Associate Director, Community Engagement Lead

MSD Malaysia; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. seeks a Community Engagement Lead to design and execute an integrated, long-range biomanufacturing workforce development and community engagement strategy for the SEPA region and West Point site.

You will build sustainable talent pipelines, strengthen regional partnerships, and champion skills-based hiring while advancing diversity and inclusion as foundational business imperatives. You will connect K-12, technical education, community colleges, and non-traditional pathways to

Qualifications

• Experience in workforce development, community engagement, public affairs, talent strategy, workforce planning, education partnerships, program management, skills-based hiring, or manufacturing workforce initiatives.
• Preferred: Experience in biopharmaceuticals, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, or other regulated industries.
• Experience building workforce pipelines, apprenticeship programs, and educational partnerships.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience with skills-based hiring, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and workforce analytics.

Responsibilities

• Lead external partnerships with K-12 schools, technical colleges, workforce boards, and community organizations across SEPA.
• Architect multi-year workforce strategies and scale apprenticeship and STEM programs for biomanufacturing.
• Align HR, Manufacturing Operations, R&D, and Communications to integrate community initiatives with site planning.
• Drive skills-based hiring and inclusive talent pathways across the enterprise.
• Define metrics and translate workforce data into actionable insights for site leadership.

Skills

Strategic Workforce Planning

Skills-First Architecture

Vocational & Curriculum Design

Workforce Analytics & KPI Modeling

Ecosystem & Public Policy Navigation

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Workforce Development/HR/Public Policy

Job description

As a leader in our biopharmaceutical manufacturing network, the Community Engagement Lead drives the design and execution of an integrated, long-range workforce development and community engagement strategy for the West Point site and greater Southeast Pennsylvania (SEPA) region. Focused on the future of biomanufacturing, this role builds sustainable talent pipelines, strengthens regional partnerships, and champions skills-based hiring. You will connect K-12, technical education, community colleges, and non-traditional talent pathways to our business-critical manufacturing and operations needs in the North and mid-Atlantic region. Through cross-functional leadership, you will translate site production priorities into scalable programs that enhance talent attraction, readiness, and retention while advancing diversity and inclusion as foundational business imperatives.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Ecosystem Leadership & External Partnerships (25%)

Serve as the primary external liaison representing the Southeast PA sites across regional workforce, education, and industry ecosystems. You will build and manage strategic partnerships with K-12 schools, technical colleges, workforce boards, and community-based organizations. By representing the site on advisory boards and coalitions, you will leverage executive-ready communications to advocate for shared-value initiatives and promote our employer brand.

Long-Range Biomanufacturing Workforce Strategy & Program Scaling (25%)

Architect and operationalize multi-year, end-to-end workforce development strategies tailored to the site’s biopharmaceutical production goals and enterprise priorities. Design, pilot, and scale high-impact pathway models—including apprenticeships, experiential learning, and STEM workforce exposure initiatives to ensure a continuous, future-ready supply of technical and operational talent.

Cross-Functional Alignment & Business Integration (20%)

Convene and lead cross‑functional teams across HR, Manufacturing Operations, R&D, and Communications to ensure community initiatives seamlessly integrate with long‑term site planning. Influence stakeholders at all levels to align local execution with broader enterprise workforce strategies, effectively translating critical manufacturing capability needs into actionable education and training partnerships.

Championing Inclusive, Skills-First Talent Pathways (10%)

Drive the adoption of skills-based hiring practices and role re‑credentialing through structured change management. Lead enterprise‑aligned D&I initiatives focused on access, visibility, and career progression for underutilized and non‑traditional talent populations, directly expanding the talent pool for critical manufacturing and technical roles.

Data-Driven Workforce Planning & Continuous Improvement (10%)

Define and track key performance indicators across the long‑range talent pipeline, measuring exposure, attraction, conversion, and retention. Translate complex workforce data into actionable insights for site leadership decision‑making, utilizing feedback and operational rigor to continuously refine programs and ensure they meet the evolving, high‑stakes demands of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Required Technical Skills

• Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) – Ability to analyze long‑range site production capacities, retirement curves, and technological shifts (e.g., automation, digital shop floors) to project 3-to-5-year talent requirements. Prevents critical talent shortages by proactively aligning training pipelines with future manufacturing capabilities.
• Skills-First Architecture – Expertise in simplifying traditional roles into core competencies, implementing job‑role re‑credentialing, and designing non‑traditional assessment frameworks. Expands the talent pool and accelerates hiring by focusing on proven capability rather than pedigree (e.g., 4‑year degrees).
• Vocational & Curriculum Design – Deep understanding of curriculum mapping, apprenticeship structure regulations (such as federally registered programs), and experiential learning models. Ensures external educational programs produce graduates with day‑one readiness for GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) environments.
• Workforce Analytics & KPI Modeling – Proficiency in designing dashboards that track pipeline metrics from early exposure (STEM events) through conversion (hiring) and retention. Translates program success into quantifiable financial and operational ROI for executive leadership.
• Ecosystem & Public Policy Navigation – Familiarity with public workforce funding mechanisms (e.g., WIOA grants), regional economic development incentives, and educational system governance. Maximizes non‑dilutive funding and co‑investment opportunities with state and local entities to scale programs.

Required Professional Skills

• Systemic Influence & Change Management – Proven ability to drive cultural shifts (such as adopting skills-based hiring) across deeply entrenched traditional hiring structures. Successfully aligns skeptical hiring managers, cross‑functional partners, and site executives behind new talent attraction strategies.
• Ecosystem Orchestration – Superb relationship‑building skills capable of aligning competing external stakeholders (academic institutions, industry peers, community groups) toward shared goals. Positions the site as the premier employer of choice and primary voice in regional workforce coalitions.
• High‑Impact Communication & Advocacy – Ability to translate complex site operational data into inspiring stories for community groups, or grassroots community trends into business‑case presentations for executives. Secures internal budget and external community buy‑in by effectively bridging the gap between grassroots needs and corporate strategy.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Experience convening and leading matrixed teams across disparate departments, such as Engineering, Digital/IT, Legal, EHS, HR, and Operations. Eliminates operational silos, ensuring that community engagement initiatives are not just "nice to have," but are fully integrated with daily manufacturing realities.

Education

High School Diploma/GED with minimum 15 years of relevant experience – or Bachelor's degree in Workforce Development, Education, Human Resources, Business, Communications, Public Policy, STEM, or a related field with 11 years of relevant experience – or Master's degree in Workforce Development, Education, Human Resources, Business, Communications, Public Policy, STEM, or a related field with 9 years of relevant experience. Relevant experience includes workforce development, community engagement, public affairs, talent strategy, workforce planning, education partnerships, program management, skills-based hiring, or manufacturing workforce initiatives. Preferred: Experience in biopharmaceuticals, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, or other regulated industries. Experience building workforce pipelines, apprenticeship programs, and educational partnerships. Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders without direct authority. Experience with skills-based hiring, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and workforce analytics.

Preferred Skills

Community Education, Community Initiatives, Community Networking, Community Outreach, Cross‑Cultural Awareness, Education Projects, Partnership Development, Partnership Management, Program Management, Public Affairs, Talent Planning, Talent Strategy, Workforce Development, Workforce Planning

Eligibility and Requirements

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please note that San Francisco Residents Only and Los Angeles Residents Only eligibility criteria apply as specified. Employee Status: Regular Relocation: VISA Sponsorship: Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: Valid Driving License: Hazardous Material(s):

Salary and Benefits

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 health care 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.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

Additional Information

Job Posting End Date: 09/18/2026. 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).

Employer Statement

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement.