Director, Chemical Engineering R&D

Job Description

Description: 

The Director of Chemical Engineering R&D is responsible for managing a portfolio of projects from our Company's clinical pipeline, including oversight of laboratory-based process development and characterization, pilot plant scale-up and activities to support technology transfer and regulatory filings. The incumbent will be responsible for the performance and professional development of staff members within their group. In partnership with counterparts from Process Chemistry, Analytical R&D, and our Company's Manufacturing Division, the role is responsible for ensuring that innovative, robust, safe and economical processes are developed and launched for the small molecule pipeline with the best science at first filing towards world class supply targets. In addition, the Director participates in network wide activities within Small Molecule Process and our Research & Development division for setting strategic direction on the pipeline and other priorities, as well as helping to prioritize resource allocation. 

Nature and Scope of Position:
The Director reports to the Executive Director, Head of Chemical Engineering Research & Development, Small Molecule Process Research & Development. This Director role is responsible for the performance and professional development of approximately 15 staff members, including both scientific supervisors and R&D engineers. The incumbent will be responsible for helping to recruit, as well as for appraisal and development of personnel under their supervision. In addition, the Director will actively demonstrate and encourage diversity and inclusion principles in their approach to problem solving and talent development.

Critical tasks involve technical and strategic oversight of chemical engineering staff who directly contribute to the development, characterization and scale-up of various unit operations for manufacturing processes, including batch and continuous reactions, crystallizations, extractions, membrane separations, distillation, filtration and drying. The developed processes are ultimately demonstrated and validated at internal and external commercial supply sites and documented in technology transfer documents and regulatory filing submissions. The role maintains awareness of external factors, internal and external contacts and expertise requirements needed to solve challenging technical problems.  The Director influences the strategic direction of drug development and contributes to program Line-of-Sight (LOS) plans and Integrated Development and Supply Plans (IDSPs). This role directs technical and strategic work supporting their projects and provides input and guidance to reports including use of best practices and appropriate approaches to optimize resource utilization, as well as novel ideas or innovative approaches to technical or strategic advancements of programs. The incumbent will keep abreast, and encourage sharing, of discoveries in the field to ensure our Company remains an industry leader in drug development. The Director provides constructive and timely feedback to close performance gaps. In addition, the role ensures that all team activities are completed with the highest regard for safety, quality and regulatory compliance.

The scope of the role may also involve the oversight of the department’s specialty groups, such as the crystallization lab (Xlab) or the Environmental Process Safety and Engineering (EPSE) teams.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Degree in engineering or related pharmaceutical science is required 

Required:

• 10+ years of pharmaceutical process development experience with a proven track record in small molecule commercial process development, scale-up, and technology transfer to manufacturing

• Experience with authoring regulatory submissions and responding to regulatory questions

• Demonstrated ability in leading cross-functional groups

• Track record and commitment to employee development/retention

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills

• Strength in delivering results on firm deadlines

• Demonstrated ability in selection and prioritization of a portfolio of projects

Location:

Rahway, NJ location is required

Required Skills:

Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Clinical Manufacturing, Collaborative Communications, Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), Drug Development, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Pharmaceutical Process Development, Pharmaceutical Process Engineering, Process Manufacturing, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Regulatory Compliance, Technical Leadership, Technology Transfer, Vaccine Manufacturing

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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.

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

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

08/17/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.