Associate Director Process Engineering

Merck Gruppe - MSD Sharp & Dohme; Boxmeer; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3% year-end bonus

Annual performance bonus

35.5 vacation days

Travel expense reimbursement

Pension scheme

On-site restaurant

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, is seeking an Associate Director Process Engineering at its Animal Health site in Boxmeer, NL. You will lead complex process systems across capital projects, guiding cross-disciplinary teams from front-end through handover while ensuring safety, quality and compliance.

The role requires 10+ years in pharma/biotech/food/high-tech capital projects, GMP familiarity, and travel (~25%).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in (Bio)Pharmaceutical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Food Technology required.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Food or High-Tech industries as a design engineer in capital projects.
• Familiarity with EudraLex Volume 4 GMP guidelines, EU GMP Annex 1, EHEDG, and ISPE guidelines.
• High-level insight into construction processes of pharmaceutical or food facilities and equipment integration in buildings.
• Excellent English language skills, knowledge of Dutch.
• Willingness to travel for project assignments to vendor sites (approx. 25%).

Responsibilities

• Lead the process deliverables of all sizes of projects or several small projects from concept phase to handover.
• Manage scope, schedule and cost
• Act as a coach to teams and project members, able to convince people and influence outcomes
• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for systems and equipment.
• Manage and lead strategic communications with various internal and external stakeholders, users and other functions required to define and execute project.
• Develop and maintain relationships with design and construction partners throughout Europe.
• Review of designs from our suppliers and design partners and ensure the designs meet our engineering and safety standards and follow our procedures, best practices and design guides.
• Actively support standardization and fit-for-purpose principles.
• Acts as key expert resource for handling more complex project engineering issues.
• Manages a network with international professional organizations like ISPE.
• Builds awareness for the team on SHE core principles.

Skills

Adaptability

Chemical Engineering

Cross-Functional Project Management

Data-Driven Decision Making

Engineering Leadership

Equipment Designing

Equipment Implementation

Manufacturing Quality Control

Organizational Leadership

Pharmaceutical Process Development

Process Alignment

Process Control Automation

Process Design

Process Implementations

Process Optimization

Product Formulation

Project Closing

Safety Compliance

Standards Compliance

System Integration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in (Bio)Pharmaceutical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Food Technology

Job description

Job Description

For our Animal Health location Boxmeer, we are currently recruiting an Associate Director Process Engineering

Welcome to our team

With more than 300 employees, our Global Engineering Solutions (GES) organization is responsible for managing investment capital and designing and executing capital projects for our global organization worldwide, in both the animal health and human health space. GES is organized as a Technology Center (responsible for the technical design and start-up of projects), a Project Delivery organization (responsible for project management) and a Project Business Support organization (responsible for project financial reporting, scheduling, operational readiness and quality & development)

The Animal Health Technology Center is responsible for conceptualizing and implementing the technical scope of capital projects, including technical studies, that support critical business needs and compliance objectives across our global Animal Health portfolio. For the Europe and Asia-Pacific (EU/AP) region, the Technology Center is based in Boxmeer, the Netherlands.

Purpose of the role

In this role, reporting to the Engineering Director at Technology Center AH EU/AP, you will act as a process lead, instrumental in managing complex process systems and equipment designs in one or more capital projects. You will be working in a matrix organization and overseeing the complete project lifecycle, from initial evaluations and scope of development to execution and final delivery, ensuring compliance with time, budget, and safety standards. You will guide a multidisciplinary team of engineers including process, mechanical, HVAC, civil, and commissioning & qualification specialists. Collaboration with end-users and delivery colleagues, such as project engineers, schedulers, and cost controllers, will be essential.

You will be able to operate in different phases of capital projects. In early project phases you will focus on identifying cost-effective solutions that align with business needs, and in later project phases you will be coordinating system installation and integration, followed by system and equipment commissioning, qualification and validation. You will be partnering with external design firms ensuring that the outcomes meet both cost and design intent while embedding quality and safety into every phase of the project. Your approach will encompass all stages, end-to-end, from front-end loading to handover and beyond.

Primary activities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the process deliverables of all sizes of projects or several small projects from concept phase to handover.
• Manage scope, schedule and cost
• Act as a coach to teams and project members, able to convince people and influence outcomes
• Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for systems and equipment.
• Manage and lead strategic communications with various internal and external stakeholders, users and other functions required to define and execute project.
• Develop and maintain relationships with design and construction partners throughout Europe.
• Review of designs from our suppliers and design partners and ensure the designs meet our engineering and safety standards and follow our procedures, best practices and design guides.
• Actively support standardization and fit-for-purpose principles.
• Acts as key expert resource for handling more complex project engineering issues.
• Manages a network with international professional organizations like ISPE.
• Builds awareness for the team on SHE core principles.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in (Bio)Pharmaceutical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Food Technology required.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Food or High-Tech industries as a design engineer in capital projects.
• Familiarity with EudraLex Volume 4 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, EU GMP Annex 1, EHEDG, and ISPE guidelines.
• High-level insight into construction processes of pharmaceutical or food facilities and equipment integration in buildings.
• Excellent English language skills, knowledge of Dutch.
• Willingness to travel for project assignments to vendor sites (approx. 25%).

What we offer

Our benefits are very competitive, and the summary below will give you an idea of what you can expect.

• A competitive salary, depending on your knowledge and experience.
• A 3% year-end bonus and an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.
• A minimum of 35,5 vacation days.
• Travel expense reimbursement and a solid pension scheme.
• A high-quality company restaurant with daily fresh and healthy options.
• Excellent accessibility: the train station is located directly at our main entrance and there is ample parking available.
• A contribution towards your personal sports subscription to support your vitality.
• A beautiful private park on site, ideal for a walk, break, or moment of relaxation.
• Mental wellbeing support via Lyra Health for you and your family members.
• Access to a dedicated prayer/meditation room.
• Extensive career growth opportunities thanks to the size of the site and the presence of many disciplines and global departments represented in Boxmeer.
• A workplace within an organization that continues to grow and evolve.

Animal Health

Our Animal Health Division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive difference in animal care and the world’s food supply and have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society, and our planet.

Through our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we offer veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. We are present in more than 50 countries, while our products are available in 150 markets.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Chemical Engineering, Cross-Functional Project Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Engineering Leadership, Equipment Designing, Equipment Implementation, Manufacturing Quality Control, Organizational Leadership, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Process Alignment, Process Control Automation, Process Design, Process Implementations, Process Optimization, Product Formulation, Project Closing, Safety Compliance, Standards Compliance, System Integration

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

Job Posting End Date:

10/4/2026

Requisition ID:

R415829