Director, Sterile Product Development (Biologics)

Our Company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to identify and isolate a molecule that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover and develop the next medical breakthrough. Our Company's success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

The Biologics and Biopharmaceutics team is responsible for the research and development of sterile & parenteral drug products for biologics including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), di- & tri-specific antibodies, and fusion proteins as well as the biopharmaceutic support for the oral and non-oral portfolio. Within Biologics and Biopharmaceutics, the large molecule product development Director will influence the strategy, lead activities, and develop a team whose roles include design and development of formulation, manufacturing process, and primary packaging to enable phase appropriate regulatory filings for large molecule sterile products. These sterile products include those administered via intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular routes of administration. This research opportunity is fast paced and contributes to the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Supplies (PSCS) deliverable which is the development of robust compositions, processes and device/ packaging that enable patient centric products for patients. The successful candidate:

• Should have a vision to develop a team, demonstrated leadership skills, sterile product technical & domain expertise, effective communication skills, understanding of regulatory environment, and vision to influence the regulatory environment
• Will be responsible for sub-functional strategic planning, coordinating, and execution of initiatives for the Company's portfolio from discovery to launch.
• Will need to collaborate in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment with key stakeholders across the organizations (our Manufacturing Division/our Research & Development Division) such as Quality, Regulatory CMC, and technical functions, to ensure timebound progression of portfolio, initiatives for scientific & operational excellence, and other strategic goals that advance functional impact.

The incumbent will drive large molecule sterile portfolio while developing new ways of working to meet aggressive timeline requirements and integrate within the broader parenteral portfolio, where appropriate. The incumbent will also have to demonstrate domain expertise in sterile product development and collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders across both our Manufacturing Division and our Research & Development Division - in particular Discovery Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biologics Analytical Research and Development (BAR&D), Bioprocess research and development (BPR&D), and Sterile Product Development & Commercialization (SDPC, our Manufacturing Division) in the design of new formulations and development of robust and scalable processes for commercial products. The applicant will preferably have experience with high concentration biologics to support clinical and commercial development. Maintaining a strong network internally and across the external academic and regulatory community is expected, as well as advancing a culture of scientific excellence, GMP and compliance mindset and collaboration with various partners and stakeholders in development.

The Director will report to the Executive Director of Biologics and Biopharmaceutics, have 10-15 direct reports composed of experienced, senior and associate scientists. The successful candidate will effectively partner with Biologics and Biopharmaceutics leadership and extended leadership teams to implement strategy, conduct scientific research from the laboratory to commercial scale, step across boundaries and implement novel innovations during drug product development to enable best science at first filing for parenteral development processes for human health while ensuing a phase appropriate approach during early development.

The incumbent will be responsible for the recruiting, appraisal, and development of personnel under her/his supervision to their full potential. The Director selects, trains, and effectively recommends transfers, merit increases, promotions, and closures of personnel under her/his direction within the framework of Company policy. The role will also be responsible for proactive resourcing planning, risk assessment strategies and budget management as necessary. The candidate will also have a proven track record of developing talent from a diverse scientific background and will have the ability to advance our Company's commitment to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Essential Knowledge, Duties & Responsibilities for the Director Include:

• Sterile drug product development concepts, tools, and requirements for all dosage forms (liquid, lyo, drug-device combinations)
• Review and approval of data and technical documents
• Ability to recruit, select, develop, and mentor talent.
• Strategic and critical thinking to advance Biologics and Biopharmaceutics strategy
• Project management skills
• Attention to technical detail
• Builds collaborations across our Company internal departments and key stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and champion organizational structure and be a change agent when necessary.
• Developing the departmental budget and meeting the agreed upon spend.
• Collaborates and builds strong relationships with upper management and other disciplines to select and qualify new CMOs/CROs/CDMOs
• Must be available to work on-site at the Rahway, NJ facility. This is not a remote position

Qualifications:

Education:

• Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutics, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, biochemical / biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, or relevant field with minimum of 8 years of industrial experience.
• B.S. or M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutics, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, biochemical / biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, or relevant field with minimum of 10 years of industrial experience

Required:

• Relevant experience in pharmaceutical development with exposure to all stages and aspects of development (pre-clinical, clinical, and commercial) and cGMP industrial background.
• Experience with design of IV and SC drug products including drug-device combination products for biologics
• Experience with process design and/or scale-up in the clinical or commercial space, including process flow diagrams & engineering drawings
• Process development and technology transfer experience including the use of risk assessment and process capability (Ppk) tools.
• Candidate should have solid understanding of integration and partnering for Pharmaceutical development/ CMC with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Non-clinical, Clinical, and other functional areas
• Experience with regulatory submissions including writing / review of regulatory filings including INDs and NDAs.
• Exposure to project / engineering work process and deliverables (e.g. equipment fabrication, FAT, SAT, Validation etc.)
• Must be innovative and drive new ideas, but also have pragmatic approach to development options, technology selection and regulatory posture
• Demonstrated working knowledge of FDA, ICH, and other regulatory requirements for CMC. Strong experience in safety and environmental knowledge and site presence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• A strong track record of publications in parenteral drug product development and/or delivery
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams with proven talent development skillsets.
• Demonstrated strength in delivering results on firm deadlines in support of product discovery, process development and commercial filings for biopharmaceuticals
• Demonstrated ability to identify, mitigate and clearly articulate program risks

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in developing broad suite of sterile products and understanding of parenteral formulation development.
• Knowledgeable of the Capital Process having participated on a large capital project team
• Experience in regulatory compliance expectations across all phases of product development to commercialization.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and organization design (i.e. building high performing teams, building talent, and shown to be able to motivate, influence scientific team; lead by example through past scientific / technical expertise).
• Experience in budget planning & management, establishing development strategies, and managing scientific staff from a budgetary and personnel decisions standpoint.
• Experience in equipment Fabrication, FAT/SAT, start-up, qualification and/or validation is preferred
• Fill/finish process scale-up, Drug Delivery and/or technology transfer experience including the use of gap analysis and risk assessment tools
• Highly motivated, flexible, a change agent, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Willing to implement novel and innovative technologies into large molecule programs. Encourages innovative thinking / risk-taking and eliminates obstacles / barriers to implement change
• Ability to present clear and compelling quality and business cases. Ability to engage and align other stakeholders outside the project team.
• Experience with high concentration protein biologics
• Ability to apply and promote a growth mindset with teams and partnerships

Current Employees apply HERE

Current 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:

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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.

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".

The salary range for this role is
$169,700.00 - $267,200.00

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 .

You can apply for this role through (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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:
Adjuvants, Applied Engineering, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Chemical Engineering, Combination Products, Data Analysis, Dosage Forms, Financial Research, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Immunochemistry, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Development, Pharmaceutical Formulations, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Product Development, Regulatory CMC, Statistical Design of Experiments (DOE), Technology Transfer

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:
08/22/2025
*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: R358355