Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance

MSD; West Point (PA); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

MSD is seeking a Senior Specialist, Clinical Supplies Quality to support the Clinical Supply Chain for development programs, ensuring reliable clinical supply availability, quality, and regulatory compliance. The role covers US quality operations, disposition, global distribution planning, and integration activities.

You will collaborate with Global Clinical Supplies, Regulatory Affairs, Device Development, External partners, and Clinical Trial Operations to prevent supply disruption and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Scientific Discipline with 5+ years in pharma/GMP settings or advanced degree with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Familiarity with batch disposition (release) activities.
• Experience reviewing and approving investigations, deviation management support, and CAPAs.
• In-depth working knowledge of cGMPs and regulatory requirements as they apply to pharma.
• Evidence of leadership with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-depth technical and quality expertise on clinical supply operations, medical devices/combination products, and new technologies.
• Develop and execute quality and stakeholder strategies; drive process improvements leveraging technology.
• Evaluate and disposition Clinical Supply materials to ensure conformance with policies and regulations.
• Coordinate or support investigations, deviations, and significant quality events.
• Identify trends and potential compliance gaps; lead resolution of issues affecting quality and reliability of clinical supply chain.

Skills

Clinical supplies

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Leadership

R&D collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Scientific Discipline

Advanced Degree in related field

Tools

ERP/MES

Trackwise

SAP

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

Job Description Position Overview

The Senior Specialist, Clinical Supplies Quality, Global Development Quality is responsible for support of the Clinical Supply Chain for clinical development programs for our company's portfolio, specifically in terms of assuring the reliable availability, quality and regulatory compliance of clinical supplies produced. This position will have responsibility for support of US quality operations and disposition, global distribution planning and management, and acquisition integration.

Primary Activities

This position will require an in-depth close collaboration with the key stakeholder groups including Global Clinical Supplies, Global Development Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Device Development & Technology, and External Development & Manufacturing, and Global Clinical Trial Operations as well as multiple functions within the clinical supply chain. This position will also include navigating dynamic, high impact, and high visibility situations on a regular basis in relation to ensuring that our company's clinical development portfolio/pipeline is not disrupted due to issues with clinical supplies.

In addition to the high-level responsibilities discussed above, the incumbent is expected to independently execute on the following:

• Provision of in-depth technical and quality expertise regarding clinical supply operations and integration, Medical Device/Combination Products, and new technologies.
• Development and execution of Quality and key stakeholder strategies, improvement initiatives in line with business drivers and objectives whilst streamlining processes and procedures and leveraging technology.
• Evaluation and disposition of Clinical Supply materials with the assurance that the materials were produced in conformance to all applicable policies/procedures of our Company and compliance with all governing regulations.
• Coordination and/or support the investigation of deviations and significant quality events.
• Identification of trends and/or potential compliance gaps and proactively leading the resolution of significant issues affecting quality and ensuring reliable clinical supply chain.

Required Skills

Primary skills include but are not limited to:

• Strong technical expertise in R&D activities specifically related to clinical supplies
• experience in Medical Device/Combination Products and New Technologies is preferred
• Strong compliance knowledge and understanding of regulatory agency regulations and requirements including proficiency in interpreting and applying cGMPs to R&D environment
• Demonstrated experience working with external parties and stakeholders; ability to interact with and influence stakeholder subject matter experts and senior leaders
• Demonstrated knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies; ability to manage complex cross-functional initiatives
• Demonstrated leadership, including strategy development / deployment and experience with tangible delivered benefits

Required Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Scientific Discipline with 5+ years relevant experience within the pharmaceutical industry or Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) related field (including Technical, Engineering, Quality or Operations) or advanced Degree with 6+ years relevant experience.
• Familiarity with batch disposition (release) activities.
• Prior experience reviewing and approving investigations, deviation management support, and Corrective/Preventative Actions (CAPAs).
• In-depth working knowledge of cGMPs and of regulatory requirements as they apply to the pharmaceutical field or a related area.
• Evidence of leadership skills coupled with highly developed oral and written communication skills, i.e., effective presentation of concepts and ideas, as well as interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated teamwork skills.
• Attention to detail, flexibility and awareness of production and quality control problems.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and projects.
• Ability to lead and support teams of a cross-functional and multi-level nature, including senior management representatives.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma and Project Management.
• Knowledge and competency in ERP/MES, Trackwise, SAP, PowerPoint, Excel and Word.

EligibleforERP Required Skills

• CAPA Management
• Detail-Oriented
• Deviation Management
• Medical Devices
• Process Improvements

Quality Risk Management

Six Sigma

Teamwork

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.

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 primary location for this posting is: USA - Pennsylvania - West Point

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is: $106,200.00 - $167,200.00

You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information: 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

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.

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: No relocation VISA Sponsorship: No Travel Requirements: 10% Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid Shift: 1st - Day Valid Driving License: No Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date: 11/13/2026

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.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days

More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.