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Associate Director, External Manufacturing Operations

Dublin, Ireland; Paris, France; Haarlem, Netherlands; Castleisland, Ireland; Luzern, Switzerland; Lucerne, Switzerland

Job Description

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in a leading biopharmaceutical company? At our company, we are dedicated to pioneering innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people. We are seeking an Associate Director, External Manufacturing Operations to join our team. This role is essential in ensuring our Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) meet customer demand while achieving excellence in compliance, supply, continuous improvement, and cost reduction.

Your Core Responsibilities

  • Drive global competitiveness on cost and lead time with 100% compliance for each CMO.
  • Serve as the “Virtual Plant Manager” for key CMOs, understanding their systems, capabilities, and capacity utilization to ensure supply chain reliability.
  • Act as the primary owner of the Manufacturing department relationship with the External Partner and key contact for all interactions.
  • Lead the cross-functional (Focus Factory) team assigned to each CMO and ensure proper execution of the Tier management process.
  • Proactively drive risk assessment across the value chain, working with the Focus Factory team and CMO to manage and mitigate risks, ensuring zero supply chain interruptions and 100% compliance in quality and EHS.
  • Partner with Global Procurement in identifying, selecting, negotiating, and terminating Supply Agreements with new contract manufacturers as needed.
  • Facilitate the collection and presentation of contract manufacturer’s capacity information to Supply Chain Management, driving recommendations for capacity expansion.
  • Ensure alignment of Supply and Quality agreements and participate in periodic Business and Relationship Review Meetings.

Who You Are

You are ready if you have:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Sciences, or Business.
  • Minimum of seven years combined experience in commercial/business and manufacturing functions in pharmaceutical, chemical, or related industries.
  • At least five years of experience in API manufacturing, ideally in Operations.
  • Hands-on experience in chemical and/or API manufacturing and operations.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, project management, collaboration, negotiation, and analytical skills.
  • Strong leadership and team coordination abilities in a teamwork environment.
  • Strong business acumen and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to handle complex projects in challenging environments and make decisive decisions in ambiguous situations.
  • Cultural awareness and sensitivities, with fluency in English (both verbal and written). French would be desirable.
  • Approximately 25% travel required within the EU region, with a preference for candidates based in Switzerland, Ireland, or France.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Secondary Language(s) Job Description:

As a company, we are committed to 'Inventing for Life' in all that we do. We keep the patient at the very heart of all that we do and strive to find solutions and treatments for some of the world's most challenging healthcare needs.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. Please don't hesitate to contact the Talent Acquisition Advisor assigned to this role should you need any support during our recruitment process.

We are committed to flexible working where possible, and this is why our Company has introduced a new hybrid working model for office-based colleagues around the world.

Please feel free to speak to us about what flexibility means to you during your application or click on the link to find out more about our hybrid working model

So, if you are ready to:

Invent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, please apply today.

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:

Remote

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

01/21/2025

*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: R329960

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