Director, Engineering - Project Control

Merck; Elkton (VA); Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

401(k)

Medical, dental, vision

Job summary

Merck is seeking a Director of Project Control to oversee cost, schedule and risk management across major programs in Global Estimating Solutions. This role drives value through innovative project controls and collaboration with PBS partners and engineering teams.

The successful candidate will have 15+ years of pharma project controls, strong leadership, and a proven ability to deliver capital programs from FEL through licensure, with domestic travel up to 25% and a hybrid work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a relevant discipline.
• 15+ years applicable Project Control or Delivery related experience in pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience in capital project/program management from FEL (Front End Loading) through Start-up and Licensure.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills and willing to accept and drive change and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Establish and implement Project Control related procedures and execution plans.
• Ensure the delivery of overall Monthly Project Cost Reports including: cost budgeting/forecasting/reporting, earned-value analysis, progress measurement/schedule status, change management, risk management, and early warning of issues.
• Support implementation of Target Value Delivery.
• Ensure development and maintenance of overall Project Spending Plans and represent submittals to finance.
• Interface with AE & CM Project Control personnel to ensure timely compliant to GES procedures and reporting requirements.
• Work with internal SMEs in estimating and strategic scheduling to support transition from planning to execution.
• Management of project controls staffing within assigned program/portfolio.
• Ensure Implementation of Change Management and Risk Management processes.
• Ensure timely project closures including asset definition and assignments for fixed asset management.
• Liaison with various groups outside the Engineering organization.

Skills

Collaboration

Engineering Management

Engineering Standards

Estimation and Planning

Leading Project Teams

Lean Six Sigma

Microsoft Project

People Leadership

Process Improvements

Project Budgeting

Project Controls

Project Delivery

Project Implementations

Project Planning

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Primavera Risk Analysis

MS Project

Job description

Director of Project Control, Global Engineering Solutions

The Director of Project Control is a key position in the Global Estimating Solutions, Project Business Services (PBS) Organization. This role has the mandate to provide effective and innovative cost and schedule solutions for our business partners to maximize their value and for our teams to ensure successful execution across large strategic programs.

The leader will need to bring energy, experience and innovation to carry out the following:

• Ensure minimum essential planning/scheduling and controlling elements are in place for all programs in their assigned portfolio.
• Be a change leader in emerging technology and innovations related to project delivery and project controls specifically.
• Monitor leading indicators and trends to provide early warning of issues to project teams, the E&C Lead and Regional Directors.
• Collaborate with teams to solve problems before they become overruns or missed deadlines.
• Focus on control and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Establish and implement Project Control related procedures and execution plans.
• Ensure the delivery of overall Monthly Project Cost Reports including: cost budgeting/forecasting/reporting, earned-value analysis, progress measurement/schedule status, change management, risk management, and early warning of issues.
• Support implementation of Target Value Delivery.
• Ensure development and maintenance of overall Project Spending Plans and represent submittals to finance.
• Interface with AE (Architect Engineer) & CM (Construction Management) Project Control personnel to ensure timely compliant to GES procedures and reporting requirements.
• Work with internal SMEs in estimating and strategic scheduling to support transition from planning to execution.
• Management of project controls staffing within assigned program/portfolio.
• Ensure Implementation of Change Management and Risk Management processes.
• Ensure timely project closures including asset definition and assignments for fixed asset management.
• Liaison with various groups outside the Engineering organization.

Required Qualifications

Education Requirement

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a relevant discipline.

• 15+ years applicable Project Control or Delivery related experience in pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience in capital project/program management from FEL (Front End Loading) through Start-up and Licensure.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills and willing to accept and drive change and innovation.
• Working knowledge of project cost and financial management aspects within SAP system (or similar) software.
• Working knowledge of scheduling and risk analysis software (e.g. Primavera P6, Primavera Risk Analysis, MS Project).
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary staff and interfacing with senior leader across an organization.
• Ability to travel across the Americas up to 25% of their time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Lean Project Delivery Methodologies (e.g. Target Value Delivery and Last Planner).
• Lean/Six Sigma experience.
• Understanding of MS Power Applications and AI.

Required Skills

Collaboration, Engineering Management, Engineering Standards, Estimation and Planning, Leading Project Teams, Lean Six Sigma Continuous Improvement, Microsoft Project, People Leadership, Process Improvements, Project Budgeting, Project Controls, Project Delivery, Project Implementations, Project Planning

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.

Requirements

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 primary location for this posting is:

USA - Delaware - Wilmington (Biotech)

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

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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.

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.

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

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid

Shift

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

n/a

Job Posting End Date

10/28/2026

• 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.

Requisition ID

R422270