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Merck Sharp & Dohme

Director, Sterile & Specialty Product Development

Merck Sharp & Dohme, Rahway, New Jersey, us, 07065


Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products. Our Research Scientists are our Inventors. We identify and target steps in disease mechanisms or pathways that could be inhibited or enhanced. Our goal is to identify and isolate a molecule that is effective against a disease target. Using innovative thinking, state-of-the-art facilities and robust scientific methodology we collaborate to discover and develop the next medical breakthrough. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

Our company is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Director, Small Molecule Development within the Mixed Modalities, Sterile Product Development (SPD) team. The successful candidate will be expected to lead the team focused on the design of new formulations and development of robust and scalable processes for parenteral drug products within the small molecule and synthetic modality pipeline.

The Director will report to the Executive Director of Sterile Product Development - Mixed Modalities, and lead a team comprised of 10-15 experienced senior and associate scientists. The main responsibilities include leading the small molecule parenteral drug product team that designs and executes experiments to support formulation and process development and document technical reports and regulatory filings. The successful candidate will be key in implementing strategy, conducting scientific research from the laboratory to commercial scale, step across boundaries and implement novel innovations into the drug product space to afford world class parenteral development processes for human health while ensuring a phase appropriate approach and adhering to the highest scientific standard. The incumbent will also be responsible for sub-functional strategic planning, coordinating, and execution of SPD initiatives in the company's portfolio from discovery to launch.

The successful candidate must be able to collaborate in a fast-paced, integrated, multidisciplinary team environment. The successful candidate will drive the small molecule parenteral portfolio while collaborating with key stakeholders across the organizations (Research Division / Manufacturing Division) to ensure timebound progression of portfolio, initiatives for scientific & operational excellence, and other strategic initiatives to advance functional impact. The applicant will also have experience in developing intermediate modalities like oligonucleotides and peptides and have an external network both across industry and academia. Maintaining a strong network internally and across the external academic and regulatory community is expected, as well as advancing a culture of scientific excellence, GMP and compliance mindset and collaboration with various partners and stakeholders in development.

The incumbent will also be responsible for the recruiting, appraisal, and development of personnel under her/his supervision. The Director selects, trains, and effectively recommends transfers, merit increases, promotions, and closures of personnel under her/his direction within the framework of Company policy. The role will also be responsible for proactive resourcing planning, risk assessment strategies and budget management as necessary. The candidate will also have a proven track record of developing talent from a diverse scientific background and will have the ability to advance our company's commitment to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Essential Knowledge, Duties & Responsibilities for the Director Include:

Sterile drug product development concepts, tools, and requirements for all dosage forms (liquid, lyo, drug-device combinations)

Review and approval of data and technical documents

Ability to recruit, select, develop, and mentor talent

Strategic and critical thinking to advance sterile product development strategy

Project management skills

Attention to technical detail

Builds collaborations across internal departments and key stakeholders

Ability to lead and champion organizational structure and be a change agent when necessary

Developing the departmental budget and meeting the agreed upon spend

Collaborates and builds strong relationships with upper management and other disciplines to select and qualify new CMOs/CROs/CDMOs

Qualifications:

Education:

Ph.D. in chemical engineering, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutics, biochemical / biomedical engineering, or relevant field with minimum of 8+ years of industrial experience

B.S. or M.S. in chemical engineering, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutics, biochemical / biomedical engineering, or relevant field with minimum of 10+ years of industrial experience

Required Experience and Skills:

Relevant experience in pharmaceutical development with exposure to all stages and aspects of development (preclinical, clinical, and commercial) and cGMP industrial background

Experience in developing sterile and specialty products (e.g. include long-acting injectable suspensions, implants, inhalation products, sterile liquid/ lyophilized products, and particle-based delivery systems). Knowledge of intermediate modality evaluations, delivery technology development, and understanding of parenteral formulation development.

Experience with process design and/or scale-up in the clinical or commercial space, including process flow diagrams and engineering drawings

Process development and technology transfer experience including the use of risk assessment and process capability (Ppk) tools. Demonstrated ability to identify, mitigate, and clearly articulate program risks.

Demonstrated working knowledge of FDA, ICH, and other regulatory requirements for CMC, and demonstrated experience partnering for Pharmaceutical development / CMC with Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Non-clinical, Clinical, and other functional areas

Experience with regulatory submissions including writing / review of regulatory filings including INDs and NDAs

Must be innovative and drive new ideas, but also have pragmatic approach to development options, technology selection, and regulatory posture

Knowledgeable of the Capital Process having participated on a large capital project team, and exposure to project / engineering work process and deliverables (e.g. equipment fabrication, FAT, SAT, Validation etc.)

Strong experience in safety and environmental knowledge and site presence

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated creativity, strong interpersonal and collaboration skills

A strong track record of publications in parenteral drug product development and/or delivery

Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams with proven talent development skillsets

Demonstrated strength in delivering results on firm deadlines in support of product discovery, process development, and commercial filings for biopharmaceuticals or vaccine products

Preferred Experience and Skills:

Recognized expertise in novel delivery technologies (e.g. long-acting injectables, particle-based delivery systems) for small molecule or synthetic modalities for clinical and/or commercial manufacturing would be ideal

Experience in regulatory compliance expectations across all phases of product development to commercialization

Demonstrated leadership skills and organization design (i.e. building high performing teams, building talent, and shown to be able to motivate, influence scientific team; lead by example through past scientific / technical expertise).

Experience in budget planning & management, establishing development strategies, and managing scientific staff from a budgetary and personnel decisions standpoint

Experience in equipment Fabrication, FAT/SAT, start-up, qualification and/or validation is preferred

Fill/finish process scale-up, Drug Delivery and/or technology transfer experience including the use of gap analysis and risk assessment tools

Highly motivated, flexible, a change agent, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Encourages innovative thinking / risk-taking and eliminates obstacles / barriers to implement change

Ability to present clear and compelling quality and business cases. Ability to engage and align other stakeholders outside the project team.

Ability to apply and promote a growth mindset with teams and partnerships.

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In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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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.

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:$164,800.00 - $259,400.00Available 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.

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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 CarefullyMerck & 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:RegularRelocation:DomesticVISA Sponsorship:NoTravel Requirements:10%Flexible Work Arrangements:Not ApplicableShift:1st - DayValid Driving License:NoHazardous Material(s):n/aJob Posting End Date:11/9/2024

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Requisition ID: R316589

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