Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Job DescriptionAre you passionate about driving transformation and operational excellence?We're looking for a collaborative leader to guide our Project Management Office and Operational Excellence teams.In this role, you will help deliver key site transformation goals, manage our project portfolio, and build capability across the organization.Bring energy, knowledge, innovation to carry out the followingLead the team to implement standardized operational excellence tools and approaches that improve how we work.Manage and deliver site strategy objectives using proven project management and continuous improvement methods.Drive the deployment of lean practices such as problem-solving, standardized work, and performance management.Oversee the site's transformation projects, ensuring clear plans and successful outcomes.Collaborate with digital and operations teams to integrate innovative solutions.Communicate progress on long-term strategic plans and transformation initiatives.Own the project portfolio, ensuring projects follow best practices and align with business priorities.Maintain project dashboards and risk registers to keep leadership informed and support timely decision-making.Lead risk review meetings and work with teams to develop effective mitigation plans.What Skills You Will NeedIn order to excel in this role, you will more than likely have5 to 10 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, with a strong background in managing projects.Skills in building project schedules and leading both Waterfall and Agile projects.Expertise in juggling multiple priorities and meeting ambitious deadlines.Strong problem-solving skills and thrive working across teams.An understanding of supply chains and have led complex process improvements that deliver real business value.Hands-on experience with lean tools like standardized work, scientific problem solving, value stream mapping, mistake proofing, SMED, 5S, and capacity analysis.Coaching and mentoring skills and experience, you're passionate about developing others and fostering a high-performance culture.An appreciation of perspectives and talents, and you know how to bring people together to achieve great results.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.So, if you are ready toInvent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs,please apply today.Required SkillsChange Management, Coaching, Collaboration, Communication, Lean Methodologies, Operational Excellence, Problem Solving, Process Improvements, Project Management, Risk Management, Strategic PlanningPreferred SkillsCurrent Employees apply HERECurrent Contingent Workers apply HERESearch 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 StatusRegularRelocationVISA SponsorshipTravel RequirementsFlexible Work ArrangementsNot ApplicableShiftValid Driving LicenseHazardous Material(s)Job Posting End Date11/1/2025A job posting is effective until PM 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 IDR