Associate Director, Third Party Quality Management Drug Product (Hybrid)

Job Description

Associate Director, Third Party Quality Management Drug Product

The incumbent will be responsible for serving as the quality representative for, and providing quality oversight of, contractors performing various GMP activities supporting the production of clinical supplies with focus on drug product. The position will be heavily involved in close collaboration with the contractor quality and technical personnel and will partner with internal development teams on objectives utilizing external contractors including GMP qualification as well as the support of small and large molecule development programs. 

Experience in medical device and/or combination products would be preferred. 

Key Responsibilities:

Activities that this position would be responsible for include:

• Leading overall quality relationships with contract manufacturing organizations,

• Negotiation of site and global Technical and Quality Agreements,

• Participating in contractor GMP audits as a Subject Matter Expert,

• Conduct of contractor “deep dive” quality assessments such in data integrity and leading cross-functional contractor performance reviews as the quality lead for the oversight platform,

• Supporting product development teams in outsourcing activities to enable our diverse pipeline

• Serving as the bridge for quality oversight between research and development and commercialization activities.

• Communicating, and serving as Quality spokesperson, on a variety of Quality or compliance-related issues.

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years within pharmaceutical drug product manufacturing and 10 years overall within biopharmaceuticals.

• Planning and facilitating high risk and highly complex Quality-related process reviews and/or investigations under minimal supervision.

• Providing project leadership in area of expertise in own discipline (such as leading or facilitating teams involving source area representatives in a matrix management environment).

• Identifying trends and/or potential compliance gaps and proactively leading the resolution of issues affecting quality and efficiency.

• Interpreting complex regulatory requirements for various audiences, including source area management, and facilitating communication of these requirements across stakeholders. 

Preferred Experience:

• Experience related to medical devices and combination products,

• Engagement with small and/or large molecule drug development programs from early phase through commercialization,

• Participation with contract manufacturing of clinical supplies

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant area related to engineering, chemistry, or biology.

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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