Associate Director - Engineering, GES Strategic Scheduler and Planner

Job Description

We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company. We're at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. Join our team and use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.

The Global Engineering Solutions (GES) Strategic Planner and Scheduler will support a portfolio of Capital Projects, responsible for the conceptualization and development of front end loaded schedules that support critical business objectives primarily at US Sites.

The Associate Director will have comprehensive experience and subject matter expertise in our Company manufacturing with associated equipment and facility design experience. Advanced knowledge of benchmarks and industry approaches will enable them to coach a team of engineers in the development and execution of project schedules using strategic lean solutions from business cases through commercial manufacturing.

The Associate Director will also provide expertise to business studies, peer reviews of projects, and periodic improvement initiatives to advance standard work processes within GES. The Strategic Planner & Scheduler is an engaged, energetic, people-oriented individual with advanced skills to lead and collaborate with other Integrated Capital Project Team members, including GES Tech Center, Delivery, End-to-End Solutions and Project Business Service (PBS) Engineers, Internal Organization Capital Team Leaders, Digital, Site Engineering, Operations, Quality, Validation and Regulatory Representatives, External Contractors, Equipment Vendors, and Service Providers. The individual can evaluate and challenge the work of engineering partners in the preparation of project related deliverables across many diverse areas including Biological, Chemical, Safety, Process, Utilities, Technical Services, Construction, Procurement, Commissioning & Qualification, and Validation.

Responsibilities

• Support a portfolio of Capital Projects, responsible for the conceptualization and development of front end loaded schedules that support critical business objectives primarily at US Sites.
• Provide expertise to business studies, peer reviews of projects, and periodic improvement initiatives to advance standard work processes within GES.
• Lead and collaborate with other Integrated Capital Project Team members, including GES Tech Center, Delivery, End-to-End Solutions and Project Business Service (PBS) Engineers, Internal Organization Capital Team Leaders, Digital, Site Engineering, Operations, Quality, Validation and Regulatory Representatives, External Contractors, Equipment Vendors, and Service Providers.
• Evaluate and challenge the work of engineering partners in the preparation of project related deliverables across many diverse areas including Biological, Chemical, Safety, Process, Utilities, Technical Services, Construction, Procurement, Commissioning & Qualification, and Validation.
• Facilitate planning sessions and guide team members through a planning strategy.
• Lead scheduling workshops for capital projects from an end-to-end perspective.
• Plan aspects of engineering by understanding scope boundaries, process & facility design, equipment design, lead times and complexity, vendor interaction, construction support, factory acceptance testing, equipment qualification, facility start-up, and technology transfer.
• Provide front end planning schedule support for GES Business Integrators, Project Design Managers, and Project Managers during Business Case and Concept Phase (FEL1 and FEL2) by developing Capital Review Committee (CRC) level of detail schedules.
• Develop End to End schedules during Concept Phase and Basis of Design Phase (FEL2 & FEL3) in partnership with the EPCM Service Provider and Project Controls group schedulers with a focus on best practices set out by the Strategic Scheduling Group (SSG).
• Develop a High-Level Production Plan (or Production Planning Management, PPM) Strategy document with continued team follow-up to ensure PPM best practices are maintained on business-critical projects.
• Conduct Peer Review/Audit of in-progress project schedules by ensuring the schedules adhere to Standard Work and reflect the scope of the project and by providing feedback on the deliverability of the project based on the schedule.
• Provide “HyperCare” support globally to projects as required based on direction from GSEC leadership.
• Implement standard work for schedule development and governance in all phases of Capital Execution.
• Coordinate closely with the GES Project Controls Group to ensure there are adequate progress measures in place for all phases of the project.
• Flexible hybrid work with travel 25-50% required.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Eight (8) years of comprehensive experience and subject matter expertise with associated equipment and facility design experience with pharmaceutical industry or related. (MS with six)
• Advanced knowledge of benchmarks and industry approaches.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Strong understanding of the line of business, lean design and delivery, and standard work implementation.

Preferred

• Experience in coaching a team of engineers in the development and execution of project schedules using strategic lean solutions from business case through commercial manufacturing.
• Experience in providing expertise to business studies, peer reviews of projects, and periodic improvement initiatives to advance standard work processes within GES.

Required Skills:

Automation Systems, Capital Formation, Capital Planning, Capital Project Management, Change Management, Clinical Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Drug Product Manufacturing, Engineering Principle, Equipment Designing, Facility Design, HP PPM, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Production Planning, Project Controls, Regulatory Compliance, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Teamwork, Technical Planning, Technical Transfer

Preferred Skills:

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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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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The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

11/19/2026

*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.