Associate Director, Engineering, GES Strategic Scheduler and Planner

1000 Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Job summary

MSD is seeking a Strategic Planner & Scheduler to support a portfolio of Capital Projects at US sites, primarily Rahway, NJ. The Associate Director will coach engineers in developing front-end schedules and lead reviews of project deliverables across biology, chemistry, and manufacturing processes.

The role requires advanced knowledge of benchmarks, lean approaches, and collaboration across diverse teams, vendors, and service providers. Hybrid work with 25-50% travel is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field required.
• Eight years of experience with equipment and facility design in pharma.
• Led planning and scheduling using lean approaches.
• Experience coaching engineers on project schedules from FEL1 to FEL3.

Responsibilities

• Support a portfolio of Capital Projects with front-end loaded schedules.
• Provide business studies, peer reviews, and improvement initiatives.
• Lead and collaborate with multiple engineering teams and external partners.
• Evaluate partner work across biological, chemical, safety, process, utilities, and validation.
• Facilitate planning sessions and guide planning strategy.
• Lead end-to-end scheduling workshops for capital projects.

Skills

Automation Systems

Capital Planning

Capital Project Management

Change Management

Clinical Manufacturing

Data Analysis

Decision Making

Engineering Principle

Equipment Designing

Facility Design

Lean Manufacturing

Production Planning

Project Controls

Regulatory Compliance

Strategic Planning

Strategic Thinking

Teamwork

Technical Transfer

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

MS degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. Join our team and use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

The Global Engineering Solutions (GES) Strategic Planner and Scheduler will support a portfolio of Capital Projects, responsible for the conceptualization and development of front end loaded schedules that support critical business objectives primarily at US Sites. The Associate Director will have comprehensive experience and subject matter expertise in our Company manufacturing with associated equipment and facility design experience. Advanced knowledge of benchmarks and industry approaches will enable them to coach a team of engineers in the development and execution of project schedules using strategic lean solutions from business cases through commercial manufacturing. The Associate Director will also provide expertise to business studies, peer reviews of projects, and periodic improvement initiatives to advance standard work processes within GES.

The Strategic Planner & Scheduler is an engaged, energetic, people-oriented individual with advanced skills to lead and collaborate with other Integrated Capital Project Team members, including GES Tech Center, Delivery, End-to-End Solutions and Project Business Service (PBS) Engineers, Internal Organization Capital Team Leaders, Digital, Site Engineering, Operations, Quality, Validation and Regulatory Representatives, External Contractors, Equipment Vendors, and Service Providers.

The individual can evaluate and challenge the work of engineering partners in the preparation of project related deliverables across many diverse areas including Biological, Chemical, Safety, Process, Utilities, Technical Services, Construction, Procurement, Commissioning & Qualification, and Validation.

Responsibilities

Support a portfolio of Capital Projects, responsible for the conceptualization and development of front end loaded schedules that support critical business objectives primarily at US Sites.

Provide expertise to business studies, peer reviews of projects, and periodic improvement initiatives to advance standard work processes within GES.

Lead and collaborate with other Integrated Capital Project Team members, including GES Tech Center, Delivery, End-to-End Solutions and Project Business Service (PBS) Engineers, Internal Organization Capital Team Leaders, Digital, Site Engineering, Operations, Quality, Validation and Regulatory Representatives, External Contractors, Equipment Vendors, and Service Providers.

Evaluate and challenge the work of engineering partners in the preparation of project related deliverables across many diverse areas including Biological, Chemical, Safety, Process, Utilities, Technical Services, Construction, Procurement, Commissioning & Qualification, and Validation.

Facilitate planning sessions and guide team members through a planning strategy.

Lead scheduling workshops for capital projects from an end-to-end perspective.

Plan aspects of engineering by understanding scope boundaries, process & facility design, equipment design, lead times and complexity, vendor interaction, construction support, factory acceptance testing, equipment qualification, facility start-up, and technology transfer.

Provide front end planning schedule support for GES Business Integrators, Project Design Managers, and Project Managers during Business Case and Concept Phase (FEL1 and FEL2) by developing Capital Review Committee (CRC) level of detail schedules.

Develop End to End schedules during Concept Phase and Basis of Design Phase (FEL2 & FEL3) in partnership with the EPCM Service Provider and Project Controls group schedulers with a focus on best practices set out by the Strategic Scheduling Group (SSG).

Develop a High-Level Production Plan (or Production Planning Management, PPM) Strategy document with continued team follow up to ensure PPM best practices are maintained on business-critical projects.

Conduct Peer Review/Audit of in-progress project schedules by ensuring the schedules adhere to Standard Work and reflect the scope of the project and by providing feedback on the deliverability of the project based on the schedule.

Provide “HyperCare” support globally to projects as required based on direction from GSEC leadership.

Implement standard work for schedule development and governance in all phases of Capital Execution.

Coordinate closely with the GES Project Controls Group to ensure there are adequate progress measures in place for all phases of the project.

Flexible hybrid work with travel 25-50% required.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field.

Eight (8) years of comprehensive experience and subject matter expertise with associated equipment and facility design experience with pharmaceutical industry or related. (MS with six)

Advanced knowledge of benchmarks and industry approaches.

Strong leadership, interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills.

Strong understanding of the line of business, lean design and delivery, and standard work implementation.

Preferred Experience in coaching a team of engineers in the development and execution of project schedules using strategic lean solutions from business case through commercial manufacturing.

Experience in providing expertise to business studies, peer reviews of projects, and periodic improvement initiatives to advance standard work processes within GES.

Required Skills

Automation Systems, Capital Formation, Capital Planning, Capital Project Management, Change Management, Clinical Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Drug Product Manufacturing, Engineering Principle, Equipment Designing, Facility Design, HP PPM, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Production Planning, Project Controls, Regulatory Compliance, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork, Technical Planning, Technical Transfer

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. 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

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts.

Location and Compensation

The primary location for this posting is: USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $142,400.00 - $224,100.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Benefits

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.

Additional Location(s)

Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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.

Job Posting End Date

Job Posting End Date: 11/19/2026 *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.

Company Overview

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.