Associate Director, Technical Product Manager

MSD; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Merck is seeking an Associate Director of Technical Product Management for Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Products. You will own the multi-year product strategy and lifecycle delivery of digital capabilities across our global EHS systems portfolio, partnering with GSE, site leadership, IT, and operations teams.

The role requires deep experience in program management, EHS platforms, and SDLC/governance within a regulated manufacturing context, with hybrid work in the U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years of project/program management experience in a matrixed enterprise.
• Experience in manufacturing plant floor, capital projects, or site operations.
• Familiarity with EHS processes and SDLC governance in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage full lifecycle of global EHS digital products.
• Define and maintain multi-year EHS product roadmap.
• Drive continuous discovery with site safety leads and plant ops.
• Translate operational needs into user stories and backlog.
• Lead cross-functional projects to on-time, within-budget delivery.
• Apply LEAN principles to reduce waste and accelerate delivery.
• Build relationships with GSE leadership and plant management.
• Ensure compliance with SDLC, GxP, and 21 CFR Part 11.

Skills

Product Management

Program Management

Stakeholder Management

Strategic Planning

Data Analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

P6

MS Project

ServiceNow

SharePoint

Visio

Excel

PowerPoint

PowerBI

SmartSheet

CA Clarity PPM

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

• 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

• 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

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.

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

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.

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

• 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

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.