Associate Director, Technical Product Manager

Merck & Co.; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Durham is seeking an Associate Director, Technical Product Management for Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Products to own the multi-year product strategy, lifecycle delivery, and operational enhancement across our global EHS systems portfolio.

The role requires extensive PM experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, familiarity with EHS platforms, and strong leadership to drive alignment with GSE and MEEHS objectives. Hybrid work arrangements are available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Twelve or more (12+) years of project/program management experience and five or more (5+) years working directly with business stakeholders in a matrixed enterprise environment.
• Prior manufacturing plant floor, capital project, or site operations experience is required. Must have proven functional or technical familiarity with EHS processes such as incident reporting, industrial hygiene, sustainability/emissions reporting, or risk assessments.
• Solid understanding of SDLC governance, change control, and regulatory compliance standards within a life sciences or regulated manufacturing environment (GMP, GxP, 21 CFR Part 11).
• Direct hands‑on experience with industry‑standard enterprise EHS platforms (e.g., Enablon, Sphera, Intelex, Cority, Velocity EHS or ePAS).
• Proficiency with tools such as P6, MS Project, Loadspring, O365, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, SharePoint, ServiceNow, SmartSheet, or CA Clarity PPM.
• Proficiency with systems like AutoDesk, AutoCAD Plant3D, PIMS, Octave, Forte3D.
• Proficiency with AI platforms (e.g., Gemini, CoPilot, Claude) and business intelligence tools (e.g., PowerBI).
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and external vendor resources while driving accountability.
• Strong diplomatic, motivational, and consensus‑building skills; comfortable presenting to executive sponsors and plant leadership.
• Practical experience applying LEAN principles or continuous process improvement methodologies to solve complex operational challenges.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full lifecycle of global EHS digital products from discovery, ideation, and business case formulation through deployment, adoption, and ongoing optimization.
• Define and maintain the multi-year EHS product roadmap, aligning initiatives with GSE business objectives, MEEHS product line priorities, and the digital manufacturing strategy.
• Drive continuous discovery with site safety leads, environmental engineers, and plant operations. Translate operational needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and prioritized product backlogs.
• Apply disciplined project management to lead cross-functional projects and programs from initiation through on-time, on-schedule, and within-budget completion.
• Leverage LEAN principles, standard work, and business process re-engineering to eliminate administrative waste and accelerate delivery velocity.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships across GSE leadership, site engineering directors, plant managers, quality operations, IT cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture.
• Ensure all products and software releases comply with SDLC controls, GxP/GMP requirements, 21 CFR Part 11, and data integrity standards.

Skills

Product Management

Program Management

Project Management

Data Analytics

Requirements Management

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Strategic Planning

System Designs

Process Improvements

Asset Management

Benefits Management

Management System Development

People Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Environmental Science/Occupational Health & Safety/Computer Science/Information Technology or related discipline

Tools

MS Project

PowerBI

SharePoint

ServiceNow

CA Clarity PPM

AutoCAD Plant3D

AutoDesk

PIMS

Octave

Forte3D

Job description

Job Description

Join a global biopharmaceutical leader with a 130-year legacy of inventing medicines and vaccines to address the world's most challenging diseases. You will become part of a technology-driven, data-led digital manufacturing organization supporting a diversified portfolio of life‑saving medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Within the Manufacturing Value Team, the Maintenance, Engineering, and EHS (MEEHS) Product Line is modernizing shop floor and engineering operations with an integrated digital backbone across our global manufacturing network.

As the Associate Director, Technical Product Management for Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Products, you will serve as the dedicated product manager owning the multi-year product strategy, lifecycle delivery, and operational enhancement of digital capabilities across our global EHS systems portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full lifecycle of global EHS digital products from discovery, ideation, and business case formulation through deployment, adoption, and ongoing optimization.
• Define and maintain the multi-year EHS product roadmap, aligning initiatives with GSE business objectives, MEEHS product line priorities, and the digital manufacturing strategy.
• Drive continuous discovery with site safety leads, environmental engineers, and plant operations. Translate operational needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria, and prioritized product backlogs.
• Apply disciplined project management to lead cross-functional projects and programs from initiation through on-time, on-schedule, and within-budget completion.
• Leverage LEAN principles, standard work, and business process re-engineering to eliminate administrative waste and accelerate delivery velocity.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships across GSE leadership, site engineering directors, plant managers, quality operations, IT cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture.
• Ensure all products and software releases comply with SDLC controls, GxP/GMP requirements, 21 CFR Part 11, and data integrity standards.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Twelve or more (12+) years of project/program management experience and five or more (5+) years working directly with business stakeholders in a matrixed enterprise environment.
• Prior manufacturing plant floor, capital project, or site operations experience is required. Must have proven functional or technical familiarity with EHS processes such as incident reporting, industrial hygiene, sustainability/emissions reporting, or risk assessments.
• Solid understanding of SDLC governance, change control, and regulatory compliance standards within a life sciences or regulated manufacturing environment (GMP, GxP, 21 CFR Part 11).
• Direct hands‑on experience with industry‑standard enterprise EHS platforms (e.g., Enablon, Sphera, Intelex, Cority, Velocity EHS or ePAS).
• Proficiency with tools such as P6, MS Project, Loadspring, O365, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, SharePoint, ServiceNow, SmartSheet, or CA Clarity PPM.
• Proficiency with systems like AutoDesk, AutoCAD Plant3D, PIMS, Octave, Forte3D.
• Proficiency with AI platforms (e.g., Gemini, CoPilot, Claude) and business intelligence tools (e.g., PowerBI).
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and direct cross-functional teams and external vendor resources while driving accountability.
• Strong diplomatic, motivational, and consensus‑building skills; comfortable presenting to and gaining buy‑in from executive sponsors and plant leadership.
• Practical experience applying LEAN principles or continuous process improvement methodologies to solve complex operational challenges.

Preferred

• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Agile/Scrum certification (CSPO, CSM, SAFe).
• Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt).

Required Skills:

Asset Management, Benefits Management, Data Analytics, Management System Development, People Management, Process Improvements, Product Management, Program Management, Project Management, Requirements Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs

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.

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.

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.

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.

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

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: No relocation

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 25%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): n/a