Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Overview

Are 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 following:

- Lead 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.

Qualifications

- 5 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.

About the role and culture

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.

Equal Opportunity employer: We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. If you need support during the recruitment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Advisor assigned to this role.

Application and contact

How to apply: If you are ready to invent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, please apply today.

Required Skills: Change Management, Coaching, Collaboration, Communication, Lean Methodologies, Operational Excellence, Problem Solving, Process Improvements, Project Management, Risk Management, Strategic Planning

Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply, Current Contingent Workers apply

Recruitment and compliance

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.

Job details

Employee Status: Regular

Travel Requirements: Not specified

Flexible Work Arrangements: Not Applicable

End Date: 11/1/2025

Requisition ID: R370202

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