Pilot Plant Operations Lead (GMP/Scaleup)

Merck & Co.; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 87,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, is seeking a Specialist-Process Supervisor to join the MACS Operations Team in a fast-paced pilot plant environment. The role supports the MACS Center and participates from testing and startup through full operation while collaborating with the SM PR&D network to enable facility startup and ensure safety, GMP, and environmental compliance.

This position requires leadership of daily activities, prioritization of staff work, and readiness for equipment qualifications as

Qualifications

• Mechanical aptitude and familiarity with chemical process development and process equipment.
• Supervising a team of shop floor personnel in an operations environment.
• Understanding of and experience with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), Good Documentation Practices (GDPs), and Safety & Environmental (S&E) regulations.
• Experience operating/maintaining manufacturing scale, pilot scale, and/or lab scale equipment.
• Effective communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Experience in conflict resolution and root cause analyses.
• Ability to build effective work relationships with a varied workforce.
• Adaptable to a dynamic production environment.
• As the building transitions towards equipment qualifications and operations must be able to rotate between 1st and 2nd shift on a weekly basis.
• Desire and willingness to learn, contribute and lead.
• Coordinating maintenance activities around processing activities to support reliable facility operation.
• Working in an environment with Automation Systems (DeltaV, PLC, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Supervise and participate in daily production activities while ensuring Safety, GMP Quality, and Environmental requirements to meet MACS objectives and customer requirements.
• Prioritize and assign daily activities for the operations staff and support facility startup.
• Implement process improvement actions to meet S&E and GMP requirements.
• Rotate between 1st and 2nd shift on a weekly basis as the building transitions toward qualification and operation.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Team supervision

cGMP GDP S&E

Scale equipment operation

Communication skills

Conflict resolution

Cross-functional collaboration

Adaptability

Automation systems (DeltaV PLC)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

High school diploma with 6+ years relevant experience

Job description

Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, is seeking a Specialist-Process Supervisor to join the MACS Operations Team in a fast-paced pilot plant environment. The role supports the MACS Center and participates from testing and startup through full operation while collaborating with the SM PR&D network to enable facility startup and ensure safety, GMP, and environmental compliance.

This position requires leadership of daily activities, prioritization of staff work, and readiness for equipment qualifications as