Manufacturing Leadership Development Program - Associate Specialist, Engineering

Calling future manufacturing leaders to join our flagship global Manufacturing Leadership Development Program (MLDP). Our objective is to identify, hire, and develop our future Manufacturing Leaders. If you are passionate about launching a career in manufacturing, we are eager to engage with you, focus on your development, and bring greater value to our patients worldwide.

About the role

Over the 3-year rotation program, we will invest in your development, giving you exposure and experience across our business and preparing you for a leadership role. The program provides experiential and formal learning opportunities to build the technical foundation needed by our future leaders. You will receive coaching from senior leaders, exposure to real manufacturing challenges, and training from industry-leading scientists and engineers. You will contribute to significant projects and make key decisions that directly impact how we manufacture pharmaceuticals and deliver them to patients globally.

We hire a small number of members each year for this program, ensuring we select candidates with the greatest potential to lead. The program has two primary goals:

• Provide candidates with a bachelor's or master's degree in the required fields a broad perspective of the core manufacturing functions of our pharmaceutical, biological, animal health, and vaccine products.
• Develop talent for future leadership positions of increasing responsibility within the Manufacturing Division through focused development in key leadership and technical skills.

The program enables successful candidates to experience three one-year rotations over a three-year period. A minimum of two rotations will feature technically focused roles within operations, technical operations, or quality organizations. Assignments are based on critical business needs. In addition to rotation assignments and competency development programming, employees receive mentoring from peers and senior leaders. Rotation members should expect to work at 2-3 different high-impact sites and must be flexible to move where assigned. Some domestic and international business travel may be required or available; an international rotation assignment is not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• Participate in a broad range of work experiences across the manufacturing division.
• Work independently, in teams, and lead teams.
• Adapt to new roles, responsibilities, and situations.
• Cultivate leadership skills along with technical, business, and commercial skills by applying knowledge within manufacturing.
• Contribute to significant projects and make key decisions impacting pharmaceutical manufacturing and global delivery.

Skills

The program strengthens skills through a targeted learning curriculum, enhancing competencies including but not limited to:

• Continuous improvement and problem-solving
• Technical support
• Lean Manufacturing
• Quality/Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Managing and optimizing internal and external partnerships
• Strategic thinking and decision-making
• Financial acumen
• End-to-end supply chain

Required skills:

• Adaptability
• Biopharmaceutical operations
• Data analysis
• Engineering principles
• Experimentation
• Leadership
• Process optimization
• Teamwork
• Technical communication
• Technical problem-solving

Preferred skills:

• Demonstrated leadership experience (e.g., field of study, extracurricular activities, internships, research, military, or prior work)
• Manufacturing experience
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong technical background

Requirements

• BS or MS in one of the following fields:
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Packaging
• Must have graduated from college by the program start date (on or around August 1, 2027).
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• Must be willing to be assigned to different roles and sites over the first three years of employment.
• Ability to travel and willingness to be assigned to any company site in the U.S. or internationally based on business needs.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $71,900.00 - $113,200.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on 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, 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.

Schedule

• 1st shift (day)
• 50% travel requirements
• Regular (full-time) employee status
• Domestic relocation may be required