Senior Technician, Operations USA - North Carolina - Durham (Old Oxford)

Job Description

Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make therapies for our patients. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset, striving for continuous improvement, and earn our right to produce. We work in local plants connected to our global manufacturing network supplying the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.

This role is within a capital project start-up in Durham, North Carolina. The new facility will include end-to-end processing of drug substance, drug product, including biotech culture growth, harvest, lyophilization, product inspection, utilities, and warehouse. This position will be a part of the Drug Product team, focusing on product filling and lyophilization. The position will initially be Mon-Fri, day shift, transitioning to second shift as required when operations starts, expected in 2023.

As the team finishes design and construction of the facility, the Lead Technician will play a critical role in supporting the Global Engineering Services team, partnering with internal stakeholders, and building the operations team who will take ownership of the facility. Members of the Operations team in this new and exciting facility will have the unique opportunity to give input in the design process, startup their areas, and lead the teams to full production.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, diversity, and teamwork of people like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to;

Project Support

• Supports project team as operations expert through start-up, commissioning, qualification through licensure and ramp up of facility.
• Author, review, and/or edit operations and technical documentation (Batch Records, SOPs, Job Aides, training, and engineering documents) to support project and future operations.
• Identifies and addresses compliance, environmental, safety, and process deviations as appropriate while coordinating with appropriate personnel.
• Actively participate in team meetings HAZOPS, waste walk throughs, 5S, kaizen events, or any other operations, lean six-sigma, quality, safety or environmental training/initiatives as required.

Operational Expertise

• Competent execution and ownership to meet production targets for area within responsibility including:
  • Attending and escalation of concerns or needs at daily huddles and as needed
  • Cleaning, setup, operation and troubleshooting of equipment and facilities
  • Maintenance and transportation of consumable and material inventories
  • Maintenance of excellent recordkeeping and housekeeping
• Drives culture of continuous improvement. Implements and raises ideas to increase success of group
• Participates on and/or performs activities to support technical and OPEX functions such as Kaizen events, ad-hoc sampling, or protocol execution.
• Maintains detailed knowledge of equipment and processes.
• Identifies and addresses compliance, environmental, safety, and process deviations as appropriate while notifying appropriate personnel.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• High School Diploma/GED or higher
  

Required Experience and Skills:

• At least two (2) years GMP manufacturing/processing experience, OR a Bachelor’s degree in Life Science or Engineering
• Demonstrated written and verbal communications skills
• Must be able to successfully pass and maintain aseptic gowning qualifications. Aseptic gowning requires that all skin and hair be covered through wearing the following: beard/mustache cover, hair net, hood and face mask, goggles, jumpsuit, gloves, and boots.
• Computer literacy (internet browsers, e-mail, spreadsheets, word processing)
• Must be willing and able to lift 50 lbs, bend, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, climb ladders, and wear a respirator
• Successful completion of TB titer and Chest X-ray are required.

Preferred Experience and Skills (General):

• Minimum Associates Degree in science or related field
• Bioworks Certificate (working in an FDA or similar regulated industry)
• Applicable mechanical and project management experience
• Experience with automated systems (MES, SAP, DeltaV, or similar)
• Experience with on-the-floor cGMP manufacturing and familiarity with regulatory requirements and Good Documentation Practices (GDP)
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a part of a team
  

The following experience is a significant advantage for a Senior Technician supporting Drug Product operations:

• Aseptic filling operations
• Grade A isolator containment systems
• Lyophilization
• Visual inspection of product in glass vials including manual & automated techniques
• Experience with autoclaves, washers, and dry heat ovens.

Our Manufacturing & Supply Division is dedicated to being the most trusted supplier of biopharmaceuticals worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, create a reliable global manufacturing network that’s devoted to delivering a high-quality, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time.

Who we are …

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

What we look for …

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

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.

Residents of Colorado

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For positions located in the United States and Puerto Rico – Subject to applicable law, all new hires (including internal transfers) must demonstrate that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they qualify for a medical or religious exemption to this vaccination requirement. New hires (including internal transfers) to a position that, as determined by the Company, requires routine collaboration with external stakeholders (such as roles in health services or customer-facing commercial or research-based roles) (“Customer-Facing Role”) who are not vaccinated must qualify for a medical or religious exemption and be in a position that the Company determines can accommodate unvaccinated employees without causing an undue burden to business operations. If, following dialog with the candidate as appropriate, it is determined that the candidate either a) does not qualify for a religious or medical exemption or, b) for candidates applying for Customer-Facing roles, it is determined that allowing the candidate to work without vaccination would cause an undue burden to the Company, the candidate will be ineligible for hire or transfer, or any offer of employment or transfer (if applicable) will be revoked. Please note that notwithstanding the approval of any reasonable accommodation, the Company reserves the right to monitor, modify, or revoke any such accommodation if it is determined, following dialog with the employee, that the accommodation is no longer effective or results in an undue burden to the Company.

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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Residents of Colorado:

Click here to request this role’s pay range.

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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Number of Openings:

Requisition ID:R213878