Director, Pharmaceutical Commercialization Technology

Socket.dev; Rahway (NJ, PA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays

Vacation

Sick days

Bonuses

Job summary

Merck in Rahway, NJ is seeking a Director of Pharmaceutical Commercialization Technology to lead a department of 10–20 engineers and scientists. The role shapes development strategies for the pipeline and drives cross-functional collaboration to bring life-saving medicines to market.

The position emphasizes Safety First, Quality Always, and Inclusion, with travel to West Point, PA as part of duties; relocation is domestic, and visa sponsorship is available.

Qualifications

• BS with 12+ years in chemical/drug development, or MS with 10+ years, or PhD with 8+ years.
• Deep technical expertise in drug product formulation and process development for small molecules.
• Experience with regulatory submissions and responses.
• Proven track record leading cross-functional teams and delivering results on deadlines.
• Experience with organizational change and sponsor of high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of the product portfolio and control strategy development plans.
• Drive portfolio execution and operational excellence across the department.
• Translate priorities into actionable steps and ensure delivery.
• Foster cross-functional partnerships across technical, quality, and manufacturing networks.
• Sponsor high-performing teams and ensure active technical reviews.
• Oversee core PCT functions including safety, digital strategy, and compliance.
• Guide regulatory, siting, and tech transfer activities and assist financial forecasting.

Skills

People leadership

GMP knowledge

Regulatory experience

Process development

Cross-functional leadership

Change management

Education

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or related field

Master of Science

Ph.D.

Job description

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of small molecules, biologics, and vaccines across human and animal health. We are building a new kind of healthcare company, one that is ready to help create a healthier future for all of us. Join our team and contribute to our mission of delivering innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals.

ThePharmaceutical Commercialization Technology (PCT)organization, within our Manufacturing Division, develops robust processes and technologies for small-molecule, solid-dosage drugs. From early formulation partnerships through to commercial launch and stable global supply, we bridge the gap between discovery and patients worldwide. Our operations are anchored by development centers in Rahway, NJ and West Point, PA, alongside a global manufacturing network spanning Ireland, Singapore, and external contract organizations.

As theDirector of Pharmaceutical Commercialization Technology, you will lead a high-performing department of10 to 20 engineers and scientists—ranging from entry-level researchers to senior scientific leaders and people managers.

In this role, you will shape and execute program strategies for our development pipeline while fostering a culture anchored in Safety First, Quality Always, and Inclusion for All. You will champion talent development, drive operational excellence, and build highly collaborative partnerships across our global technical, quality, and manufacturing networks to bring life-saving medicines to market.

Responsibilities

• Drive development of product portfolio including overall plan for control strategy development, experimental designs across scales, execution of experimental plans, and data analysis with the goal of creating robust control strategies that will lead to reliable supply.
• Drive results and executional excellence within the department’s portfolio, impacting multiple layers of the organization and other lines within PCT.
• Drive operational excellence by clarifying and translating priorities into actionable steps and holding teams accountable to deliver against priorities.
• Recognize gaps in systems and drive improvement in process and department function, sponsoring and driving a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Develop critical partner relationships and create sponsorship frameworks with peers to ensure the success of highly cross-functional teams.
• Actively sponsor the creation of high-performing teams with peers and ensure necessary technical reviews are occurring proactively with the right cross-section of peer partner groups.
• Utilize a sophisticated employee development toolkit across many levels within the organization, including people managers, senior scientific staff, and new hires.
• Help teams drive programmatic strategy including regulatory, siting, and tech transfer, and assist in creating financial forecasts.
• Lead change throughout the organization with a well-developed change leadership toolkit.
• Oversee the department’s core functions including PCT Source (clinical supply stewardship), the APEX (Applied Pharmaceutical Engineering & eXperimentation) supply-support facility, safety teams, digital strategy, compliance, modeling, risk assessment platforms, diversity and inclusion, due diligence, and capital projects.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or related scientific field with a minimum of twelve (12) years of required experience; OR Master of Science (M.S.) with a minimum of ten (10) years; OR Ph.D. degree with a minimum of eight (8) years.
• Possesses deep technical and subject matter expertise with the function.
• Knowledge of oral drug product formulation and process development, proven track record in small molecule commercial process development, scale-up, and technology transfer to supply.
• Applies a deep understanding of new product development and commercialization.
• Experienced in the end-to-end development of drug products from commercialization through to supply.
• Experience with authoring regulatory submissions and responding to regulatory questions.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Effective delegation skills and demonstrated ability to drive improvement priorities in addition to driving the portfolio.
• Demonstrated ability in leading and sponsoring cross-functional teams.
• Strength in delivering results on firm deadlines.
• Experience with leading organizational change.

Preferred

• Experience in supporting supply investigations.
• Proficient in situational effectiveness and can structure communications to technical teams and executive level.

Location: Rahway, NJ preferred. Candidate will have reports based in Rahway and West Point, PA, so travel to West Point will be required.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Change Agility, Consulting, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Key Client Relationships, Manufacturing Scale-Up, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Process Development, Process Characterization, Regulatory Experience, Research and Development Operations (Inactive), Results-Oriented, Teamwork, Technical Transfer, Writing Technical Documents

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.

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

This 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. 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

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

10/3/2026

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