Executive Director, Vaccine Drug Product Development

Shape the future of vaccines as Executive Director, Vaccine Drug Product Development. This highly visible role provides strategic, scientific, and organizational leadership across our vaccine portfolio, defining and driving drug product strategy from early development through commercialization to bring innovative vaccines to patients worldwide.

About the Role

As a key leader, you will influence portfolio direction, guide critical investment and launch-readiness decisions, and build the organizational capabilities needed to meet both current and future business priorities. This is a unique opportunity to lead at the intersection of science, strategy, and people development while shaping the future of vaccine innovation.

The successful candidate is a visionary leader with deep expertise in vaccine and sterile drug product development, a passion for developing talent, and a proven ability to drive results through collaboration, influence, and transformational leadership.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Impact
  • Define and execute the strategic vision, priorities, and operating model for Vaccine Drug Product, ensuring alignment with portfolio, launch, and business objectives.
  • Shape vaccine drug product strategies that inform investment decisions, business cases, and commercialization plans.
  • Provide clear, data-driven recommendations to senior leadership by integrating scientific, technical, regulatory, operational, and business perspectives.
  • Anticipate future needs and build capabilities that position the organization for long-term success.
• End-to-End Vaccine Drug Product Development
  • Lead vaccine drug product development from early strategy through commercial launch, including formulation, process development, sterile manufacturing, fill-finish, technology transfer, and lifecycle management.
  • Integrate critical vaccine development considerations into CMC strategies, including stability, potency, sterility assurance, presentation, cold-chain requirements, and regulatory expectations.
  • Partner across functions to ensure development programs are scientifically robust, operationally feasible, and commercially successful.
• Organizational Leadership & Talent Development
  • Build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and inclusive leadership.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead multiple teams while balancing portfolio demands, capability development, operational excellence, and sustainable delivery.
  • Champion organizational transformation by identifying capability gaps and driving improvements in processes, structures, and ways of working.
• Collaboration & Influence
  • Establish trusted partnerships across Development, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Quality, Commercial, and external stakeholder communities.
  • Communicate with clarity and influence across all levels of the organization, including senior leaders and governance forums.
  • Build strong networks across industry, academia, and government organizations to advance strategic objectives and strengthen organizational capabilities.

Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Immunology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience:
  • 12+ years of experience in vaccine, biologics, or sterile drug product development.
  • Significant experience leading vaccine or sterile drug product strategy across development, CMC, regulatory, technology transfer, and launch-readiness activities.
  • Demonstrated success leading organizations, influencing across functions, and contributing to portfolio, resource, and investment decisions.
  • Strong understanding of vaccine development, sterile manufacturing, and commercialization within a regulated environment.

Skills

• Key Leadership Capabilities:
  • Deep expertise in vaccine and sterile drug product development, including formulation, process development, manufacturing, CMC strategy, regulatory submissions, and commercialization.
  • Demonstrated success leading scientific and technical organizations through growth, transformation, and change.
  • Strong commitment to talent development, coaching, succession planning, and fostering an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are valued.
  • Strategic business mindset with the ability to connect clinical development, CMC, and commercialization to achieve successful product launches and reliable supply.
  • Proven ability to build alignment, influence stakeholders, and drive cross-functional collaboration in complex matrix organizations.
  • Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical, risk management, and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Track record of translating strategy into execution and delivering measurable outcomes.
  • High emotional intelligence with exceptional communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Passion for innovation and continuous improvement, enabling teams to explore new ideas and create novel solutions.
  • Enterprise mindset focused on balancing patient impact, business priorities, and long-term organizational success.
• Required Skills: Business Decisions, Drug Development, Innovation, Leadership Management, Logical Thinking, Medical Product Development, People Leadership, Product Development, Stakeholder Management, Sterile Products, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Objectives, Strategic Thinking, Vaccine Research, Visionary Thinking.

Location

This hybrid role is preferably based in West Point, PA, with Rahway, NJ also considered. Travel of up to 25% is expected to support collaboration across Pharmaceutical Sciences and Device Development (PSDD) and R&D locations.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $255,800.00 - $402,700.00. 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, including:

• 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.