Associate Director, Laboratory Operations, Logistics and Safety Compliance (Onsite)

Rahway, New Jersey, United States | Full-time

About the role

Our Company is seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead Laboratory Operations, Logistics, and Safety Compliance supporting our device and combination product development laboratories. This role is critical in enabling safe, compliant, and efficient laboratory environments that accelerate the development of innovative medicines and medical devices for patients worldwide. The successful candidate will bring strong prior experience in device-focused laboratory environments performing development and fit-for-purpose activities for clinical supply, including engineering labs, testing labs, and human factors/usability spaces, along with deep expertise in EHS and inspection readiness.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for laboratories supporting medical device and combination product development.
• Oversee lab operations, ensuring high standards for efficiency, reliability, and compliance.
• Manage equipment lifecycle processes, including qualification, calibration, maintenance, and decommissioning.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, corporate EHS standards, and global safety requirements.
• Lead safety programs addressing device-specific hazards (e.g., mechanical systems, electrical testing, prototyping equipment, usability testing).
• Drive proactive risk assessments, incident investigations, and CAPA implementation.
• Partner with R&D and engineering teams to support design verification and validation (DV/V), human factors studies, and device testing activities.
• Ensure laboratory environments meet requirements for regulated device development and testing.
• Support regulatory inspections and audits (e.g., FDA, notified bodies) for device and combination product programs.
• Collaborate with Facilities and Engineering to maintain compliant laboratory infrastructure, including specialized device labs and test environments.
• Ensure appropriate layout, safety controls, and environmental conditions are in place to support device development workflows.
• Serve as a key interface with Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering, and EHS organizations.
• Contribute to inspection readiness efforts and represent laboratory operations during audits and governance reviews.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for lab operations and safety.
• Foster a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across lab users.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related discipline (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum 8+ years of relevant industry experience, including substantial experience in:
  • Medical device or drug-device combination product environments
  • Laboratory operations, technical operations, or facilities leadership
  • EHS and regulatory compliance within laboratory settings
• Demonstrated hands-on experience supporting device testing, prototyping, or engineering labs.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • FDA Quality System Regulation (21 CFR Part 820)
  • ISO 13485 and applicable device standards
  • OSHA/EHS requirements for laboratory and engineering environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting combination product (drug-device) development programs.
• Familiarity with human factors/usability laboratory environments.
• Professional certification in EHS, safety engineering, or quality systems.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

• Biological Sciences
• Design Thinking
• Design Verification
• Electronics Prototyping
• Environmental Health And Safety
• Laboratory Maintenance
• Leading Project Teams
• Life Science
• Manufacturing Methodologies
• Occupational Safety and Health
• People Management
• Product Development Design
• Regulatory Compliance
• Regulatory Inspections
• Safety Compliance

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and decision-making
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management
• Commitment to safety, quality, and compliance
• Ability to influence across a matrixed organization
• Results-driven with a focus on patient impact

Pay

The salary range for this role is $142,400 - $224,100 USD yearly. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this 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.

Benefits

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 Merck Compensation and Benefits.

Schedule

• 10% travel requirements
• 1st shift - Day