Job Description

Position Description:

Associate Principal Scientist, Sterile Drug Product Commercialization

The Associate Principal Scientist is an experienced drug product commercialization scientist/engineer, accountable for end-to-end leadership for these key activities within the Sterile Drug Product Commercialization department. As a member of the Process Engineering group, the individual also has a key focus on driving excellence for our process scale up, transfer and validation activities.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to the following:

Leads and/or serves on cross functional drug product (DP) working groups and manages DP activities through filing and Process Performance Qualification (PPQ), including registration stability study execution, process characterization plan and execution, tech transfer control strategy, process development, PPQ readiness, PAI (Pre‐Approval Inspection) readiness, approval, launch and post‐launch support.

Ensures commercialization programs meet requirements related to science, quality, reliability, schedule, and cost.

Drives strategic initiatives (technical and/or business process related) in the department and with partner groups, that enable more efficient and rapid commercialization of innovative products

Provides mentorship, technical oversight and strategic guidance to employees. Uses advanced experience gained on scientific/technical issues to guide others to address non routine and/or difficult issues.

Develops a process and product development plan. Influences decisions related to primary packaging and combination product design.

Responsible for the design and execution of DP development and commercialization studies, new product introduction and process validation at commercial sites.

Ensures fit-for-purpose scale-down models are developed and employed. Establishes and validates platform engineering and scientific models for sterile product and process commercialization.

Innovates and drives best practices for commercial site tech transfer, facility fit and development of the DP control strategy. Includes the classification of process parameters, performance parameters, operating ranges, in-process controls. Drives and influences process demonstration and qualification (PPQ) and shelf-life strategies.

Influences CMC regulatory strategy and is accountable for DP CMC sections of filing. Reviews regulatory strategy and filing readiness and supports preparations for agency meetings. Authors and reviews regulatory submissions.

Drives continuous and phase appropriate process optimization towards standardized platforms for liquid, lyophilized, and combination product presentations.

Establishes and fosters a culture of high performance, out of the box thinking, innovation and learning, empowerment, diversity and inclusion.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirements

B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering Bio-engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or related field with 10 years of relevant experience; or

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering Bio-engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or related field with 8 years of relevant experience; or

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering Bio-engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or related field with 4 years of relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

Technical expertise in sterile drug product fill finish related manufacturing processes for large molecules, including laboratory and/or fundamental models for key unit operations.

Experience with technology transfer and scale-up of processes to pilot and/or manufacturing scales.

Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively articulate understanding of process science, in order to drive decision making, impact assessments, design of studies, etc, in a multi-disciplinary team environment

​ Preferred Experience and Skills

Experience in biologics drug product fill finish process optimization, scale-up and technology transfer of sterile products to pilot/commercial.

Operations experience in the manufacturing of sterile drug products, at pilot and/or commercial scale.

Knowledge of combination product development

Working knowledge of regulatory requirements for commercialization and registration of sterile drug products, including application of Quality by Design principles

Working knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) for manufacturing of sterile dosage forms and current ICH Quality norms, as applied in Manufacturing Science and Technology or Technical Operations.

Working knowledge of statistical methods for DOE design and data analysis, statistical process control (SPC), multivariate analysis (MVA), and/or process analytical technologies (PAT) techniques for manufacturing processes

Experience in Data Analytics, Computer Modeling, and Digital Applications (e.g. 3-D printing).

Working understanding of analytical methods to characterize vaccines, biologics and other sterile drug products

This position may require travel up to 25%; Must be able to travel for this position.

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders). Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

Current Employees apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/inst/1422$1533/rel-task/3001$14.htmld)

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$4020.htmld)

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.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf)

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas 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

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence. This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

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:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Requisition ID: R285883