Manager, Process Operations

MSD; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, seeks a senior leader to direct upstream/downstream biologics production operations. You will drive cGMP compliance, staff development, and RFT performance while supporting tech transfers for a multi-product GMP facility.

The role requires 5+ years in GMP biologics with single‑use systems experience and strong technical leadership for a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical/biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, or related discipline with minimum of 5 years relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with minimum 3 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a GMP-regulated biologics drug substance manufacturing environment, preferably with single-use systems.
• Prior experience leading operations teams and monitoring performance.
• Strong understanding of GMP manufacturing environments, including upstream and downstream processing.
• Working knowledge of cGMP, Quality Systems, and EHS requirements.
• Ability to train employees in technical, compliance, safety, and environmental procedures.
• Experience writing SOPs and technical documents.
• Working knowledge of DeltaV, MES, and SAP.
• Strong troubleshooting, decision-making, and attention to detail skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team executing upstream and downstream production operations.
• Assign daily work and ensure effective execution, accountability, and compliance.
• Drive cGMP and EHS compliance and promote a strong safety culture.
• Maintain a strong floor presence during GMP operations and support critical tasks as needed.
• Ensure team qualification, training completion, and MyLearning compliance.
• Support operational readiness activities for launch of the new GMP facility.
• Participate in interviews and hiring activities as needed.
• Coach and develop direct reports through regular 1:1s, feedback, and performance reviews.
• Drive Right First Time (RFT) batch execution and operational excellence.
• Review documentation in real time to support timely lot release.
• Troubleshoot technical and process issues and make timely operational decisions.
• Initiate deviations, perform initial impact assessments, and support investigations.
• Author, revise, and approve SOPs, batch records, work instructions, and memos.
• Provide off‑hours, weekend, holiday, and on‑call support as needed.
• Support start‑up activities including equipment qualification, training curricula, staff training, and MES implementation.
• Oversee production planning and associated activities.
• Partner cross‑functionally to support operational readiness for tech transfer programs, including product‑specific planning and quality risk assessments.
• Collaborate across the network to share best practices and promote operational consistency.

Skills

Analytical Testing

Data Analysis

Deviation Management

Equipment Qualification

Fast-Paced Environments

GMP Compliance

Lean Manufacturing

Microbiology

Molecular Microbiology

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Process Design

Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)

Process Optimization

Production Management

Production Operations

Production Planning

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Technical Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical/biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, or related discipline with minimum of 5 years relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with minimum 3 years of relevant experience

Tools

DeltaV

MES

SAP

Job description

The Biologics Process Research & Development organization within our Company Research Labs is responsible for developing the drug substance manufacturing processes for our Company's biologics pipeline. We work closely with colleagues in Discovery, Pre‑clinical, and Early Development to rapidly develop processes for different biotherapeutics and efficiently produce material to supply clinical trials. We are also responsible for commercial process development, and development and implementation of new technologies. We work with our partners in our Company Manufacturing Division to commercialize and launch new products.

This role will support the Next Generation Biologics (NGB) facility, which will be a premier, state‑of‑the‑art facility, that is a key part of our Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) hub at our site headquarters in Rahway, NJ. This facility will be fully online in the next few years, both in terms of facility construction and organizational realization. The GMP facility is designed for multi‑product operations with flexible operating suites, which can adjust as the clinical pipeline demands change. It can meet all historic, currently existing, and cutting‑edge biologics program demands from supporting development to pilot scale, small and large scale potent material handling, and the ability to integrate new technologies and cell‑line platforms.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead a team executing upstream and downstream production operations.
• Assign daily work and ensure effective execution, accountability, and compliance.
• Drive cGMP and EHS compliance and promote a strong safety culture.
• Maintain a strong floor presence during GMP operations and support critical tasks as needed.
• Ensure team qualification, training completion, and MyLearning compliance.
• Support operational readiness activities for launch of the new GMP facility.
• Participate in interviews and hiring activities as needed.
• Coach and develop direct reports through regular 1:1s, feedback, and performance reviews.
• Drive Right First Time (RFT) batch execution and operational excellence.
• Review documentation in real time to support timely lot release.
• Troubleshoot technical and process issues and make timely operational decisions.
• Initiate deviations, perform initial impact assessments, and support investigations.
• Author, revise, and approve SOPs, batch records, work instructions, and memos.
• Provide off‑hours, weekend, holiday, and on‑call support as needed.
• Support start‑up activities including equipment qualification, training curricula, staff training, and MES implementation.
• Oversee production planning and associated activities.
• Partner cross‑functionally to support operational readiness for tech transfer programs, including product‑specific planning and quality risk assessments.
• Collaborate across the network to share best practices and promote operational consistency.

Required Education, Experience and Skills:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical/biochemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, or related discipline with minimum of 5 years relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with minimum 3 years of relevant experience.

Experience & Skills:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a GMP-regulated biologics drug substance manufacturing environment, preferably with single-use systems.
• Prior experience leading operations teams and monitoring performance.
• Strong understanding of GMP manufacturing environments, including upstream and downstream processing.
• Working knowledge of cGMP, Quality Systems, and EHS requirements.
• Ability to train employees in technical, compliance, safety, and environmental procedures.
• Experience writing SOPs and technical documents.
• Working knowledge of DeltaV, MES, and SAP.
• Strong troubleshooting, decision-making, and attention to detail skills.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with facility fit assessments, new product introduction, process transfer to/from clinical sites, and clinical manufacturing.
• Experience with Veeva Quality Docs.
• Lean manufacturing and root cause analysis experience.
• Background in process engineering, upstream/downstream technical support, or biologics/vaccine manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to drive improvements and inspire others.
• Ability to use tools such as JMP, Microsoft Office, and project management software.
• Strong organizational, planning, communication, leadership, and presentation skills.
• Continuous improvement mindset and willingness to challenge the status quo.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs, if required.

Required Skills:

• Analytical Testing
• Data Analysis
• Deviation Management
• Equipment Qualification
• Fast‑Paced Environments
• GMP Compliance
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Lean Manufacturing
• Microbiology
• Molecular Microbiology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Process Design
• Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)
• Process Optimization
• Production Management
• Production Operations
• Production Planning
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Technical Leadership

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:

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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
$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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

The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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:
• VISA Sponsorship:
• Travel Requirements:
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable
• Shift:
• Valid Driving License:
• Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date: 08/29/2026*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.