Packaging Technical Lead (Associate Director)

Merck & Co.; West Point (PA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k)/retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

HireLifeScience seeks an Associate Director, Packaging to define and execute global packaging strategies across the product lifecycle. Lead cross-functional teams to ensure robust designs, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Requires advanced packaging/engineering background with 8–10 years pharma experience, strong leadership, and experience with blow-fill-seal technologies. Competitive salary with bonuses and benefits.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Mechanical Engineering or similar with 10 years pharma development experience; OR MS/PhD with 8 years.
• Understanding of pharmaceutical development process and ability to design, develop, and test packaging components.
• Familiarity with Risk Assessment tools.
• Ability to lead cross-functional groups and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with blow-fill-seal technologies for sterile packaging systems.
• Strong communication skills and knowledge of US/global regulations for packaging.

Responsibilities

• Ensure packaging system designs are robust and processes efficient, with control strategies integrated across upstream/downstream needs.
• Drive risk understanding and reduction prior to product launch.
• Conduct technical risk assessments, develop packaging specs, and oversee qualification activities.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and sustainability goals.
• Represent stakeholders and balance interests across functions.
• Drive risk posture balancing technical probability, cost, and resources across groups.
• Collaborate across the end-to-end CMC continuum.
• Develop and commercialize new products on cross-functional teams.

Skills

Coordinate

Change Management

Collaborative Leadership

Combination Products

Competency Management

Compliance Packaging

Cross-Functional Teamwork

Detail-Oriented

Deviation Management

Engineering Standards

Global Coordination

GMP

ISO Compliance

Manufacturing Scale-Up

Mentorship

Packaging Engineering

Project Leadership

Project Management Leadership

Project Team Management

Education

B.S. in Packaging Engineering / Packaging Science / Mechanical Engineering or similar

M.S. or Ph.D. with 8+ years pharmaceutical development experience

Job description

Job Description

At our company, we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. We are seeking an Associate Director, Packaging, to join our team and lead the definition and execution of overall packaging strategies that meet global network needs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure packaging system designs are robust, packaging processes are efficient, and control strategies are integrated with both upstream and downstream needs.
• Drive risk understanding and reduction prior to product launch.
• Conduct technical risk assessments, develop packaging specifications, and oversee qualification activities.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory standards and sustainability goals.
• Represent, communicate, and balance the interests of stakeholders.
• Drive the right risk posture that balances technical probability, cost, resources, and trade-offs across various groups.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the end-to-end continuum of CMC areas.
• Develop and commercialize new products on cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Mechanical Engineering, or similar field with ten (10) years of relevant pharmaceutical development experience; OR MS/PhD with 8 years
• Demonstrated understanding of pharmaceutical development process and ability to design, develop, and test primary and secondary packaging components.
• Demonstrated understanding of the use of Risk Assessment tools.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a larger team.
• Experience in leading cross-functional groups both internally and externally.
• Experience with blow-fill-seal technologies for sterile pharmaceutical packaging systems.
• Project management experience and ability to provide technical leadership for complex projects while managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent technical written and oral communication skills that support presentation of information clearly and concisely for all levels of the organization.
• Knowledge of current US and global Regulations, ICH guidance, ISO standards, and quality system regulations for pharmaceutical packaging.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence senior leaders.
• Ability to manage complex programs and support multiple activities/projects.
• Willingness to grow and learn all areas of Pharmaceutical new product development.

Preferred

• Medical Device and Combination Product Packaging development experience.
• Quality Risk Management, Risk-Based Decision Making, and Quality by Design (QbD) experience.
• Experience in defining standard work processes and documents.
• Experience specifying, processing, and characterizing packaging materials including rigid and flexible barriers, pulp/paperboard, and recyclables.

Required Skills

Ability to Coordinate, Ability to Coordinate, Change Management, Collaborative Leadership, Combination Products, Competency Management, Compliance Packaging, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Detail-Oriented, Deviation Management, Engineering Standards, Global Coordination, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Group Processes, ISO Compliance, Legal Compliance, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Mentorship, Packaging Engineering, Procedure Writing, Process Definition, Process Optimization, Project Leadership, Project Management Leadership, Project Team Management {+ 10 more}

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Company Culture

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 Rights

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts.

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is $129,000.00 - $203,100.00.

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.

Benefits

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.

Application Process

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

San Francisco Residents Only

We are committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

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

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements

Not Applicable

Shift

1st - Day

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

n/a

Job Posting End Date

10/21/2026

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

R420807