Job Description
The Microbial Process Operations (MPO) Team is seeking a Director to provide operational, technical, and strategic leadership for MPO laboratories and capabilities supporting enzyme process development and characterization. Our team is part of Biocatalysis within the Small Molecule Process Research & Development (SMPRD) group, focused on advancing technologies for the manufacturing of a diverse small molecule portfolio. The Director will collaborate cross-functionally to shape departmental and project strategy, and drive operational excellence, ensuring robust, scalable, and compliant microbial fermentation processes.
The chosen candidate should possess strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, and should embrace and model our core values of diversity and inclusion and foster a supportive culture where all employees can thrive.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Lead the design, execution, and analysis of complex fermentation experiments at multiple scales (e.g., mini bioreactors, benchtop bioreactors, pilot scale), ensuring high-quality, reproducible results.
- Oversee downstream processing operations to ensure efficient enzyme recovery and purification, delivering high-quality enzyme powders that meet quality and yield specifications.
- Ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive documentation of all experimental work and process data in compliance with company standards, setting expectations and standards for documentation quality and practices across the team and interfacing groups.
- Lead the team in troubleshooting and resolving operational issues related to bioreactor and downstream process to ensure consistent, reliable, and robust operations, anticipating risks and guiding resolution strategies with broad technical and business impact.
- Lead and prioritize initiatives to improve process efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability, incorporating automation, data visualization pipelines, and process analytical technologies, shaping longer-term capability roadmaps and investment areas for MPO.
- Champion laboratory safety, compliance, and best practices, setting the tone and expectations for operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across the team.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior scientists and associates, promoting knowledge sharing, skill development, and adherence to operational discipline.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to support technology transfer, scale-up activities, and process robustness, serving as a technical expert and strategic partners across multiple programs.
**Education Minimum Requirement: **
- PhD in chemical engineering, bioengineering, biological sciences, or a related field with 10+ years of relevant industry experience
- Master’s degree in chemical engineering, bioengineering, biological sciences, or a related field with 13+ years of relevant industry experience
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, bioengineering, biological sciences, or a related field with 15+ years of relevant industry experience.
**Requirements: **
- Expertise in aseptic techniques and fermentation process control strategies for batch and fed-batch processes.
- Experience implementing or driving adoption of process analytical technologies (PAT), automation, or data pipelines, with proven ability to translate data into process decisions.
- Proven experience with operation and troubleshooting of bioreactors at various scales, including mini bioreactors, bench scale, and pilot scale systems, with strong problem-solving skills for both equipment and process challenges.
- Demonstrated success leading scale-up and technology transfer from R&D to pilot and commercial manufacturing scales.
- Understanding of statistical data analysis, design of experiments, and data visualization tools to support process optimization and operational excellence.
- Excellent organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills, with a strong commitment to maintaining rigorous safety and quality standards.
- Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and decision-making beyond direct line authority, leveraging strong internal networks.
- Demonstrated leadership ability to guide multiple agile teams and complex programs, balancing technical risk, timelines, and resourcing, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.
- Demonstrated experience leading high-impact projects or platforms, being leveraged as a technical expert and advisor across multiple areas.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
- Commitment to driving process robustness, reproducibility, and scalability through data-driven risk management and continuous improvement initiatives.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
- Proven track record of driving process improvements that enhance yield, quality, and operational efficiency.
- Experience with downstream unit operations such as microfluidization, continuous centrifugation, tangential flow filtration, and precipitation.
- Experience with Ambr250 mini bioreactor platform.
- Understanding of microbial strain development and genetic engineering techniques to support process optimization.
- Experience working in a regulated environment (e.g., cGMP) supporting biopharmaceutical or enzyme manufacturing processes.
- Knowledge of quality systems, regulatory requirements, and documentation practices in bioprocess development.
- Prior experience mentoring or supervising junior scientists and engineers in a laboratory or manufacturing setting.
**Required Skills: **
Analytical Thinking, Analytical Thinking, Aseptic Technique, Biological Sciences, Change Agility, Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Communications, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Data Management, Digital Strategy, Documentations, Downstream Processing, Driving Continuous Improvement, Engineering Principle, Engineering Standards, Estimation and Planning, Intercultural Collaboration, Laboratory Safety, Maintenance Supervision, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Mentorship, Microbial Fermentation, Operational Excellence, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Professional Engineering {+ 7 more}
**Preferred 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.
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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EEOC GINA Supplement
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
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
$173,200.00 - $272,600.00
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.
You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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:
Domestic
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
25%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
Not Indicated
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
05/8/2026
***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. **