Associate Director, Lab Management

Job Description

Our team in Rahway, New Jersey, is seeking a strong leader who is passionate about lab management and operation support. The Associate Director of Biologics Process Research and Development (BPR&D) is responsible for supporting Biologics Process Development (BPD)’s lab maintenance and operations. This includes maintaining lab supply and reagent inventory, ensuring lab safety and cleanliness, coordinating capital budget and equipment procurements for the labs, and coordinating lab equipment preventive and corrective maintenance (PM/CM). The US Associate Director is also responsible for leading lab safety and equipment training for new hires, as well as maintaining daily lab 5S standards. Additionally, the Associate Director works with the lab buffers and media preparation team to ensure the timely preparation of buffers and media to support daily process development activities.

The successful candidate is expected to collaborate with stakeholders, administrators, departments, and our Company EHS, serving as a liaison and representing senior administration on EHS/chemical hygiene committees. The candidate is expected to establish guidelines and practices for the safety and security of BPD laboratory facilities, including maintaining current knowledge of all relevant protocols, regulations, standards, and safety procedures. The leader will manage the laboratory equipment, supplies, and data analysis tools (software, i.e., Empower, Unicorn), including inspecting, maintaining, and troubleshooting performance, as well as documenting/coordinating preventative and corrective maintenance (PM and CM). The candidate will maintain an effective connection with the relevant groups including Finance, forecast, plan, and monitor the BPD Capital spending, as well as provide input for purchasing laboratory equipment, supplies, and data analysis tools and oversee inventory management. The candidate will lead the training of new hires on lab safety/5S. The candidate is expected to supervise others as well.

Minimum required education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline with 10+ years of relevant experience; MS with 8+ years of relevant experience or Ph.D. with 5+ years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Required experience and skills:

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, biologics development, and coordination of people and resources.

• Knowledge of applicable safety requirements.

• Has advanced depth of expertise/knowledge in laboratory equipment such as bench bioreactor, Ambr 15/250, Akta chromatography system, membrane, and depth filtration systems, etc., related supplies, relevant computer hardware and software, and their applications.

• Demonstrated leadership in analyzing and developing guidelines, procedures, and systems to outline specific goals and implement plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish tasks.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and implement lab cleaning/5S and equipment maintenance.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, networking, and results-oriented lab management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a complex, matrixed environment (promoting inclusion, maintaining trust, and respecting others).

• Demonstrated mentoring, coaching, or supervisory skills.

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  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 diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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 Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

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Job Posting End Date:

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