Associate Director, Logistics and Distribution Technology

Associate Director, Logistics And Distribution Technology

Reporting into the Director, Logistics and Distribution Technology the Associate Director, Logistics and Distribution Technology will be responsible and accountable for subject matter expert technical support for distribution and logistics of human health Drug Substance, Drug Product and Finished Goods globally.

The Packaging Technical Operations organization aims to be an industry leader in problem-solving, delivering robust and pragmatic technical solutions to accelerate the commercialization of new products, and ensuring an uninterrupted, compliant supply of commercialized products for the benefit of patients. The Logistics and Distribution Technology Director is integral to this mission. The successful candidate will possess deep technical expertise, a strong track record in problem-solving, experimental design and execution, along with leadership skills to shape the technical capabilities lead a global, cross-modality technical team.

The Associate Director will lead a team of technical experts responsible providing Logistics and Distribution Technology Center of Excellence support to the enterprise. The leader will be responsible for executing the organization's priorities and ensuring the successful completion of projects. This includes technical support to the internal and external manufacturing sites as well as Third Party Logistics providers to ensure robust, compliant distribution of products through guidance on distribution qualification activities for shock and vibration as well as thermal protection system testing and qualification and leading execution of qualification of complex systems.

The candidate is expected to build inclusive, collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, such as packaging and 3rd party logistics sites, supply chain and technology teams, and regulatory and project leaders. The successful candidate will demonstrate ownership and make informed cost / benefit decisions based on the analysis of inputs, outcomes, risks, and company-wide prioritization.

Essential Responsibilities :

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of technical staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Deliver the development, design, construction, qualification / validation and / or initial operation of complex tertiary packaging components and processes, including environmental (temperature, shock, etc.) monitors, using new or existing technologies for new and commercial human health products including active pharmaceutical ingredients, drug substance, drug product, finished goods including combination products, and samples.
• Analyze complex problems using critical thinking and laboratory experiments to create effective shipping solutions to maintain temperature control and physical protection.
• Provide subject matter expertise and ensure scientific rigor, technical problem solving and execution excellence in support of the portfolio of work, including interrogation of the data / science through technical reviews and exploring alternative ways to view and solve problems to achieve results.
• Ensure thorough engineering and distribution packaging science is applied to deliverables for new product introductions and technology transfers across the network.
• Drive proactive risk management activities, including risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk communication strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate processes and shipping systems, resolving excursion issues, and implementing corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including commercialization, quality, analytical, regulatory, manufacturing, and Supply Chain to facilitate effective technical support.
• Manage a portfolio of work, holding the team accountable to deliver on priorities.
• Document preparation, maintenance, and review of documentation including specifications, testing protocols, testing reports, technical memos and supplier assessments.
• Remain informed of current Good Manufacturing Practices, cGMP, and Good Distribution Practices, cGDP, and requirements and industry trends as described in worldwide regulations and industry standards.

Minimum Education Requirements and Experience :

Required Skills and Experience :

Required Skills :

Applied Engineering, Change Management, Combination Products, Compliance Packaging, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Detail-Oriented, Deviation Management, Engineering Standards, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Management Process, Manufacturing Scale-Up, Mentorship, Packaging Engineering, Process Optimization, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Social Collaboration, Technical Leadership

Preferred Skills :

The salary range for this role is $126,500.00 - $199,100.00. 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.

Employee Status : Regular

Relocation : Domestic

VISA Sponsorship : No

Travel Requirements : 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements : Hybrid

Shift : 1st - Day

Valid Driving License : No

Hazardous Material(s) : n / a

Job Posting End Date : 01 / 1 / 2026

Requisition ID : R361793