Associate Director, Engineering
Merck
August 13, 2026
On-site
Durham, NC
Operations
Responsibilities:
- Manage large capital projects or portfolios of smaller capital/expense projects; deliver assets safely, on time, within scope and budget.
- Lead integrated cross-functional teams (GES, Site Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, Maintenance, Technology, Procurement, Finance, and external partners).
- Develop and execute project execution plans (scope, delivery strategy, procurement, construction, commissioning/startup, risk management, communications, closeout).
- Ensure projects meet business priorities, manufacturing needs, compliance, safety, standards, and approved capital objectives.
- Lead design development (scope definition, design coordination, constructability/value management, decision trade-offs).
- Support procurement/contracting strategies; manage budgeting/forecasting/financial reporting, cost control, contingency, and change control.
- Manage schedules (planning, sequencing, milestones/critical path, shutdown/tie-in coordination, recovery).
- Oversee execution (field coordination, contractor performance, construction safety interface, quality, issue resolution).
- Prepare governance/stage-gate/funding materials; manage project communications/escalations and risks.
- Coordinate execution in active manufacturing; manage commissioning/qualification/validation interface, turnover docs, closeout, and transition.
- Coach/guide engineers or project managers.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
Required experience/skills:
- 10+ years delivering capital/expense projects in manufacturing/lab/infrastructure environments; independent site/project delivery.
- Lead cross-functional teams; deliver in active facilities where safety/quality/compliance and startup readiness are critical.
- Project controls knowledge (cost, schedule, forecasting, change, risk, reporting); strong communication; sound judgment/decision-making.
Preferred:
- GMP/regulatory experience; relevant project types (upgrades, packaging, utilities, electrical, fire protection, energy resilience).
- Commissioning/qualification/validation and operational handover familiarity; capital governance/stage-gate exposure.
- External partner experience; Lean Project Delivery; mentoring; structured risk/constructability/operational readiness review tools.
Required skills: Adaptability, Capital Project Management, Change Management, Regulatory Compliance, Lean Manufacturing, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Technical Transfer, and related leadership/data/strategic decision skills.
Benefits/Compensation (if applicable): Annual bonus and long-term incentive; medical/dental/vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays/vacation, compassionate and sick days; salary range $142,400–$224,100.
Application:
- Apply at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on posting).
- Manage large capital projects or portfolios of smaller capital/expense projects; deliver assets safely, on time, within scope and budget.
- Lead integrated cross-functional teams (GES, Site Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, Maintenance, Technology, Procurement, Finance, and external partners).
- Develop and execute project execution plans (scope, delivery strategy, procurement, construction, commissioning/startup, risk management, communications, closeout).
- Ensure projects meet business priorities, manufacturing needs, compliance, safety, standards, and approved capital objectives.
- Lead design development (scope definition, design coordination, constructability/value management, decision trade-offs).
- Support procurement/contracting strategies; manage budgeting/forecasting/financial reporting, cost control, contingency, and change control.
- Manage schedules (planning, sequencing, milestones/critical path, shutdown/tie-in coordination, recovery).
- Oversee execution (field coordination, contractor performance, construction safety interface, quality, issue resolution).
- Prepare governance/stage-gate/funding materials; manage project communications/escalations and risks.
- Coordinate execution in active manufacturing; manage commissioning/qualification/validation interface, turnover docs, closeout, and transition.
- Coach/guide engineers or project managers.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
Required experience/skills:
- 10+ years delivering capital/expense projects in manufacturing/lab/infrastructure environments; independent site/project delivery.
- Lead cross-functional teams; deliver in active facilities where safety/quality/compliance and startup readiness are critical.
- Project controls knowledge (cost, schedule, forecasting, change, risk, reporting); strong communication; sound judgment/decision-making.
Preferred:
- GMP/regulatory experience; relevant project types (upgrades, packaging, utilities, electrical, fire protection, energy resilience).
- Commissioning/qualification/validation and operational handover familiarity; capital governance/stage-gate exposure.
- External partner experience; Lean Project Delivery; mentoring; structured risk/constructability/operational readiness review tools.
Required skills: Adaptability, Capital Project Management, Change Management, Regulatory Compliance, Lean Manufacturing, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Technical Transfer, and related leadership/data/strategic decision skills.
Benefits/Compensation (if applicable): Annual bonus and long-term incentive; medical/dental/vision, retirement (401(k)), paid holidays/vacation, compassionate and sick days; salary range $142,400–$224,100.
Application:
- Apply at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (deadline stated on posting).