Operations Manager

HireLifeScience; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 96,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

HireLifeScience in Durham, NC is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics, directing a team with coaching, payroll oversight, and problem-solving to ensure reliable process execution. You will resolve downtime, ensure product quality, and support customer demand at a commercial-scale site.

The role requires leadership on the shop floor, strong GMP knowledge, and hands-on improvement projects.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Minimum six (6) years of experience in a manufacturing, technical, support, or Military role or at least four (4) years of experience in a manufacturing, technical, support, or Military role with a Bachelor's degree in Life Science or Engineering.
• Willing to work rotating shift schedules including 2-3-3 rotation, 4x10.5h shifts, or 5x8.5h shifts with weekend coverage.
• Ability to qualify and maintain gowning requirements to enter classified areas in the manufacturing area.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team (supervisor/coach or project-based).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate people/resources to meet a production schedule.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, motivate, and manage a team to ensure reliable manufacturing process execution.
• Assign yearly performance objectives aligned with department and site goals.
• Provide regular feedback and coaching on work performance.
• Provide leadership to the team based on capabilities and maturity.
• Ensure on-time payroll approvals using site-approved software like ADP.
• Provide a leadership presence on the manufacturing floor and drive standard work.
• Help troubleshoot issues to minimize downtime and maintain product quality.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and scheduling, staffing, or protocol execution.
• Coach team members on small improvement projects and participate in project teams.
• Escalate issues and serve as SME during tours for visitors/auditors.
• Coach the team to complete SAP transactions timely and accurately.
• Manage staffing and overtime to meet customer demand while respecting budget targets.
• Recognize cost-savings opportunities and communicate them for possible projects.

Skills

People Leadership

GMP Compliance

Aseptic Manufacturing

Adaptability

Interpersonal Relationships

Data Analysis

Problem Solving

Process Improvements

Production Scheduling

Inventory Management

Manufacturing Quality Control

Sterile Filling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Science or Engineering

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

PAS-X

SAP

Delta-V

Job description

Job Description

This requisition is for both day shift and night shift positions.

This position is for a manufacturing leadership role as Operations Manager supporting the commercial-scale manufacture of vaccines and therapeutics at the Durham, NC site. The individual in this role must provide direction, coaching, and technical expertise to operations personnel responsible for the manufacturing processes. This individual must actively manage their assigned team to reliably support customer demand, including hiring as needed, employee development, routine 1:1 meetings and coaching, recognition, and performance management. Additionally, they must become proficient in the use of manufacturing systems and knowledgeable of site procedures in order to resolve process/equipment issues, minimize downtime, and ensure product quality.

Successful candidate(s) will be assigned to support one of the manufacturing factories located at the Durham, NC site.

Employee Development / People Management

• Develop, motivate, and manage a team to ensure reliable manufacturing process execution-
• Assign yearly performance objectives for the team in alignment with department and site goals-
• Provide regular feedback and coaching to employees on work performance-
• Provide leadership to the team as needed based on the team's capabilities and maturity-
• Ensure on time approval of payroll activities using site approved software like ADP.-

Process Execution / Continuous Improvement

• Provide a leadership presence on the manufacturing floor-
• Champion standard work to drive consistent use of best practices across teams-
• Regularly help the team troubleshoot issues to minimize downtime and maintain product quality-
• Identify opportunities to improve the process (e.g. cycle times, ease of execution, reliability)-
• Support work as needed to implement improvements (e.g. scheduling, staffing, protocol execution)-
• Coach team members in executing smaller improvement projects in their operational area-
• Represent Operations on project teams as needed-

Communication

• Lead and support daily (Tier) meetings to facilitate flow of information up/down through the organization-
• Hold regular team meetings to cascade information and collect team feedback-
• Provide clear consistent communication from shift to shift-
• Escalate issues as needed to ensure the right support/awareness is given to issues as they arise-
• Serve as an Subject Matter Expert (SME) during tours to provide area/process overview information to visitors/auditors upon request-

Quality & Safety Compliance

• Foster strong safety culture on the team through actions, coaching, and prioritization-
• Coach individuals when reporting safety issues and completing corrective/preventative actions-
• Drive culture of compliance through actions, consistent quality-driven decision making, and coaching of the team (e.g. documentation, housekeeping, area 5S, etc.)-
• Participate in safety/regulatory audits (i.e. tours, topic discussion)-

Financial

• Coach the team to ensure SAP transaction completion is timely and accurate-
• Manage team staffing and overtime to support customer demand while meeting budget targets-
• Recognize opportunities for cost savings and communicates them for potential project chartering-

Education Minimum Requirement

• High School Diploma/GED required-

Required Experience and Skills

• Minimum six (6) years of experience in a manufacturing, technical, support, or Military role or at least four (4) years of experience in a manufacturing, technical, support, or Military role with a Bachelor's degree in Life Science or Engineering-
• Must be willing to work a rotating shift schedule including but not limited to:
  • 2-3-3 rotation x 12.5 hr shifts (example 6:00AM to 6:30PM or 6:00PM - 6:30 AM).Note that this schedule does include working alternating weekends and holidays
  • 4 day x 10.5 hr shifts with rotating weekend coverage. Note that this schedule does include working alternating weekends and holidays
  • 5 day x 8.5 hr shifts. Note that this schedule does include working holidays with weekend coverage required based on business needs
• Ability to qualify and maintain gowning requirements to enter classified areas in the manufacturing area to provide shopfloor support
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team (i.e. experience leading directly as a supervisor/coach or indirectly as part of a project or through routine process execution)-
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate people/resources to meet a production schedule-
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills-

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Previous supervisory experience-
• Experience in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-regulated manufacturing environment-
• Experience using electronic manufacturing systems (e.g. PAS-X, SAP, Delta-V, etc.)-
• Experience interacting with regulatory auditors as part of area tours and/or topic discussion-
• Lean Six Sigma certification-
• #MSJR #VetJobs #EBRG

Required Skills

• Adaptability
• Aseptic Manufacturing
• cGMP Compliance
• Data Analysis
• Employee Performance Standards
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Inventory Management
• Manufacturing Quality Control
• Operational Excellence
• Packaging Operations
• People Leadership
• Process Engineering
• Process ImprovementsProduction Scheduling
• Sterile Filling

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. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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

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.

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is $96,200.00 - $151,400.00

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 .

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

No relocation

Visa Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Not Applicable

Shift

1st - Day, 2nd - Evening, 3rd - Night

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

Cleaning Supplies

Job Posting End Date

10/15/2026

*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

R419827