Director, Integrated Process Team (IPT) Leader

MSD Malaysia; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) retirement

Paid holidays

Vacation and sick days

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Wilson, NC, seeks a Director of Operations to lead the cross-functional IPT, directing production, packaging, and support teams to meet customer supply requirements.

You will drive strategy, continuous improvement, and budget adherence while collaborating with site leadership and multiple functions to deliver reliable, compliant operations in a complex manufacturing environment. The role requires extensive leadership, cGMP knowledge, and a track record of reducing waste and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher degree in science or engineering with 12+ years in operations and related functions.
• Experience leading multi-layered organizations in manufacturing or packaging.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP and regulatory requirements in pharma.
• Proven leadership, change management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IPT and site leadership teams to meet safety, quality, and delivery objectives.
• Develop and manage the IPT budget; identify capital projects and cost savings opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement, standard work, and waste reduction across operations.
• Coach and develop staff; foster inclusion and a high-performance culture.
• Partner with functional areas and external authorities on regulatory inspections.

Skills

DP Operations

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Packaging

People Leadership

Plant Operations

Process Optimization

Production Scheduling

Safety Compliance

Sterile Manufacturing

Strategic Planning

Team Collaboration

Team Strategy

Education

B.A./ B.S. degree (preferably in Science or Engineering related field)

Master’s Degree preferred

Job description

Position Overview

The Director, Operations position serves as the business unit manager for the cross-functional integrated process team (IPT) supporting a business area. This role provides leadership to the IPT and will also represent the business area on the Wilson Site Leadership Team.

Primary Activities

Compliance

• Ensure that operations are executed in compliance with Safety, Environmental, Quality (cGMP), and Labor regulations.
• Demonstrate leadership by maintaining a safe workplace and managing actions to prevent safety incidents.
• Investigate, determine root cause, and implement robust CAPAs for any compliance discrepancies noted during activities, trend reviews, internal audits, or inspections.

Delivery

• Utilize a high degree of independent judgment and decision‑making to direct production, packaging, and support personnel to ensure customer supply requirements are achieved.
• Resolve and elevate issues impacting supply within the daily, weekly, and monthly IPT and site management processes.

Cost

• Develop budget for the IPT and ensure that activities are carried out in accordance with budget forecast.
• Identify and execute capital projects needed to support the IPT short and long‑term strategies.
• Recognize and implement opportunities for efficiency and financial savings including elimination of waste.

People and Team

Define and staff positions necessary to execute multi‑shift operations at the Wilson site. Provide leadership to the cross‑functional team and direct Operations team providing coaching, development, and performance management where appropriate. Ensure culture of inclusion and consistency is maintained supporting positive employee relations within the team and site. Build effective relationships with other functional areas as well as stakeholders across our Company network.

Strategic Support and Continuous Improvement

• Help develop the strategy for the IPT as well as tactical plans to meet those goals.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement and MPS into the Operations team focused on standard work, making problems visible, minimizing waste, reducing process variability, and problem solving.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process optimization and efficiency.
• Provide site support and leadership to high‑priority network strategies and initiatives.

Education Minimum Requirement

B.A./ B.S. degree (preferably in Science or Engineering related field), Master’s Degree preferred.

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum 12 years relevant industry experience across multiple functions (Operations, Quality, Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, etc.)
• Concurrently, minimum 5 years Operations experience with some responsibility managing multi‑layered organizations.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills: ability to drive change, influence stakeholders, and motivate teams to achieve stretch goals.
• Working knowledge of cGMP and regulatory requirements as they apply to the pharmaceutical industry
• Strong communication skills: ability to effectively communicate with cross‑functional teams, above‑site stakeholders, and external authorities.
• Willing to work irregular hours to support multi‑shift operation on an as needed basis

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience leading a complex manufacturing or packaging operation within a plant site (Operations, Quality, or Technical role)
• Experience licensing a new facility or start‑up/scale‑up of new capital installations for commercial supply
• Experience in continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, problem solving, and/or right first time methodologies
• Familiarity with change execution management and behavioral coaching / consequence management tools
• Strong written and verbal communication including presentation skills and technical writing experience (investigations, change requests, standard operating procedures, protocols, etc.)
• Project management skills: ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and meet deadlines.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections (FDA, EMA, etc.)

Required Skills

• DP Operations
• Leadership
• Lean Manufacturing
• Packaging
• People Leadership
• Plant Operations
• Process Optimization
• Production Scheduling
• Safety Compliance
• Sterile Manufacturing
• Strategic Planning
• Team Collaboration
• Team Strategy

Preferred Skills

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.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $173,200.00 - $272,600.00.

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.

Eligibility and Employment Details

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: Domestic
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: 10%
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift: 1st - Day
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): N/a

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.

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.

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.