Senior Specialist, Operations

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Operations Specialist to support the manufacturing floor, lead troubleshooting, and drive continuous improvement within the Operations Manufacturing Support team.

You will distill complex data into actionable metrics and collaborate with Quality, Technology, and Regulatory groups to ensure compliant operations. The role emphasizes leadership during manager absence, handling SOPs and batch records, and contributing to sterile manufacturing

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree (science/engineering) strongly preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in manufacturing/technical roles in high-volume lean operation.
• Technical writing experience (investigations, change requests, SOPs, batch records, protocols).

Responsibilities

• Supports end-to-end value stream mapping to drive production improvements and inventory management.
• Collaborates with Operations, Technology and Quality to author regulatory responses and remediation projects.
• Provides leadership to the production floor and supports shift managers.
• Acts as liaison between team and support groups for day-to-day issues and tech transfer.
• Author and execute Operations protocols, corrective actions and SOPs.
• Support internal and external regulatory inspections and batch record reviews.
• Leads/Supports process improvements and problem-solving on the shop floor.
• Investigate process deviation events and provide production-floor expertise.

Skills

Analytical

cGMP Compliance

Collaboration

Data Analysis

Decision Making

Manufacturing Processes

Root Cause Identification

Technical Writing

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science

Tools

SAP

MRP/ERP (SAP)

Excel

Minitab

JMP

Job description

## Senior Specialist, OperationsApplyremote type: Not Applicablelocations: USA - North Carolina - Durham (Old Oxford)time type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todaytime left to apply: End Date: August 27, 2026 (13 days left to apply)job requisition id: R412627**Job Description**As part of our company's Vaccine Manufacturing Organization, the Durham team is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as a Senior Operations Specialist within the Operations Manufacturing Support team. In this role, you must be able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and be hands-on when called for by the situation. This role requires the ability to distill large quantities of complex data into simplified reporting and actionable measures, strong problem-solving skills, rapid disciplined decisions and prioritization of work. The position must also demonstrate strong collaboration and communication skills to enable interfacing with both internal contacts (site level) and external contacts (external customers, sister sites, vendors) to support these initiatives. The position requires strong leadership, technical writing, and problem-solving skills. You will lead and/or support critical project initiatives at the site, support the ongoing sterility assurance program, and be involved in developing and implementing corrective actions. Enthusiasm for continuously learning is a requirement. **Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:** * Supports the end-to-end product Value Stream Map driving production improvements, inventory management, cost reductions, and standard work at the shop floor level.* Collaborates with Operations, Technology and Quality to author regulatory inspection observation responses and completes remediation projects, as required.* Assists shift managers in providing leadership to the production floor. Capable of providing primary leadership to team during extended periods of manager absence such as vacations* Serves as liaison between the team and support groups in resolving day to day issues and in support of various projects and initiatives including the tech transfer of new products* Author and own execution of Operations protocols* Develop and own Operations corrective actions* Author and revise Standard Operating Procedures* Support of internal and external regulatory inspections, presenting on topics as needed.* Executes and manages Operations batch record review within established timelines for release and effectively liaisons with Quality to resolve comments in a timely manner* Day shift Operations representative for various site needs (Quality Assessments, Process Simulation support, etc.)* Leads/Supports production and quality projects and process system improvements* Lead problem-solving of real-time shop floor issues* Support investigations of process deviation events* Provide expertise to the production floor, understanding the full process requirements (safety, compliance, equipment, regulatory) in order to best understand and resolve production issues.* Works independently and is capable of balancing shifting priorities without introducing disruption to the organization. Capable of working through uncertainty with minimal levels of manager direction.* Potential to work on shift directly with an Operations team as needed for shop floor support. Education Minimum Requirement * Bachelor Degree (science/chemical, mechanical, or electrical engineering preferred)* Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Engineering (such as Chemical, Mechanical, Bio-Engineering, Bio-Medical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, etc.) or Science Fields (such as Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, etc.) strongly preferred Required Experience and Skills * Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in a manufacturing, technical, or mechanical support role in a high-volume lean operation* Technical writing experience, i.e. investigations, change requests, standard operating procedures, batch records, protocols.* Must be able to work both independently and within multi-functional teams in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Experience and Skills * Sterile manufacturing shop floor experience highly preferred.* Working knowledge of cGMPs and of regulatory requirements as they apply to the vaccine/pharmaceutical industry.* Experience with formal problem-solving techniques and a hands-on approach to problem-solving, such as root cause analysis and/or Lean Six Sigma tools.* Experience using inventory management and maintenance planning software (MRP/ERP) such as SAP, automated control systems and electronic batch record systems.* Experience managing against metrics and scorecards in a business environment.* Experience with presenting to an internal / regulatory auditor.* Advanced knowledge of Excel, Minitab, JMP, and/or Statistical analysis.* Six Sigma certification.**Required Skills:**Analytical Problem Solving, cGMP Compliance, Collaboration, Competency Management, Corrective Action Management, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Manufacturing Processes, Operations Support, Process Improvements, Production Scheduling, Regulatory Management, Root Cause Identification, Site Operations, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Technical Writing, Training and Development, Vaccine Manufacturing, Working Independently**Preferred Skills:**Current Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE**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.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 RightsEEOC GINA SupplementWe 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 ActsThe salary range for this role is$96,200.00 - $151,400.00This 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.You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). 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:**Domestic**VISA Sponsorship:**No**Travel Requirements:**No Travel Required**Flexible Work Arrangements:**Not Applicable**Shift:**1st - Day**Valid Driving License:**No**Hazardous Material(s):**n/a**Job Posting End Date:**08/27/2026**\*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.**Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.