Sr. Specialist, Bio Technology Solutions (BTS) - Site Support

MSD; Louisiana (MO); On-site; USD 117,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement benefits

Paid holidays and vacation

Sick days and compassionate days

Job summary

MSD in the United States seeks a senior manufacturing leader to optimize and scale vaccine and biopharmaceutical production. You will lead cross-functional teams across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain to ensure safety, quality, and supply continuity.

The role emphasizes expertise in microbial, viral, or cell culture processes, technology transfer, process validation, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on regulatory compliance and data-driven decision

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline with 5+ years in vaccine/biopharmaceutical development or related areas.
• Master's degree with at least 3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Proven project leadership and cross-functional influence.
• Experience leading investigations and root cause analyses.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and global teams, with data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead optimization, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management of manufacturing processes for vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.
• Act as technical leader for investigations, risk-based decisions, and ensuring compliance.
• Lead technology transfer between sites to ensure readiness and performance.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain to resolve issues.
• Drive cross-functional process improvement, validation, and change control initiatives.
• Analyze root causes and implement corrective actions across processes.
• Provide leadership during deviations, CAPAs, and regulatory inspections.
• Develop new technologies and automation to improve efficiency.
• Support new product introductions, scale-up, and commercialization efforts.
• Mentor engineers and specialists; drive safety, quality, and manufacturing reliability.

Skills

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Downstream manufacturing

Downstream processing

Laboratory processes

Manufacturing production

Sterile manufacturing

Technical leadership

Technology transfer

USDA regulations

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Protein Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or related

Master’s Degree with 3+ years of relevant experience

Job description

Job Description

Welcome to our team! Our Animal Health Manufacturing teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset, striving for continuous improvement. We work in local and regional manufacturing facilities connected to our global network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products. Join us to be at the forefront of delivering innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals.

Responsibilities

• Lead and work independently on the optimization, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management of commercial manufacturing processes involving microbial, viral, or cell culture production, downstream purification, concentration, formulation, and sterile fill-finish operations for veterinary vaccines and biopharmaceutical products.

• Serve as a technical leader for complex manufacturing investigations, providing scientific direction and risk-based decision making to resolve production challenges while maintaining compliance, product quality, and supply continuity.

• Lead technology transfer activities within and between manufacturing sites, ensuring successful transfer of process knowledge, manufacturing readiness, and process performance.

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain organizations to resolve technical issues at the speed of business while ensuring solutions meet safety, quality, compliance, cost, and operational requirements.

• Lead cross-functional teams in process improvement, validation, process characterization, change control, and manufacturing robustness initiatives.

• Evaluate manufacturing challenges from multiple perspectives including process design, equipment performance, automation, compliance, quality systems, and human performance to determine root cause and implement effective corrective actions.

• Provide scientific leadership during deviations, investigations, CAPAs, and regulatory inspections by ensuring decisions are supported by sound science, data analysis, technical expertise, and regulatory expectations.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate new technologies, manufacturing platforms, process analytical technologies, and automation solutions to improve process capability and operational efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with BTS Process Development, Analytical Sciences, and Research organizations to support new product introductions, process transfers, scale-up activities, and commercialization initiatives.

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of USDA and applicable regulatory requirements and apply those requirements to manufacturing processes, investigations, validations, and change management activities.

• Support inspection readiness efforts and provide technical expertise during internal audits and regulatory inspections.

• Lead project planning activities including development of project charters, timelines, resource planning, risk assessments, stakeholder alignment, and communication strategies.

• Manage multiple technical projects simultaneously and provide regular updates on progress, risks, mitigation plans, and strategic recommendations to site and divisional leadership.

• Ensure consistent application of standardized work processes, process control strategies, engineering controls, and manufacturing best practices.

• Design, execute, and interpret laboratory- and manufacturing-scale studies to support process improvements, investigations, technology implementation, and validation activities.

• Author and approve technical protocols, study reports, validation documents, technical assessments, process monitoring strategies, and manufacturing documentation.

• Develop and maintain process knowledge through statistical analysis, process monitoring, trend evaluation, and data-driven decision making.

• Contribute to global BTS initiatives and collaborate with international teams to share technical knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned across the network.

• Demonstrate company leadership behaviors and serve as a technical mentor for specialists, engineers, interns, and early-career employees.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives supporting operational excellence, safety performance, environmental stewardship, and manufacturing reliability.

• Perform off-shift support as required to support manufacturing operations and critical business needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Protein Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a related scientific or engineering discipline with a minimum of 5 years of experience in vaccine and/or biopharmaceutical development, process development, technical support, technology transfer, process engineering, or biological manufacturing

• OR Master’s Degree with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong technical writing and documentation capabilities

• Demonstrated project leadership and project management experience

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders across organizational levels

• Strong scientific and engineering problem-solving skills

• Experience leading manufacturing investigations and root cause analyses

• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and global teams

• Strong data analysis and critical thinking capabilities

• Demonstrated ability to make risk-based decisions in a regulated manufacturing environment

• Commitment to safety, quality, compliance and inclusion

• Ability to mentor and develop technical team members

Preferred

• Experience supporting commercial vaccine and/or biopharmaceutical manufacturing

• Technical expertise in microbial fermentation, viral propagation, cell culture, purification, filtration, formulation, and sterile manufacturing processes

• Experience with process validation, technology transfer, and process lifecycle management

• Working knowledge of USDA regulations and expectations

• Knowledge of GMP requirements for manufacturing and testing of biologic products

• Understanding of process monitoring, statistical analysis, and statistical process control

• Experience with change management systems, deviations, CAPAs, and regulatory inspections

• Experience implementing process analytical technologies, automation solutions, or advanced manufacturing technologies

Required Skills:

Communication, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Downstream Manufacturing, Downstream Processing, Laboratory Processes, Manufacturing Production, Sterile Manufacturing, Technical Leadership, Technology Transfer, USDA Regulations

Preferred Skills:

Coaching Others, Coach Team Members, Facilitation, Relationship Building

The salary range for this role is

$117,000.00 - $184,200.00

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.

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.

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:

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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

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

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

Yes

Hazardous Material(s):

Yes

Job Posting End Date:

09/30/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.