ensuring timely decision-making and escalation
• Drive continuous improvement across the high-potency manufacturing operation, challenging established ways of working and improving efficiency
• Provide strategic direction and ensure strong alignment across Operations, Quality, Engineering and Technical teams
• Build, coach and develop a high-performing team, creating a culture of accountability, agility and continuous improvement

What Skills You Will Need

• Significant leadership experience within sterile drug product manufacturing operations
• Strong operational leadership experience with responsibility for sizeable manufacturing teams or technical teams
• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing organisations through regulatory inspections and major regulatory milestones
• Experience supporting new product introduction, commercialisation and operational readiness
• Strong technical understanding of sterile manufacturing operations and associated manufacturing processes
• Proven ability to lead through change, challenge established ways of working and improve operational performance
• Strong risk management, problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively across senior, cross-functional and technical stakeholders
• Agile and flexible leadership style with a strong focus on people development and building high-performing teams
• Degree in Science, Engineering or a related technical discipline

Required Skills

• Adaptability
• Business Agility
• Data Analysis
• Decision Making
• Lean Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Quality Control
• People Leadership
• Process Optimization
• Production Scheduling
• Regulatory Compliance
• Results-Oriented
• Sterile Manufacturing
• Strategic Planning
• Talent Development
• Vaccine Manufacturing

We keep the patient at the very heart of all that we do and strive to find solutions and treatments for some of the world's most challenging healthcare needs.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together.

Please don't hesitate to contact the Talent Acquisition Advisor assigned to this role should you need any support during our recruitment process.

We are committed to flexible working where possible, and this is why our Company has introduced a new hybrid working model for office-based colleagues around the world.

Please feel free to speak to us about what flexibility means to you during your application.